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Juicy Ulupalakua event celebrates National Pineapple Day

Go behind-the-scenes at MauiWine to see crush tours and more

By Carla Tracy 6 min read

National Pineapple Day is Tuesday, and MauiWine in Ulupalakua will celebrate it by inviting the public to a fun and refreshing excursion on its beautiful grounds on the slopes of Haleakala.

Activities set for the fruity holiday include free pineapple crush tours from 10 a.m. to noon in the Upcountry facility that squeezes the goodness out of the tropical fruits in order to make MauiWine products as well as bases for Hali'imaile Distilling Co.'s Pau vodka and Maui Brewing Co.'s Pineapple Mana Wheat ale.

Go behind the scenes and see what it takes to transform pineapples into your favorite local beverages.

MauiWine crushes over one million pounds of pineapples each year to create its Hula o Maui, Maui Blanc and Maui Splash pineapple wines, and provides juices for the other two companies.

The crush tours on Tuesday will include tastings of crushed pineapples as well as some of the unfinished pineapple wines from the tank.

In addition, the first 100 guests to visit the winery will each receive a free Maui Gold pineapple.

That's a nice gesture as the pineapple worldwide is a sign of hospitality.

Launched in 2010, Maui Gold is owned and operated by skilled local farmers who are committed to preserving the tradition of cultivating the fruit on Maui. It's used exclusively in the above-mentioned items, harvested at the peak of its ripeness and driven from the farming and packing plant in Haliimaile to be crushed at the MauiWine facility.

"With any wine, it's really important to have the best fruit possible. We are lucky to have a relationship with Maui Gold that is just 30 minutes from us," says MauiWine President Paula Hegele.

"They are the experts at growing great pineapples. Our winemaker actually goes into the field, pays attention to the aromas, cuts open a fresh pineapple right in the field looking for the aroma and taste and selects the lots that will be handpicked and used for our pineapple wines. When you get that glass of pineapple wine, we want you to recognize and get those pineapple aromas."

It takes about three or four pineapples to make a bottle of wine. Speaking of which, there will be free tastings that day of pineapple wine in the historic King's Cottage for those who are 21 and older.

Built exclusively for King David Kalakaua in the 1800s when he visited what was then Rose Ranch, it is now home to both the History Room and the Tasting Room.

The History Room portion reopened in January after being closed for one-year undergoing a restoration. It now features historical photos, periodicals, journals and a timeline of the important milestones that have occurred in Ulupalakua from 1841 to present covering the plantation, the ranching and the winemaking eras.

A wall is dedicated to King Kalakaua chronicling his visits with former owner Captain James Makee.

The Tasting Room portion is where the complimentary wine tastings are offered and you may purchase fun retail goods including wines, unique foods and merchandise. The King's Cottage is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

For National Pineapple Day on Tuesday, pineapple-themed merchandise will be 20 percent off regular prices.

The list includes pineapple tanks, shirts, onesies, kitchen towels, shot glasses, mustards, jams, cheese spreaders, night lights, popcorn, wine charms, iced tea and more.

Want to enjoy lunch while visiting MauiWine?

The sweet, tasty fruit will be the highlight of the day's menu at Ulupalakua Ranch Store that is just across Piilani Highway from the winery.

Buy Maui Cattle Co. burgers grilled outside and then topped with pepper-jack cheese and smashed avocado and served with mango slaw and roasted pineapple-and-jalapeno spread. And fresh-cut pineapples will be available all day.

While MauiWine has grown far beyond just producing the pineapple wines with viognier, syrah, malbec, grenache and more, pineapple wine remains an integral part of its business. A half a million cases have been produced and are shipped to 35 states and distributed to 20 and three countries around the world.

"We started making pineapple wines while waiting for grapes to mature to be made into sparkling wines and the team needed to practice," says Hegele. "It was never meant to be a continual product but thank goodness that it is, as it's the majority of our production. For us, it is that representation and staying very true to the agriculture here."

MauiWine is the largest winery in Hawaii and the only one on Maui.

Besides its pineapple, estate-grown and traditional methode sparkling wines, MauiWine has a 23-acre vineyard that grows six varietals.

Its new winemaker Mark Beaman, who formerly created the rock-star wine line for the Mendocino Wine Co., was new to pineapple wines when he arrived, but now he fully embraces it .

"Historically people have fermented what local source of sugar or carbohydrate they have," Beaman says.  "Mexico has tequila from the agave, so why shouldn't Maui ferment an established crop well-suited for its environment?  On top of that, I love the taste of pineapple, so why not be able to drink it as a wine as well?"

What does he say to people who may be wine snobs or have a negative perception of fruit wines?

"Pineapple wine -- with its distinctive aroma -- provides much of the personality of the wine without the need for extra levels of cloying sweetness," concludes Beaman.  "I would encourage people to try the wines with an open mind and you will not be disappointed."

* Reach Dining Editor Carla Tracy at carlatracy@mauinews.com.

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Celebrate the king of fruits by tasting, sipping and learning

• Where: MauiWine is located at Ulupalakua Ranch six miles past Keokea on the back road to Hana at 14815 Piilani Highway.

• When: National Pineapple Day is Tuesday. Free pineapple crush tours are 10 a.m. to noon. Free tastings and tours in historic King's Cottage are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily for those 21 and older. Get 20 percent off pineapple-themed merchandise Tuesday only.

• What else: The first 100 people will get a free Maui Gold pineapple. Pineapple eats will be dished up in Ulupalakua Ranch Store. Fresh-cut pineapples will be available all day long. Take your time and have a nice lunch on the lanai.

• For more details: Call 878-6058 or visit www.mauiwine.com.

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