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The festive event ushers in the holiday season with food, music, wine tasting, free drawings, and a shoppers’ paradise of Maui-style gifts and specialty items. On this day, the ranch store and winery will offer exclusive “Sunday Drive” specials on all branded merchandise and wines—at prices previously only available to the ‘Ulupalakua Employee ‘Ohana.

To add extra sparkle to the shopping experience, Maui slack key guitar master Jeff Peterson will play on the winery grounds from 1 to 4 p.m. The son of an ‘Ulupalakua Ranch paniolo, Peterson grew up immersed in the heritage of Hawaiian music, a tradition he continues to share with generations of Maui residents and visitors. His talents were featured on Slack Key Guitar Volume 2, which won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album. The Seabury Middle School Band will also play from noon to 12:30 p.m., and will sell shave ice as a fundraiser for the band program.

Visitors to ‘Ulupalakua Sparkles can enjoy delicious free samples of Maui Cattle Company baked beef brisket. Maui Cattle Co. was formed in 2002, when a group of Maui ranchers decided to bring Hawaiian beef back to Hawai‘i. The result is premium Angus beef that is full of ?avor and 100 percent natural, raised on Maui without growth hormones or antibiotics.

Fans of sparkling wine will have the opportunity to see a real sparkling production line, with demonstrations by Maui’s Winery production team from 11 to 4 p.m. in the winery pavilion.

Maui Culinary Academy will serve up their Upcountry Caesar Salad, along with cookies and ice cream as a fundraiser for their Gourmet Travel Club. The club raises travel funds to learn about cuisines from other regions, helping students prepare for careers in the culinary arts.

A tempting array of lunch fare is also available from ‘Ulupalakua Ranch Store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Maui Cattle Company and ‘Ulupalakua Elk Burgers, the ranch’s famous ‘Ulupalakua Steak Chili, salads, sandwiches and other holiday lunch specials.

Free wine tasting is offered throughout the day in the King’s Cottage Tasting Room, with tours of Maui’s Winery beginning at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Paradise Flower Farms and Haleakala Florist will offer exquisite fresh Christmas wreaths and ?ower arrangements ready to take home or ship for the holidays. Danielle’s Tropical Flowers will display a lovely assortment of dried protea holiday wreaths, garlands and swags for sale.

Shoppers may enter their names in a free drawing for gifts from the tasting room and ranch store (must be present to win).

Visitors can also sample “ono” local fare like Fudge Mama treats, sweet Maui Sun Tea and sauces and jams by Maui Favorites.

To share the ‘Ulupalakua holiday spirit with family and friends, the ranch will assist guests with boxing and mailing their gift purchases. And Maui residents and visitors will be able to extend the shopping celebration—for every gift purchase of $25 or more, they will receive a coupon good for one shopping day in the month of December that entitles the recipient to the same Sunday Drive special discounts in both stores.

“We invite you to be part of our ‘ohana,” said Paula Hegele, president of Maui’s Winery.   

‘Ulupalakua hosts quarterly “Sunday Drive” events to share and honor different aspects of this unique historic area. For more information about the Sunday Drives, call toll-free: (877) 878-6058. To learn more about ‘Ulupalakua, visit www.mauiwine.com or www.ulupalakuaranch.com.

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