Beaches and beverages go hand in hand in creating the ideal relaxing getaway. On the beach front (pun intended), it’s hard to imagine a destination more ideal than Maui, thanks to the island’s lush landscape, polished resorts and pristine sand. And you don’t have to sip an embarrassing fruit-filled cocktail to get the other half of that equation—unless that’s your thing.
One of the island’s most fascinating (and fun) features is perhaps also its best-kept secret. With warm days, ocean breezes and rich volcanic soil—prime growing conditions for sugar cane, pineapples, grapes and other natural ingredients—Maui is home to several facilities that produce island-made wine, beer, vodka and other spirits. If drinking in ocean views and tropically tinged brews at the same time calls to you, visit these five spots around the island to lap up Maui’s world-class liquid agriculture offerings.
MauiWine
Nestled roadside on the lush southern slopes of Haleakala volcano, MauiWine (pictured at top) occupies the historic former Rose Ranch estate and grows grapes in its ocean view Ulupalakua vineyards, just a short drive up Highway 37. Its main building is called the King’s Cottage, a nod to its use by Hawaii’s last reigning king, Kalakaua, and Queen Kapi’olani as a place of R&R. Today, the charming, newly refurbished building houses a registration desk for winery tours and a bright and breezy tasting room, where guests can sidle up for complimentary samples of handcrafted reds (Syrah, Grenache and Malbec), whites (Chenin Blanc and Viognier) and rosé, as well as its signature—and delicious—pineapple wines and its crisp, bright sparkling Rose Ranch wine, Lokelani. Winery tours are free, but for a $50-per-person fee, guests can upgrade their experience to a King’s Visit, complete with a tour and a tasting in the winery’s intimate Old Jail building. Guests who sign up for tours won’t be granted access to the vineyards (an extremely limited number of vineyard tours are offered throughout the year for a hefty fee), but they’ll get a peek inside the winery’s colorful history, and its pineapple-wine-making process, which is what sets this spot apart in the first place.
Hali’imaile Distilling Company
Founded in 2010 by the LeVecke family—the creators of Hana Bay Rum and Whaler’s Rum whose roots in Hawaii’s spirits industry date back 30 years—Hali’imaile Distilling Company makes its home among pineapple and sugar cane fields in Makawao, on the slopes of Haleakala. Here, Colorado import and master distiller Mark Nigbur; his son, Cory; and their meticulous team use Nigbur’s self-designed/engineered stills to produce the micro-distillery’s flagship Pau Maui Vodka, which is distilled using Hawaii-grown pineapple. Before you balk: there’s no trace of the tropical fruit in the vodka’s clean, crisp flavor. Also distilled and bottled on-site is Paniolo Whiskey, Maui Moon Vodka and Sammy’s Beach Bar Rums—warming spirits with hints of tropical flavors ranging from coconut and banana to macadamia and cherry, sold under rocker and part-time Maui resident Sammy Hagar’s own label. Distillery tours are $10 per person, and visitors 21 and over can sample up to six spirits during their visit. If you need something to soak up those samples before you hit the road, head across the street to Hali’imaile General Store for chef Bev Gannon’s make-you-cry crab pizza, fragrant coconut fish curry, fresh poke bowls and legendary pineapple upside-down cake.
