Interview with Mailani Delapenia, Manager of the Volcano Winery in the Big Island, Hilo

I visited the Big Island in Hilo and interviewed Mailani Delapenia, manager of The Volcano Winery. We also did some wine tasting and I learned quite a bit about the first and only winery on the Big Island which has great selections of some of the most unique locally produced wines made with Aloha. The interview was very informative and flying up to Hilo to experience the magic of the Island is worth it ! Volcano Winery is the southernmost winery in the United States. The vineyards and winery are located on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano, near the summit of Kilauea in the Island of Hilo, Hawaii making it a magical place to visit. It is also a great place to pick up some of the most beautiful local arts, food and souvenirs.Volcano Winery makes several wines from the Symphony grape, fruit wines, Jaboticaba berries and guava fruit. One of my favorites, the Symphony Mele wine (meaning Love song to Hawaii)  won the gold medal at the 2004 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. The Volcano Winery also makes a Mead wine which is made with 100% Macadamia honey, a great dessert wine and Volcano Infusion Tea Wine, just to name a few.Thank you for the opportunity and hospitality Mailani Delapenia, The Bothof family (Delwin and Marie Bothof) , the staff of Volcano Winery and Malia Delapenia. If you would like to experience and taste locally grown wine from Hawaii or want more information, call the Volcano Winery at  (808) 967-7772 or Fax (808) 967-7679 or volcanowinery.com Volcano WineryP.O. Box 84335 Pii Mauna DriveVolcano, Hawaii 96785