Maui may conjure images of mai tais and pineapples, but there are vineyards of syrah and malbec in the Upcountry. And while you can certainly taste pineapple wine at MauiWine, the 40-year-old winery on the Ulupalakua ranch, you can also enjoy rosé and syrah — and some spectacular views.

This is storied land, rich in tales of King Kamehameha III, sugar mills, bronco busters and a long and lavish history of hospitality. When C. Pardee Erdman bought the 58,000-acre cattle ranch in the 1960s, he brought in sheep and elk — and Emil Tedeschi, of the Napa Tedeschi family, to create Maui’s first vineyard and winery, which opened in 1974. And that whole pineapple wine thing? That was an accident.

The staff had been setting up its sparkling wine production line. They needed to practice on something — and pineapples were plentiful. They never intended to sell their sparkling pineapple wine. But when Maui Blanc took off in 1977, the winery brought in legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff to refine their pineapple wine production.

The staff had been setting up its sparkling wine production line. They needed to practice on something — and pineapples were plentiful. They never intended to sell their sparkling pineapple wine. But when Maui Blanc took off in 1977, the winery brought in legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff to refine their pineapple wine production.

Details: Complimentary tastings are held in the King’s Cottage, built in 1870 for royal visits. The winery is open daily from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with tours of the estate and cellars offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. King’s Visit private tastings ($50) are held twice a week in the estate’s newly renovated stone jail. Details: 14815 Piilani Highway, Kula; mauiwine.com

Read More at source: The mercury news