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The 15th annual Idaho Wine and Cider Competition will be staged Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Koenig Vineyards — in the heart of the Snake River Valley — by Great Northwest Wine as a collaborative effort with the Idaho Wine Commission.

Everyone knows if you’re looking for advice on wine, you’ll want to ask a sommelier, but if you’re wondering about cider, that’s a job for a pommelier.

Now, if you’re not familiar with this term, you’re not alone. There are only 97 certified pommeliers in the United States, and now, thanks to Molly Leadbetter, Idaho is home to one of them.

Becoming certified as a pommelier by the American Cider Association (ACA) requires the recipient to go through an examination process that shows the person has “an expert level of knowledge and proficiency in cider production, history and sensory evaluation,” a release read. “The designation represents a deep understanding of the complexities of cider and its cultural significance, making it a coveted recognition within the beverage industry.”

When conjuring images of wine country, the mind may wander to California’s Napa Valley region, or Oregon’s Willamette Valley. But wine-lovers looking for a way to taste domestic varietals may be bypassing one of the country’s hidden gems: Idaho.

As Idaho’s wine industry continues to grow, the Gem State is being recognized for more than just its potatoes. 

The state has more than 1,300 acres of vineyards and over 70 wineries. With that in mind, the Idaho Wine Commission is once again hosting Winter Wine Weekends to give people a chance to taste some of the area’s best varieties.

Below are Northwest Wine Report’s Top 60 Northwest Wines of 2023! These wines were selected from over 1,100 wines reviewed this past year from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia.

With more than 75 wineries, plus eight cideries, Idaho is building a burgeoning industry that’s creating quite a name for itself. The state’s climate and latitude are ideal for growing grapes, and talented winemakers continue to put down roots, joining the likes of Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard in Buhl and Y Knot Winery in Glenns Ferry.

Idaho may not be the first state that springs to mind for vino fans. But with modern winemaking dating back to the 19th century long before powerhouses like Washington and Oregon, Idaho is rapidly emerging from its neighbors’ shadows as a rising western region to watch. Though prohibition nearly eradicated the state’s early industry, it wasn’t long before pioneering producers reopened their doors and vineyards in the 1970s, paving the way for a reinvigorated proliferation of wineries over the last 20 years. 

Idaho’s enticing capital offers the best of both worlds—a stylish urban setting and an unbeatable backyard for savvy adventure seekers.

Despite smaller harvest yields this year, optimism is growing among Idaho’s vineyards. Growers are stating that crops came in before the frost and that overall quality is “outstanding,” though down quantity is down from last year’s harvest.

GARDEN CITY, Idaho — Take a look at a map of the Snake River Valley in Idaho and you’ll see five cities creeping closer together, a reflection of the fastest-growing state in the country five years straight from 2017 to 2021.

The Northwest Cider Cup

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Learn about the first Idaho Cider Fest