From its debut as a small wine symposium on Maui, the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival has evolved into an Epicurean extravaganza that draws thousands of visitors to West Maui each year. Now in its 23rd year, the four-day event is the longest-running festival of its kind in Hawaii.
Held at Kapalua Resort, the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival features a full slate of wine tasting seminars, cooking demonstrations and winemaker dinners. What’s more, guests have the opportunity to have a personal interaction with some of the world’s prominent chefs and winemakers, as well as gain insights about the art of making and enjoying fine wine.
Signature Events
Signature Events at the festival include the Grand Tasting, which showcases the finest wines from more than 150 participating wineries; the Seafood Festival, which spotlights the culinary skills of Hawaii’s top chefs as they create a tantalizing menu of seafood creations; and a selection of Winemaker Dinners held at various restaurants at the resort.
Hawaii chefs who have participated at past Kapalua festivals include Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, and Beverly Gannon—all founding members of Hawaii Regional Cuisine.
Each year carries a different theme, from “Setting the Epicurean Stage for the New Millennium” to “Flavor Map of the World—Charting a Course for Grand Taste.” The festival’s theme for 2004 is “A Salute to Italy & the World’s Great Wine Regions.” Wine tents at the Grand Tasting will offer themes such as “Island Wines from Around the World,” “Napa Valley Greats,” “Sparkling Wine Meets Italian Bubbly” and “Cool Wine Regions.”
The festival was conceived by noted winemaker Robert Mondavi, who invited friends and colleagues from the wine industry to Kapalua to feature their products and enjoy Maui’s good life. The first festival was held in 1981, with about 50 people attending.
Special event packages are available at the resort’s two chief properties, the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, and Kapalua Bay Hotel. Kapalua is a world-class golf resort with a trio of championship courses. Each year, the resort’s Plantation Course hosts the PGA TOUR’s season-opening Mercedes Championships.
Access
The next festival takes place from Thu, Jun 4, 2020 – Sun, Jun 7, 2020. Learn more