A Wine Guide to Kauai: 5 Best Wine Bars in Kauai

Kauai is paradise on earth. And wine holds a special place here. People of Kauai love food, and their interest in wine extends from that.

Hawaii has a deep-rooted history with wine. According to Winemag, of the first 10 American sommeliers to pass the Master Sommelier examination, 5 called Hawaii home at some point. They helped create an enduring wine culture across the islands in the 1970s.

Since then, Kauai has bred some fine wineries and bars catering to a growing demand for wine.

If you are a wine lover, here is a list of places that provide the best wine tasting experience in Kauai.

Kauai Wine Guide: 5 Best Wine Bars in Kauai

1. The Wine Shop and Tasting Room, Koloa

Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 AM- 07:00 PM
Sunday, 11:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Ratings: Yelp [4.5/5]; Tripadvisor [5/5]

The O’Connell family opened this exclusive wine shop in 2006 with a purpose to provide an amazing assortment of wines to guests and residents of the Southern side of the island.

The Wine Shop has since grown, expanding its offerings to include wine, spirits, and beer, to gourmet items and gift baskets. The store has an exquisite collection of wine including old favorites, budget-friendly options, and premium labels.

Ever heard of a wine shop offering a Marriage License? This place does. The Wine Shop is an authorized agent for the license process.

Whether you are paying a random visit or a gift basket, The friendly O’Connells and their knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect choice to suit your palate and budget.

The Wine Shop hosts monthly wine tastings on the first Saturday of each month. Also check out The Tasting Room next door for fabulous sips and bites offered daily.

2. Nani Moon Meadery and Tasting Room, Kapaa

Operating Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12:00 PM – 05:00 PM
Ratings: Yelp [4.5/5]; Tripadvisor [4.5/5]

Hawaii’s only Meadery is a perfect and educational stop for those who enjoy wine tasting and microbreweries. The meadery handcrafts wine with the finest Hawaiian raw honey, with no chemical additives.

Mead, or honey wine, is considered one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in recorded history. In its simplest form, mead is fermented with honey, water, and yeast. Sometimes, it is also crafted with fruits, spices, and grains. Although you might imagine a sweet syrupy beverage, mead varieties are as versatile as wine and beer.

Nani Moon Meadery is family-owned and has a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Their prime mead collection includes 5 varieties- Laka’s Nectar (Kauai wildflower honey and mountain Apple), Pineapple Guava Sunset (Honey, Guava, and Pineapple), Winter Sun (Honey, stardust and Passion Fruit), Ginger Spice (Honey, Star Fruit, Organic Dry Ginger, and Organic Spices) and Cacao Moon (macadamia nut blossom honey from Big Island infused with Kauai Cocoa)

Nani Moon Meadery’s Tasting Room is open Wednesday through Saturday. We recommend doing prior reservations for the best experience.

3. Palate Wine Bar and Restaurant, Kilauea

Operating Hours: Open every day; 05:00 PM – 09:00 PM
Ratings: Yelp [4.5/5]; TripAdvisor [5/5]

Nothing beats the simplicity, and brilliance of good wine paired with excellent food. Palate Wine Bar and Restaurant is just about that. Located in the quaint north shore town of Kīlauea, Palate Restaurant and Bar is operating with a mission to provide a unique wine tasting experience to north shore visitors.

The bar boasts of an impressive collection of wine originating from esoteric wineries around the world. This place specializes in pairing wine with delicious meat and cheese samplers. Their locally sourced, entrée-sized specialty salads are a favorite among the North shore regulars.

If you like the wine, head over to the Palate Market next door to take home a bottle of your liking. The Palate Market is a quaint shop carrying over 100 labels of carefully selected wine, specialty liquor, and domestic, imported, and craft beer.

4. Princeville Wine Market, Princeville Center, Princeville

Operating Hours: Open Every Day; 10:00 AM – 08:00 PM
Ratings: Yelp [4.5/5]; Tripasvisor [4/ 5]

Dining at a bar is exciting. But sometimes we just want to sit with a bottle of wine, all by ourselves, anywhere we’d like. Princeville Wine Market makes that possible if you’re on the north shore.

Princeville Wine Market is a small wine store with a carefully curated selection of wines. If you’ve shopped for wine at many locations on the island, you’ll find that PWM is versatile compared to small wine stores and less complex than larger ones.

You will find a nice collection of wines from major wine-producing countries, and an impressive collection of hard liquor, beer, and locally produced specialties. They also carry an attractive collection of artisan cheese, chocolate, and other gourmet food items.

Princeville Wine Market has an easy-to-navigate online store that brings the boutique wine store experience to your fingertips. You can use their team of sommeliers for recommendations that suit your taste buds and budget.

If you are shopping for a local favorite or a hard-to-find gem, Princeville Wine Market on Kauai’s north shore should be the obvious choice.

5. Koloa Rum Company, Lihue

Operating Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday; 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Ratings: Yelp [4.5/5]; Tripadvisor [4.5/5]

As the name suggests, Koloa Rum Company specializes in fermenting and distilling rum-based derivatives. We’ve included this in the list so that you don’t miss out on Kaui’s homegrown superior quality Rums and cocktails.

Koloa Rum Company is at the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue and effectively recreates the ambiance of the bygone plantation Era. The company is a single-batch, craft distiller and bottler of premium Hawaiian rums.

Rum is carefully handcrafted from the finest sugarcane and abundant natural water available on the island, thus giving it a unique taste.

Kauai White, Gold, Dark, Coconut, and the 12 Barrel Select Aged Hawaiian Rum are a few among the fine collection of premium rums served here. They also serve ready-to-drink Mai Tai, Rum Cakes, Tropical Fruit Jellies, and a unique array of specialty gifts.

The tasting room next to the company store offers daily scheduled tastings of their award-winning rums every hour.

Complimentary Rum tastings happen every 1 hour, allowing 10 people at a time. Tasting hours are between 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Final Thoughts on the Best Wine Bars in Kauai

Life is too short to drink bad wine.

We truly hope that the above list of best wine bars in Kauai will help you have an unforgettable wine tasting experience on the island. It’s no surprise if you take a bottle back home as a souvenir.

Do share your Kauai wine tasting experience with us.

5 Best Wine Bars in Kauai [Infographic]