Kaena Wines

Do you have a hankering for a taste of the Aloha state? Do you think it would be awesome to combine great Grenache with the friendly attitude of Hawai’i? That is what Mikael Sigouin thought when he set up the Kaena Wine Company in 2001. He was raised in Oahu, but he came to our fine state to use the Rhone grapes from Tierra Alta Vineyard and Lamar Vineyard because he felt he could achieve greatness with these grapes for his handcrafted Grenaches and other wines. The limestone, sand, and clay soils, combined with the high altitudes of the vineyards, leads to concentrated flavor and great minerality. Still, even with the brilliance of the Rhone varietals in sunny California, Mikael keeps his pride in his home state.

If you would like to see some of this island ethos in action, you are in luck. Kaena Winery set up a tasting room in downtown Los Olivos, a quiet little town in the Santa Ynez Valley. Just look for the flag pole in the center of town. It will be the room decorated with island decor. Here you can sample his 5-starred Rose Grenache while the friendly and knowledgeable staff pours for you. The big orchid on a red background is everywhere and helps this room stand out as a tasting room experience. If you are in Los Olivos, go ahead and sample these handcrafted Grenaches. You may just find yourself agreeing that the Aloha spirit is the perfect pairing for wine.

This is a no frills tasting room and that is perfect for focusing on the quality of the wine. Make sure you engage the tasting room staff. They are very knowledgeable. They will happily walk you through the various AVAs (growing area) throughout Santa Barbara. This is great information to have when you selecting a bottle of Santa Barbara wine.

Address: 2890 Grand Ave, Los Olivos

Phone: (805) 688-4069

Tasting Room Hours: Every day 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Tasting Fees: $12 for 6 wines