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Real estate mogul,
winery owner has
penthouse tasting

'I made a big fortune in real estate and it turned into a small fortune when I went into the wine business," said a smiling Dinesh Maniar, founder of Diamond Oaks winery. Dinesh, a native American, lives in California and has a Waterfront Towers penthouse. He held a wine tasting in his luxury pad Monday. Mark Milton, president of M&S Brokerage; Better Brands President George Szigeti, distributor for Diamond Oaks here; and Dinesh's friend Brickwood Galuteria helped put the tasting together. Many wine lovers and trade account managers attended. Dinesh started out in the wine biz by buying 57 acres in Calistoga in 1977. He now has 550 acres in Napa Valley in the wine appellations (districts) of Carneros, Chalk Hill, Alexander Valley and Oakville. Early on, Dinesh was advised by Napa winemaker Robert Mondavi. He bought one of Mondavi's winery facilities and vineyards, located in Oakville, in 2003. Dinesh's penthouse here has three floors, one of which is a tea house fashioned in Japan and put together by Japanese craftsmen. Honolulu Realty's Eric Hill says Dinesh may sell it for about $3.9 million. Remember, Dinesh "made a big fortune" in real estate ...

Kincaid's kicks off monthly wine tasting Monday

Kincaid'S is kicking off a wine tasting on the second Monday of each month. This Monday, G.M. Craig Bunkley has pinots from Southern Wine & Spirits, with appetizers, 5 to 6 p.m., $30; call 591-2005 ... Jennifer DiPietro steps down as Palomino G.M. on Mother's Day to care for 8-month-old daughter, Victoria. Dad is Vince DiPietro, owner of the Living Room, above Fisherman's Wharf. Jen, working at home, will be a private party/guest services director for RUI Hawaii, which includes Palomino, Kincaid's and Ryan's. Kunani Blake, a Kamehameha grad, takes over at Palomino ...

Eddie Kamae, Mahi Beamer, Mike Kaawa and Kroon perform at Sheraton Moana Surfrider's courtyard Thursday, 5:30 to 7 p.m. ... Don't forget jazz singer Diana Krall's Waikiki Shell Pops concert tomorrow at 7 p.m. ... Former Miss Hawaii Erika Kauffman sings with guitarist Jeff Peterson at Michel's Thursdays, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ... MidWeek Editor Don Chapman has been named a Fellow at East-West Center, one of six American journalists to spend 10 days in South Korea in July ... I'm on vacation until May 16, see ya later ...

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