Sunset Views, Solid Pours, No Surprises
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Huggo's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting oceanside in Kona watching the sun melt into the Pacific, and the wine list arrives. It's approachable and familiar — California, France, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal — the kind of lineup that won't challenge anyone but won't embarrass anyone either. It reads like a resort list, which is essentially what this is.
The regional spread hits the expected notes for a polished Hawaiian seafood house: West Coast whites and reds for the crowd-pleasers, some French and Italian options for people who want to feel like they made a choice, and a nod toward New Zealand and Portugal that hints at some self-awareness. Don't expect deep cuts or small-production finds — this is a list built to move bottles at a busy waterfront restaurant, not to surprise you. The focus on California and France makes sense given the seafood-forward menu, and there's probably enough white wine range to do the job. What's missing is any real sense of adventure or local identity — Hawaii's own emerging wine culture doesn't seem to factor in here at all.
By-the-glass specifics aren't documented in the sources we have, so we can't tell you whether the pour list is two options or twelve. What we can say is that a restaurant at this price point and resort orientation almost certainly has a glass program — just don't expect anything rotating or unexpected. Stick to whites and plan accordingly.
The Bottom Line
Huggo's is a reliable enough place to drink wine if you're already there for the view and the fresh fish — just don't come expecting value or discovery. The regional mix is competent, the setting is genuinely spectacular, and the list will get you through dinner without incident. If you're a wine-first traveler, this probably isn't your destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable stop if the ahi tuna is calling your name.
· Kailua-Kona · Pop-up Wine Bar / Events
Kona Wine Nights earns its Wild Card badge precisely because it defies the normal restaurant wine calculus — you're buying into an experience led by a sommelier, scored by local musicians, and framed by a Hawaiian sunset. We can't verify the specific bottles or pricing, so we're not going to pretend otherwise, but the concept is genuinely compelling for anyone who wants something more than a Caymus pour at a hotel bar. If you're in Kailua-Kona and want a wine night that feels like it was designed with intention, this is worth the ticket.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Tasting-Style
CanoeHouse is a beautiful place to drink wine — the setting, the seafood, and the overall experience justify the splurge on a special night. But the wine program itself appears to be resort-standard: solid, Champagne-and-Burgundy-leaning, and priced for the zip code rather than the quality in the glass. Come for the view and the lobster tempura; don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hilton Waikoloa Village · Kailua-Kona · Steak & Seafood
Kamuela Provision Company has a stunning setting and almost certainly a strong kitchen, but its documented wine program is barely a program at all. If you're here for the view and the fresh catch, order something off the cocktail menu instead — one Chardonnay at a 3x markup isn't worth building a dinner around.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · New American / Hawaiian
Magics Beach Grill earns its reputation on atmosphere, not its wine program — and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're walking into. If the sunset and the fresh fish are the draw, go for it; just don't expect the list to keep pace with the view. A happy hour window from 2–5 pm and again at 8 pm to close gives you a reason to order a glass without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Italian-Inspired / Casual
Kai is a great place to watch the sun drop into the Pacific with something cold in your hand — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you went. The program is serviceable for the setting, but with resort-level markups likely baked in, the cocktail menu might be a smarter play. If wine is your priority, lower your expectations before you sit down; if the view is your priority, you're exactly where you should be.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Wine Shop / Small Plates
Kona Wine Market is the kind of wine shop that makes you do a double-take when you're expecting tourist-trap bottles and instead find Shafer Hillside Select and a Campanian obscurity on the same shelf. The list is small but it's edited, not lazy, and the pricing is fair for Hawaii. If you're staying on the Big Island and want a serious bottle without driving to a resort bar and paying resort prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Troy · Seafood / Steakhouse
Eddie V's is clearly investing in the kitchen and the room — the wine list suggests nobody got the memo. Four labels with no pricing transparency at an upscale seafood destination in Troy is a hard sell. Order the cocktails and hope someone fixes this soon.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Harrah's Atlantic City · Atlantic City · Seafood / Steakhouse
McCormick & Schmick's inside Harrah's is a wine list on autopilot — safe brands, static program, and markups that remind you you're inside a casino. Drink the Port, keep your expectations low, and don't skip the cocktail menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Overland Park · Overland Park · Seafood / Steakhouse
McCormick & Schmick's isn't here to surprise you with wine, and it doesn't. At $7–$9 a glass the prices are fair, but the list is pure corporate default — grab the Riesling or the Sauvignon Blanc and put your energy into the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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