Sip, Sip, Hooray!

The paycheck is in the mail, but once again you’ve already prespent your earnings. Dinner at Nobus, a new Passchal handbag, and that recent online shopping spree left you in chard times. Now you’re trying to quench your champagne tastes on a box wine (and we don’t even mean the good brands) budget.

There’s no need to give up the viner things in life. Almost every day of the week, you can pour over Hawaii’s wine shops’ selections without having to cork over a dime.

Tuesday
HASR Wine Co. – 5 – 7 p.m., Tues. and Fri.
Tucked behind a charming courtyard off of busy Pauahi St., this oenophile’s oasis specializes in lines you usually just find offered in restaurants. After sampling the chefs favorites you might want to grab a toothy treat from nearby Grand Café.
31 N. Pauahi St. 1B, 808.535.WINE. Click here for HASR's website.

Wednesday
Whole Foods Market – periodically, 4-7 p.m.
The organic and natural food giant offers its sips along with snacks every Friday and Saturday. But twice this month and occasionally throughout the year the free tastings will be held midweek.
Kahala Mall, 808.738.0820. Click here for the full wine tasting calendar.

Thursday
Shiroma’s Wine and More – 5-8 p.m.
Stashed away next to Starbucks and City Mill in Waimalu, SWAM offers more than just vintage bottles. Try select shochu, microbrews, and even custom-made cocktails.
98-1227 Kaahumanu St., Waimalu, 808.487.SWAM. Click here for the schedule.

Also: Grapes, Big Island – 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 3 – 6:30 p.m.
806 Kilauea St., Hilo. 808.933.1471

Friday
Fujioka’s Wine Times, Mililani – 5 – 7 p.m.
There’s no need to head to town for a taste of the good life. Friday nights, people pack into Fujioka’s bottle-filled space next to Times Pharmacy. And watch for the shop’s twice-annually seasonal tastings when as many as 40 bottles are trotted out.
95-390 Kuahelani Ave., Mililani. 808.625.8020.

Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors – Fridays & Saturdays, usually 4-7 p.m.
Get in the spirit of things with a wide variety of weekly wine, beer, scotch, sake, or even cigar samplings at Tamura’s three locations. This weekend, customers in Kaneohe can try Chambers & Chambers wines Friday, Pucker’s flavored vodkas Saturday and cognacs and tequila Sunday. Then zip over to Aiea for Johnson Brothers bottles and Kai vodkas or head to Kaimuki for Sierra Nevada and Mad River beer.
Aiea – 98-302 Kamehameha Hwy., 808.488.7444. Click here for in-store tastings.
Aikahi – 25 Kaneohe Bay Dr., 808., 254-2000. Click here for in-store tastings.
Kaimuki – 3496 Waialae Ave., 808.735.7100. Click here for in-store tastings.

The Wine Stop – 2nd & 3rd Friday of the month, 5-7:30 p.m.
Inside the cozy-looking orange cottage on King Street is a world of wines that opens for free tastings every Saturday. But you might want to make The Wine Stop part of your Pau Hana Friday twice a month when the shop has featured complimentary pairings such as beer and locally-made Madre Chocolates.
1809 S. King St., 808.946.3707. Click here for The Wine Stop's website.

Also: Kona Wine Market – 3-5 p.m.
Kona Commons on 74-5450 Makala Blvd., Kailua Kona. 808.329.9400.

Saturday
R. Field Wine Company – 4 – 6 p.m.
Take a break from the produce section for a pour in Foodland Supermarket’s wine boutique. Before you go, print out R. Field’s wine and cheese pairing suggestions for easy party shopping.
Aina Haina – 820 Hind Dr. #101. 808.373.2222.
Honolulu – 1460 S. Beretania St. 808.596.9463.
Kailua – 108 Hekili St. 808.261.3211. Click here for the full schedule.

Also: Fujioka’s Wine Times, Market City – 3 – 5 p.m.
Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquor – various in the afternoons
The Wine Stop – 1 – 5 p.m.
Whole Foods Market – 2-4 p.m.

Daily
Next time you go island hopping, two Hawaii vineyards are open for tasting 365 days a year.

Volcano Winery, Big Island – Daily, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Using the Symphony grape, local tropical fruit, and even macadamia nut honey, Volcano’s line of wines promise lighter, sweeter sips.
35 Pii Mauna Dr., Volcano, 877.967.7222. www.volcanowinery.com.

Tedeschi Vineyards, Maui – Daily,10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In addition to the rose, merlot and syrah blend, and unoaked chardonnay, Tedeschi is known for its sweet and fruity wines made from Maui pineapple juice.
Ukupalakua Ranch, Kula, 877.878.6058. www.mauiwine.com. There are also free tours daily at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.