The 5 Best Bars & Clubs in Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Ynez Valley

Reviewed By stevenk768 - Honolulu, United States

Kaena is an awesome tasting room with a distinctly local Hawaiian story to it. My wife and I were recommended to visit Kaena, which is a few doors down from the Fess Parker Inn where we were staying. As soon as you walk into Kaena, you know you are in a different kind of tasting room. Kaena has a really casual feel, with decor that recalls old Hawaii. Mike, the owner, was there when we visited, and we found out he actually grew up and went to school in Hawaii, near our home. Mike's story as to how he became a winemaker is really awesome, and he is an extremely warm and friendly guy, with a really big heart. This guy exudes aloha. But in all seriousness, this is Los Olivos we are talking about, so if you are going to have a wine tasting room, you gotta have some game. Well, Mike's Kaena winery did not disappoint. His passion, and his specialty, is Grenache wine. You will taste grenache at some of the other tasting rooms, but Kaena's Grenache really is a step above. We enjoyed it very much, and purchased some of his estate Grenache. Now from time to time you will see folks walking around time holding a bottle or two that they bought from a tasting room, but we actually met a couple of folks in Los Olivos who were carrying a case of Kaena's Grenache. Now how often do you see that? Answer: It's really rare. When you visit Los Olivos, you really do have to make a short list of tasting rooms to visit, as there are way too many to begin to visit them all. I certainly recommend that Kaena be on your list. The wine is very enjoyable, and so is the Hawaiian vibe and story that go along with this place.