Grapes-A Wine Store

Went in for the first time looking for a bottle of sake. I met the owner, Randy, and he was very Hilo style hospitable. You could tell he was very passionate and knowledgable about wine and sake. Prices were affixed to the bottles and included tax. I thought they were very affordable and comparable to a nearby liquor competitor. Though the sake selection/​inventory wasn’t that much, it was all quality stuff. I’d like to go there again and shop for wine and just talk story with Randy, again.

I’ve known the owner Randy since high school but lost touch and recently reconnected at a 40 year class reunion. He opened his store in 2008 and when I first heard that he had a wine store in Hilo, I thought to myself how can a wine store survive in small, sleepy-​town Hilo? But he’s done remarkably well with the locals, hotels and restaurants in the area. I think he found a niche because I don’t think there are any other stores in Hilo that specialize in wine only. He’s very familiar with his wines and if you’re not sure what you want, he’ll know exactly what to suggest after he asks a few questions. The two bottles of wine he recommended were both fabulous. His prices are quite reasonably priced and not exorbitant either.

The owner, Randy, is awesome. He is great at helping you pick out a wine for your tastes and budget. He knows his wine and is down to earth and friendly. Check out the free wine tastings from 3 – 6:30 pm every other Thursday.

The owner is amazingly sweet and knowledgable. Super passionate about what he does and recommended some great choices. We had a very difficult time finding a great wine selection in Pahoa or Hilo — and stumbled upon this walking around. Highly recommend if you need a good bottle.

If you love wine, great deals & a knowledgeable owner (Randy), look no further. Visiting Grapes is a treat. It’s a Hilo style — clean — cute — no pressure — no haughtiness — relaxed environment. Randy is constantly bringing in new and interesting selections at really affordable prices. He is also a chef and is excellent with pairing. He also has high end wines for special occasions and will special order cases of whatever you after He’s cool whether you spend $ 10 bucks or buy a case. He’s closed on Sunday/​Monday open 12 – 6 every other day so plan accordingly. There’s street parking and a lot at the end of the row of shops that is available for Grapes.

Definitely a rarity in this area, and as a wine-​o I loved it! I bought a delicious bottle of riesling that the owner assisted me in picking out.

Owner Randy does a great job in a small location and a challenging market. The people of Hilo tend to settle for second rate. Recognizing this, Randy stocks a disproportionate number of inexpensive wines, concentrating on the $ 10 to $ 15 range. Fortunately, he is selective, and his wines generally offer great value and would compare favorably to wines costing 20−30% more from many other retailers. He does carry a limited number of more expensive wines, and for a person with a lavish budget he is happy to special order some very, very special wines. While I might like to see greater emphasis on higher-​end wines, I am glad that he has a realistic view of his customers, and stocks what his customers will buy. A less realistic owner might stock wines that were fantastic, but that could not be sold in this market in sufficient numbers to pay the bills. With his realistic business approach, Grapes has not only survived, but has grown. It started in a space a few blocks away from the present location that was about the size of a walk-​in closet. The current space is still humble and compact, but adequate.
For those who would like help selecting a wine, Randy is the guy. He knows everything in his store (as someone with a more extensive selection could not) and has great insights to pairing wines with foods.
While it is tempting to give 5 stars, I just cannot do that. Where I fault Grapes is on a lack of organization. There probably is some system in place, but I have not been able to discern one. I tend to expect wines to be separated into reds and whites, and then arranged alphabetically within those categories. So a Chardonnay would typically be found somewhere to the left of a Gewürztraminer. In Grapes, that assumption does not hold true (and I have been in the shop and unable to spot even a single Chardonnay). Maybe this lack of organization is deliberate, to force customers to talk to Randy, but when I just want to explore I find myself confused.
Better use could be made of the small space if Randy invested in some wine racks/​bins to replace the inefficient stacking of wine cases. Add some labels to guide customers, and it could be much more shopper-​friendly as well as holding a greater selection. Perhaps that is planned for some time down the road. For now, I am happy to see Randy going forward in small steps, and bringing great wines to the Big Island.
I generally avoid email lists in order to minimize spam. One of the few exceptions to that rule is the Grapes email list. This is the way to know what is being sampled at the bi-​monthly tastings, and to know of the frequent events he arranges at local restaurants combining food and wine.

I’m not a wine snob, just a wino, so I really appreciate Randy at Grapes! I can go in and tell him what we’ll be eating and he will come up with great recommendations for pairing. He is never intimidating and his enthusiasm for wine makes me want to learn more about it.
The wines he stocks are in all price ranges, but most are about $ 10 and are very good. I am so happy to have a great wine store in our little Hilo town… maybe someone should open a cheese shop next door :)!

Great little wine shop in Hilo! The owner Randy is very friendly and knowledgable about the wines he sells. Of course he samples all of the wines before he sells them so that’s a plus! How do you end up with THAT dream job?! Lol!
There’s free wine tasting every other Thursday. My only gripe is how crowded it gets in such a little space, especially when we also want to actually buy several wines. Randy also sponsors events such as the sake festival and food & wine pairing. We just did the sake festival last Friday and it was a great experience! Definitely looking forward to it again! Can’t wait to try one of his food and wine pairing events next!

Grapes is an awesome wine store in downtown Hilo. Randy really knows his wines and is always more than happy to help you fine what you need. Each wine he has chosen for me has been delicious. The first Thursday of every month he has wine tastings in his shop. I haven’t been able to go to one yet, as I have been working each time, but one day I hope to make it. Toward the end of the year, to celebrate the New Year, he usually has a sake tasting and will have a nice selection of sakes fore sale. I bought a bunch and they all tasted fantastic.

I wandered in after searching my Unilocal app for a good wine store. Downtown Hilo is filled with mom & pop shops and I’m always a fan of «buy local stay local». Randy is knowledgeable about wines and sakes and quite frankly, it’s just fascinating to hear him talk wine! His suggestions have never disappointed and I always enjoy hearing of new acquisitions especially from the exotic parts of the world. Randy has a selection and price point for everyone too. Prices range from $ 10-​$ 100 and they’re all good wines! I’m a fan for life. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Grapes was one of the most enjoyable wine store experiences I have ever had. The store was well stocked and the owner was extremely accommodating. His knowledge of the products he sold and his enthusiasm while explaining them made this store so much more enjoyable than other wine stores. The selection was very unique and very reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend venturing into this wine store. You won’t regret it.

If this was Europe, I would give a four rather than a five, but to even have something like this in Hilo is amazing. The owner stocks good wine. There is wine tasting on Thursday at 6pm so you can find out what kind you prefer.

WOW, soooo impressed! His selection is extremely unique, his knowledge and passion for the wine he sells surpasses any expectation and his prices are so reasonable, you feel like you are walking on cloud 9 when making selections… This is a cannot miss little gem when in Hilo, especially if you appreciate little wine treasures, because the owner will for sure assist you finding your little piece of the heaven.

Mr. Smidgens was invited to a wine tasting event at Grapes. Mr Smidgens went.
Boy am I glad I did. Grapes is owned by Randy Nunokawa and he tastes every wine he sales in his shop to make sure it’s worthy. All they sell is wine so keep that in mind if you are looking for anything else.
If you need a great wine at a great price then you should pay Randy a visit.
I bought a bottle and went next door to Café Concerto where they will provide a great meal to go with the wine you just purchased.
Randy is very knowledgeable and personable. Check out their website and you too can taste great wines from around the world with Randy.