Hawaii Wine Tasting Events Calendar Special Winemaker Dinners Maui Honolulu Gayot

November 22
Wolfgang's Steakhouse, in conjunction with HASR Wine Co., will host a four-course J MOSS wine dinner starting at 6:00 p.m. Winemaker James Moss will be on hand to pour Cabernet Sauvignons from his three Napa Valley vineyards. The evening's pairings will include Black Angus New York strip steak served with mashed potatoes and 2004 Galleron Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon; and broiled bone-in Colorado lamb chops with creamed spinach and 2005 Spicer Vineyard Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. The meal costs $130. Call HASR at 808-535-9463 for reservations. Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2301 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815, 808-922-3600.

November 26-28
Vino's master sommelier Chuck Furuya declares the 2009 vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau, "...thankfully, is a pretty darn-good vintage." Furuya notes that though there have been concerns about the over production and manipulation of this wine resulting in a general decline in the overall quality, he maintains that there is most definitely a place for well-grown and well-made Beaujolais Nouveau. The featured wine for this event will be Domaine Dupeuble, producer of traditional Beaujolais that brings its old-fashioned sensibility to a limited production of Beaujolais Nouveau described as fresh, exuberant, crisp and delicious. Sounds good to us. By reservation only. Please call 808-533-4476. Vino, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-524-8466.

Ongoing
Maui's only winery, Tedeschi Vineyards, offers a tasting room that's open daily (except for major holidays) and three free guided tours of the grounds and winery. For more information visit www.mauiwine.com. Tedeschi Vineyards, Ulupalakua, HI, 877-878-6058.

Ongoing
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea provides an "Ultimate Wine Dinner" upon request. Each dinner, which must be requested 24 hours in advance, is personally tailored in consultation with the chef and staged outside overlooking Wailea Beach. Guests can discuss their wine selections or receive recommendations from master sommelier Daniel Braun. Sample wine dinners include "Best of Sonoma," "Espagne," "Grand Cru Vineyards" and "Enogastrinomico." The "Enogastrinomico" dinner, for example, features insalata misto with Ferrari Brut, insalata pomodoro with Jermann "Dreams," Kobe tenderloin with Tenuta dell' Ornellaia "Ornellia," wild boar and mushroom with Gaja "Costa Russi," and a cheese plate with Argiolas "Angialis." For more information and pricing, call the hotel or visit www.fourseasons.com/maui. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI 96753, 808-874-8000, 800-334-6284.

Ongoing
The affable Kihei cheese shop, Who Cut the Cheese? offers two monthly wine tasting sessions. Their Wine for Cheesemongers class is held once a month and goes in-depth with different varietals. Their 5 Wines with 5 Cheeses tasting is also held once a month and pairs cheese hors d'oeuvres with specific wines. For dates and information, or to make a reservation, visit www.whocutthecheese.net. Who Cut the Cheese?, Azeka's II Shopping Ctr., 1279 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, HI 96753, 808-874-3779.

Tuesdays
One of Honolulu's longest running weekly wine events, Wrath of Grapes at Indigo in Chinatown is more popular than ever. Gather Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. with other oenophiles to explore wines from around the world. Each week's event is hosted by a different vendor, so you may dabble in the grapes of Germany one week and be off to the Land Down Under the next. It's always informative and you can't beat the light pupu prepared by noted chef Glenn Chu. Reservations are required and taken by phone only. For information call or visit www.indigo-hawaii.com. Indigo, 1121 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-521-2900.

Fridays
'Elua hosts contemporary jazz group Meridian every Friday evening beginning at 8:30 p.m. Order from the specially priced Jazz Appetizer Menu and enjoy wine by the glass from the 24 bottle wine cruvinet system. If you find the perfect wine, order a bottle. 'Elua, Uraku Building, 1341 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814, 808-955-3582.

Saturdays
Every Saturday the Wine Stop hosts a wine tasting from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at its cool King Street digs in a converted bungalow. Owner Kim Karalovich and her knowledgeable staff steer you through New Zealand whites, perhaps some Hungarian Bull's Blood or their latest Italian choices. For information call or visit www.thewinestophawaii.com. Wine Stop, 1809 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96826, 808-946-3707.

Sundays
The folks at the Wine Stop have added weekly seminars to their line-up of tasting events. Who wouldn't want to learn the secrets of Blind Tasting in Five Easy Steps, or explore the best wines from Spain and California in a region-to-region challenge? The topics change each week with occasional recurring themes such as a three-part series focusing on wines from Napa. Sunday afternoons 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required, cost vary. For information call or visit www.thewinestophawaii.com. Wine Stop, 1809 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96826, 808-946-3707.

Hawaii Wine Tastings & Events