Kohala Coast

Meridia isn't a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely solid one for a beachfront resort on the Big Island — the California-Italy focus makes sense, Wednesday's half-price wine promotion is worth knowing about, and a few bottles here (Tignanello, Gaja, Sassicaia) are the real deal. Go for the sunset and the lamb, and let the list do its job.

Manta is the kind of wine list that earns its award — deep enough to reward exploration, anchored by serious producers, and properly stored in a room that takes wine seriously. The pricing is resort pricing, so go in with eyes open, but this is unquestionably one of the better wine programs you'll encounter on the Big Island.