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๐Ÿ”ฅThe Rager

Solera

Serious Cellar Meets Island Farm Table

Waikiki ยท Honolulu ยท Farm to Table, Regional ยท Visit Website โ†—

date-nightdeep-cellarold-world-focussplurge-worthy

Reviewed April 7, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupSteep
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

The wine list at Solera lands like a quiet flex โ€” no flashy gimmicks, just a 300-500 bottle program that means business in a town where most restaurants are happy to slide you a mediocre Pinot Grigio and call it a day. California, France, and Italy anchor the list with real intention, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2023 tells you this wasn't assembled on autopilot. You get the sense someone actually cares.

Selection Deep Dive

California leads with the heavy hitters: Opus One, Ridge Monte Bello, Caymus, and Kistler Chardonnay cover both the prestige seeker and the serious drinker. France brings genuine depth โ€” Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet and Barolo names like Giacomo Conterno and Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino show this isn't just a token Bordeaux and done situation. Oregon sneaks in with Domaine Drouhin, which is a nice nod for guests who want something between the Old and New worlds. The gaps are hard to identify from the outside, but if you're hunting natural wines or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you may be out of luck.

By the Glass

With 20-35 by-the-glass options ranging from $12 to $25, the pour program is one of the stronger ones you'll find in Honolulu โ€” this isn't a six-bottle-by-the-glass situation. The range suggests some thoughtful curation rather than just dumping the cheapest case options into stem rotation. We'd love to know how often the list rotates, but even a static 20+ glass list at this quality level beats most of the island.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir โ€” $60โ€“$80 (est. bottle range)

In a list dominated by Napa heavyweights and blue-chip Burgundy, Drouhin Oregon is the play for anyone who wants elegance without the four-figure commitment. It's serious wine that won't require a moment of sticker shock.

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

Giacomo Conterno Barolo

Most tables at a Hawaii farm-to-table spot will reach for California Cab or something French. Conterno Barolo is one of the benchmark names in Italian wine and it's sitting right there โ€” order it, let it breathe, and thank us later.

โ›”Skip This

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Caymus is fine wine that's been so relentlessly over-ordered at restaurants everywhere that the markup is essentially baked into its cultural moment. With Ridge Monte Bello and Opus One on the same list, there's no reason to default to the crowd pleaser.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

Kistler Chardonnay + Locally sourced fish preparation

Kistler is rich and textured without being a butter bomb โ€” it has enough acidity to cut through any delicate preparation and enough weight to match the natural sweetness of fresh Hawaii fish. This is the pairing that makes the island setting make sense.

๐Ÿ”ฅ The Bottom Line

Solera is quietly one of the most serious wine destinations in Hawaii, and the farm-to-table menu gives you plenty of reasons to open something special. Yes, you'll pay for the privilege, but a sommelier who knows the list and a cellar stocked with Conterno and Leflaive isn't something you find at every beachside restaurant.

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