Poolside Pours, Mainland Wines, Zero Surprises
Waiakea Peninsula/Banyan Drive · Hilo · Hotel Bar/Lounge · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nanea Lounge at Grand Naniloa Hotel’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on Banyan Drive in Hilo with a view of Hilo Bay, and the wine list reads like it was emailed in from a Hilton corporate office in Memphis. The setting deserves better than this. What you get is a tight roster of names you've seen on grocery store end caps from coast to coast.
The list runs 15 to 30 bottles deep, which sounds reasonable until you realize it's essentially California and New Zealand's greatest commercial hits — Sonoma-Cutrer, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Decoy. No local producers, no Hawaii representation, and nothing that nods to the Pacific Rim geography of the place. Washington State shows up briefly but doesn't do anything interesting. The gaps are large: no Rosé worth mentioning, no sparkling, no old-world presence to speak of. This is a list built for brand recognition, not discovery.
Five to ten pours by the glass, anchored by the usual suspects — expect Meiomi Pinot Noir and Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc to be the workhorses. Rotation appears to be nonexistent; this list looks like it hasn't changed since the property last updated its cocktail menu. If you're hoping for something new on a return visit, don't hold your breath.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $14
It's the one wine on this list with actual pedigree. Russian River Ranches is a legitimate bottling from a real appellation, and at a hotel bar in Hilo, it's your best shot at drinking something with some craft behind it.
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon
It's not exciting, but Decoy is the secondary label from Duckhorn — there's solid winemaking DNA here that most guests overlook while reaching for the Meiomi. If you want a red with some actual structure, this is your move.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
This is the most marked-up bottle for what you're getting. Meiomi is a mass-production blended Pinot built on residual sugar and broad appeal — you're paying hotel bar prices for a $12 retail bottle that tastes like fruit punch cosplaying as Burgundy.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Fish and Chips
Kim Crawford's sharp citrus and grassy edge cuts through the batter and fat in the fish and chips cleanly. It's not a complex pairing, but it works, and it's probably the most honest glass on the menu.
❌ The Bottom Line
Nanea Lounge is a perfectly fine place to have a drink while you watch the sun go down over Hilo Bay — but the wine list is pure hotel autopilot, and nobody here is going to help you drink better. Order a mai tai and save the wine for somewhere that cares.
Downtown Hilo · Hilo · Italian
Cafe Pesto isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair one — reasonable prices, an approachable list, and enough to keep the table happy while you focus on the view and the pizza. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to keep it simple on the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hilo · Hilo · New American
Coco Cantina is almost certainly a fine place to eat, but it has opted out of the wine conversation entirely. Order the Cava, enjoy your meal, and don't come here expecting more than three options.
Grocery Store
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.