Five Intriguing Facts about MauiWine

MauiWine was established in 1974. Even before MauiWine existed, the property it is located on played a large role in shaping the culture of Upcountry Maui for many years. The property’s legacy has evolved through three eras in recent history. Each era built on the heritage that was established from the last. The first was the property’s plantation era which spanned from 1841 through 1886. The plantation was first a farm that sold a variety of foods, then it became a very successful sugar mill. Next, the property evolved into a cattle ranch and later a horse ranch. Finally, in an attempt to use the property in a new way, the winemaking era was brought to fruition. The interesting history of the property has produced a few crazy facts along the way that are celebrated in the cultural heritage of MauiWine.

1. The property’s second plantation was much more successful than its first.

The land where MauiWine is located was originally a plantation which was leased by L.L. Torbert. He called the land Torbertsville. Here, he produced a variety of food options including Irish potatoes. Torbert had a life-long dream of striking gold in California. So, during the Gold Rush he loaded up a boat with his Irish potatoes and set out into the Pacific Ocean. But, he never made his dream a reality due to the unfortunate event of his boat springing a leak. Torbert lost everything during his short time at sea. The Torbertsville Plantation was later sold to Captain James Makee. Makee turned the plantation into the most extensive estate on the islands and called it Rose Ranch. He hosted many elaborate parties at the ranch and turned it into the most productive sugar plantation in Maui’s history. Rose Ranch produced over 800 tons of sugar annually during its peak years.

2. A medical doctor from New York raised the fastest horses in Hawaii.

Rose Ranch was renamed to Raymond Ranch in 1900 when Dr. James Raymond purchased the property and pushed it into the ranching era. The ranch was famous for raising the fastest horses in Hawaii. Some of the horses raised on the ranch competed in the rodeo in Wyoming where the riders received many awards for roping races. The property was renamed again in 1922 when Frank Fowler Baldwin purchased it and called it Ulupalakua Ranch. Baldwin continued the ranch’s tradition of raising horses but chose to use the horses for the sport of polo rather than rodeo.

3. A partnership was established that emphasized the land’s heritage.

The winery was established in 1974. It was founded as a partnership between ranch owner C. Pardee Erdman and Napa Valley winemaker Emil Tedeschi. Many of the Makee estate buildings that were built during the Rose Ranch days are now used as functional parts of the winery. For example, the old dairy is now the bottling room and the old jail is now a private tasting room. When you tour MauiWine, you will venture through these historic buildings. The strong value that the company places on Maui’s heritage and the property’s heritage is very apparent.  

4. Pineapples were used for practice while the vineyard matured

A sparkling pineapple wine was created as an experiment while the vineyard was maturing. This pineapple wine was not originally intended to be sold. It was simply created as a way of practicing and perfecting the company’s winemaking process. They were pleasantly surprised when the experiment turned into a delicious beverage. Today, the island of Maui specializes in premium pineapple wines and MauiWine’s local pineapple wines are made from Maui Gold Brand pineapples. So, it is a local business that supports other local businesses. MauiWine offers three pineapple wines. The first is Maui Blac which is a crisp and clean wine that can be compared to a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Another is Maui Splash which is a sweet wine that can be compared to a Riesling or Moscato. Last but not least is the Hula o Maui which is a refreshing sparkling wine which is delicious in mimosas.

5. The original goal of creating a premium red wine was bypassed

MauiWine uses Carnelian grapes to make their wine. Carnelian grapes were originally developed in California as a hot climate Cabernet grape. The intention behind choosing the Carnelian grapes was to produce a premium red wine product. Instead, because of the success of the sparkling pineapple wine product, the entire first harvest was used to create a sparkling wine called Maui Brut Blac de Noir. Before this wine was released to the public, it was served before it was released at President Ronald Reagan's inauguration ceremony. The Maui Brut Blac de Noir was released in 1984 and sold out very quickly. Today, MauiWine creates a wide variety of flavors including red, white, rose, and sparkling wines. About the Author: Experience Upcountry Maui with Skyline Hawai’i on a guided tour. The relaxed culture and soaring views are just the beginning of what Upcountry Maui has to offer. For more information or to make your reservation today, visit: www.skylinehawaii.com.