Great Sunset, Grocery Store Wine List
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Beachside Hawaiian and Pacific Rim · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Lava Lava Beach Club’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting with your toes in the sand, waves rolling in, sun melting into the Pacific — and then the wine list arrives. It's a greatest-hits album of airport-lounge staples: Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Santa Margherita. The setting does heavy lifting that the list simply refuses to do.
Twenty-five to forty selections sounds reasonable until you realize that California, New Zealand, and Italy account for virtually everything, and the producers are the kind you'd find facing out on a grocery store end-cap. There's no depth to speak of — no interesting grower Champagne, no lean coastal whites that might actually make sense next to fresh Pacific catch, no surprises whatsoever. The list reads like it was assembled by someone who googled 'most popular wines in America' and called it a day. To be fair, the audience is largely vacationers who aren't here to geek out, but that's not an excuse for charging resort prices on mass-market juice.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass sounds generous, but when the lineup is anchored by Meiomi and Kim Crawford, quantity isn't the flex they think it is. There's no rotation or seasonal program to speak of — what you see is what you get, indefinitely. If you're lucky, a crisp white is chilled properly; if you're not, you're sipping warm Pinot Grigio while watching a gorgeous sunset.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — null
Look, we're not thrilled about it either, but if you're going glass-for-glass at a beachside bar in Hawaii, at least Kim Crawford is reliably crisp, high-acid, and doesn't embarrass itself next to coconut shrimp. It's the least-bad option on a list that doesn't give you much to work with. Price not confirmed — ask before you order.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
It's not actually a hidden gem — it's one of the most recognized Italian whites in America — but in this context it's the most food-friendly bottle on the list. Lean, dry, and neutral enough to let the fresh catch of the day do the talking. Most people reach for Meiomi out of habit; don't.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Sweet, jammy, and clocking in around 13.5% ABV with enough residual sugar to make your teeth ache — Meiomi is a crowd-pleaser that costs $12–$14 retail and will run you considerably more here. It's not built for seafood, it's not built for the tropics, and it's not built for people who actually like Pinot Noir. Hard pass.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio + Fresh Catch of the Day
Whatever the kitchen is running as the day's fresh catch — likely ahi, mahimahi, or opakapaka — needs something clean and dry alongside it. Santa Margherita won't wow anyone, but its neutral, citrus-edged profile stays out of the way and lets the fish be the star. On a hot Hawaiian evening, that's enough.
The Bottom Line
Come for the sand, the sunset, and the Huli Huli chicken — just don't come expecting the wine list to match the view. Order the best white they have cold, tip your server well, and make peace with it.
· 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 · Seafood / Steakhouse
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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