Maui Wine Country

Maui Wine at Ulupalakua Ranch is one of the most remarkable wine operations in the world. Located at 2,000 feet on the south slope of Haleakala, the 10,023-foot dormant volcano that dominates Maui's landscape, the winery occupies a 23,000-acre working cattle ranch that has hosted Hawaiian royalty since the 1800s. Trade winds from the northeast cool the volcanic soils enough for Carnelian (a Cabernet Sauvignon cross), Symphony (a Muscat-Grenache hybrid), and even Merlot to ripen with reasonable balance. The wines are not trying to be Napa, and they shouldn't be. They are genuinely tropical, with exotic aromatics that reflect the unique growing conditions. The tasting room experience includes views across the Kihei coast to the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe, and the ranch heritage adds a cultural dimension that no other American winery can match.