Resort Wine Cred That Actually Earns It
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai · Kailua-Kona · American Steakhouse with Hawaiian Influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Miller & Lux Hualalai’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Miller & Lux at the Four Seasons Hualalai, the wine list arrives with the kind of quiet confidence that resort steakhouses usually fake. A Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall isn't just decorative here — the list behind it actually has something to say. The oceanfront setting raises your expectations, and the wine program mostly keeps pace.
The 150-250 label list leans hard into California, which makes sense for a steakhouse that wants to sell Napa Cabernet alongside $80 dry-aged ribeyes — and it does that job well. France shows up primarily in the dessert wine column, with Château d'Yquem 2006 anchoring the sweet end of the list in serious style. Italy and Portugal get a nod through thoughtful dessert selections rather than a full regional spread, so if you came looking for a deep Burgundy dive or an Iberian rabbit hole, temper those expectations. The list is coherent and well-curated for what this restaurant is, even if it doesn't push many boundaries.
With 15-25 by-the-glass options, there's enough to work through a meal without committing to a bottle — a genuine plus at these price points. The BTG program reads as quality-forward rather than just convenient, which is the bar a Four Seasons should be clearing. No confirmed rotation or weekly program, so what you see is likely what you get across visits.
Donnafugata 'Ben Ryé' Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily 2019 — null
Price unknown from research data, but Ben Ryé is a consistently stellar Sicilian dessert wine from one of the island's best producers — it often gets overshadowed by the Yquem on a list like this, which means you sometimes catch it at a comparatively reasonable pour. If you're finishing a meal here, this is where to put your money.
Taylor Fladgate 30 Year Tawny Port
Tawny Port at a steakhouse is the most underordered thing on any list — people see it and think 'grandma's house.' Thirty years in barrel from Taylor Fladgate is a completely different conversation: nutty, complex, and built to sit alongside a cheese course or a bite of dark chocolate. Most tables walk right past it.
Château d'Yquem, Sauternes 2006
Look, d'Yquem 2006 is a genuinely great wine. But at a Four Seasons resort steakhouse, this bottle is going to be priced at a level that makes even the wine-obsessed among us do the math and wince. Unless someone else is paying, the markup on a trophy bottle like this at a luxury resort is going to be punishing. Enjoy it at home from a retailer instead.
Far Niente 'Dolce' Semillon Blend, Napa Valley 2016 + Fresh Local Fish Preparations
Dolce is a lush, honeyed late-harvest blend that has enough acidity to stay fresh — put it against a rich local fish preparation, especially anything with a citrus or tropical glaze, and you've got a Hawaii-specific moment that actually makes sense on paper and on the plate.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Miller & Lux Hualalai is a resort wine list that doesn't embarrass itself — it earned that Wine Spectator nod, has a real sommelier in the room, and the dessert wine selection alone is worth a look. Just know you're paying Four Seasons prices for the privilege, and plan accordingly.
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill
Roy's Waikoloa is a reliable night out with food that outpaces the wine list by a full length. Drink the Sonoma-Cutrer with the butterfish, skip the markups on the obvious stuff, and let the view do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Italian osteria with locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients
Pueo's isn't building a destination wine program, but it's doing something harder — keeping prices honest in a market that rarely does. Send your friends here for dinner; just know the list is a supporting character, not the headliner.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Beachside Hawaiian and Pacific Rim
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Alii Drive · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-style barbecue / plate lunches
We would never send someone to TJ's for the wine list — we'd send them for the smoked brisket and the ocean view. But if you want something in a glass while you eat, the list does just enough to keep you covered, and $12 a pour is fair by Hawaii standards.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-inspired and pan-Pacific fare with a classic tiki bar
Don the Beachcomber is a genuinely fun place to spend an evening in Kona, and the cocktail program absolutely earns its reputation — so get the mai tai and leave the wine list alone. If you insist on a bottle, grab the La Crema, accept your losses, and watch the sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Contemporary American and Seafood
Come for the manta rays and the sunset, order a cocktail, and make your peace with it. The wine list is a hotel afterthought dressed in markup we can't recommend with a straight face.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
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.