Cold beer territory that takes wine seriously enough
Pawai Place / Kailua Industrial · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian, Seafood, Hawaii Regional Cuisine · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Umekes Fishmarket Bar & Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Umekes isn't trying to impress anyone, and that's actually refreshing. You're in a loud, happy, poke-slinging Hawaiian seafood joint in a Kona industrial park, and the wine list knows exactly where it stands. Twenty-one by-the-glass options at prices that would make mainland restaurants blush with shame.
This is a greatest-hits list built for approachability, not adventure — California workhorses like J. Lohr, Clos Du Bois, and Cypress Vineyards anchor the reds and whites, with Oregon showing up through Solena and Big Fire on the Pinot side. There's a respectable international sweep: a J&H Selbach Riesling from Germany, Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, Black Cabra Malbec from Argentina, Zeepaard Shiraz from Australia, and a Chateaumar Côtes du Rhône keeping things French. Nobody is going deep here — no vintage callouts, no grower Champagne, no natural wine rabbit holes — but for a casual Hawaiian fish spot, the geographic breadth quietly impresses. The real gap is a bottle list; if one exists, it's nowhere to be found, which means you're drinking by the glass all night.
Twenty-one pours by the glass is a legitimately strong number for a spot like this, and the pricing between $5.50 and $10 a glass is straight-up generous by any market standard, let alone Hawaii. The range covers sparkling (Maschio Prosecco), sweet (Caposaldo Moscato, Beringer White Zinfandel), crisp whites, two Pinot Noirs, and a handful of reds — enough to navigate a full table's worth of preferences without anyone resorting to water.
J. Lohr 'Riverstone' Chardonnay — $9
J. Lohr Riverstone is a consistently reliable, well-made Chardonnay that retails around $14-16 a bottle. Getting it by the glass in Hawaii at this price is genuinely good math — grab it while the fresh catch special is still on the board.
Chateaumar Côtes du Rhône
Nobody orders the Côtes du Rhône at a Hawaiian fish bar, and that's exactly why you should. It's the most interesting red on the list by a mile — Grenache-based, food-friendly, and completely out of place here in the best possible way.
Beringer White Zinfandel
It's on the list, it's cheap, and there's absolutely no reason to order it when you're sitting in front of a fresh ahi poke bowl. This is a menu placeholder, not a choice.
J&H Selbach 'Incline' Riesling + Ahi Poke Bowl
Off-dry Mosel Riesling and raw ahi is one of the great underplayed matches in the food world — the wine's gentle sweetness and laser acidity cut through the sesame oil and soy, and the whole thing tastes like you planned it. You didn't, but nobody needs to know.
The Bottom Line
Umekes isn't a wine destination, but the pricing is honest, the glass count is surprisingly high, and the Riesling-with-poke move alone is worth knowing about. Send your friends here for the food; the wine will take care of itself.
· 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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