Lambrusco and Pet Nat in Paradise
· Honolulu · Hawaii Regional · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Moku Nui’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into an open-air, breezy room built for mai tais and hand-tossed pizza, so the last thing you expect is a wine list with Champalou Vouvray and a Trousseau/Gamay blend. But here we are. Moku Nui is quietly running one of the more interesting wine programs in Honolulu, and almost nobody is talking about it.
Forty-six labels sounds modest, but the curation punches above that number. The bubbles section alone — Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco, Obsidian Ridge Pet Nat, Avinyo Cava Brut Rosé, Collet Champagne, and Veuve Fourny Blanc de Blancs — shows a real point of view rather than a default Champagne drop and a Prosecco. Whites lean toward acid-driven, food-friendly pours: Do Ferreiro Albariño, Champalou Chenin Blanc, Stolpman Sauvignon Blanc, and a Vinho Verde for the warm-weather crowd. Reds are the thinnest section, leaning heavily on California Cabernet, though the Glou d'Etat Trousseau/Gamay is a welcome curveball that signals someone behind this list actually has a personality. The Matthiasson Peach + Grape Wine is either a quirky flex or a tourist trap depending on your mood, but it fits the island-casual vibe either way.
Eleven by-the-glass options at $14–$17 is a genuinely fair spread, especially when the list includes real producers rather than bulk wine dressed up in a restaurant label. The glass range mirrors the bottle list's adventurous spirit — you can order a Lambrusco, a Vouvray, or a Grenache Rosé without committing to a full bottle, which is exactly what you want in a casual, lively room. Rotation doesn't appear to be a strong suit here, but the current lineup earns its keep.
Champalou Chenin Blanc Vouvray — $16/glass
Champalou is a reference-point Vouvray producer, and finding their Chenin at $16 a glass in a pizza-and-mai-tai spot is genuinely surprising. This is serious Loire Valley wine at a price that won't make you do the math twice.
Glou d'Etat Trousseau/Gamay
Most tables here will order a Cabernet or skip wine entirely, which means this funky, light-bodied Trousseau/Gamay blend from Glou d'Etat sits quietly on the list waiting for the right person. It's the kind of wine that makes you feel like you found something — because you did.
Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
At $98 a bottle it's not outrageously priced for what it is, but spending close to a hundred dollars on Champagne in a room built around birria pizza and live music is a context mismatch. The Avinyo Cava or Collet Brut Reserve gives you your bubbles fix without the solemn occasion energy.
Do Ferreiro Albariño Rias Baixas 2023 + Sautéed Ahi
Galician Albariño and fresh Pacific tuna is a no-brainer — both are saline, bright, and built for each other. Do Ferreiro is one of the best producers in Rias Baixas, and the 2023 has the citrus tension to cut through whatever sauce comes with the ahi without steamrolling the fish.
The Bottom Line
Moku Nui is a casual Hawaii Regional spot that has no business running a wine list this thoughtful — and we mean that as high praise. Fair glass prices, a sommelier clearly making intentional choices, and enough variety to reward the curious drinker. If you're eating here, skip the default beer order and let someone at the table order the Vouvray.
Waikiki · Honolulu · Seafood
Azure is a genuinely lovely place to drink wine — the setting does a lot of heavy lifting and the France-Italy-Hawaii focus is a sensible match for the island seafood menu. Just go in knowing resort markup is real, and if the tasting menu with wine pairing is available, that's likely your best shot at getting something memorable poured without having to guess blind from the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Tasting Menu
Senia's wine program is one of the more thoughtful in the state — sommelier on staff, an Old World-focused list, and a Wednesday night deal where bottles at $65 and under get cut in half plus a tasting flight. If you're serious about what's in your glass, this is where you go in Honolulu. Book a Wednesday if you can.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
· Honolulu · Italian-American
53 By The Sea plays an interesting game: a short, all-glass list that punches well above its weight in the mid-range, anchored by a custom Failla Pinot and some genuinely thoughtful picks from Austria and southern Italy. Markups lean steep, especially as you climb the tiers, and the absence of bottle service means you're always buying by the glass. But if you stick to the $12–$31 range, this is one of the more curated pours you'll find in Honolulu — and that Grüner alone is worth the visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Hawaii's wine list does what the brand does everywhere — it's safe, corporate, and priced to capture resort-market margins. The Champagne selection is genuinely deep and includes some worthwhile picks like the Paul Bara and the Llopart Cava, but markups are steep and there's little here to excite anyone looking beyond the obvious. If you're here for a steak and want bubbles, you'll find something that works — just don't expect the list to dazzle you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikiki · Honolulu · Steakhouse
BLT Steak Waikiki is a competent, crowd-pleasing steakhouse wine list in a setting where you're mostly paying for the view and the popovers. If wine is central to your evening, call ahead and ask what's actually open — the list's documented depth isn't enough to guarantee a great bottle without some homework. Come for the porterhouse, manage your wine expectations.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Hawaii Regional
Mud Hen Water's wine list is small, smart, and priced without the island markup you'd expect. It won't overwhelm you with options, but the options it has are well-chosen — and the ability to glass-pour every single bottle means you can explore freely. If you're eating there, skip the default and work through the whites.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
