Idaho Wine Commission
In The News
Idaho Press – The How of Wine: 13th Annual Idaho Wine Competition lauds medals
Ahead of Idaho Wine month in June, a new slew of award-winning wines was crowned Tuesday, May 24 at the 13th Annual Idaho Wine Competition. Six judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped through the 164 entries submitted in hopes of awarding medals to the highest quality wines. And, I was once again fortunate to be among the judging team and able to gain an inside view into some of this year’s best Idaho wines.
BoiseDev – Wine wars: Ada County Commissioners approve one Eagle foothills winery, delay a decision on event center
Another week, another tense hearing in Ada County about wineries in the Eagle foothills.
On Wednesday night, the Ada County Commissioners sat up late into the night listening to testimony from residents and the winery industry about applications from two separate wineries to expand their operations in the area. The first was an application from 3100 Cellars on Artemisa Road for a permit to produce and sell wine on their property and the second application came from Dude DeWalt Cellars along Highway 16 to expand their operations to an event center and social hall along with their winery.
Idaho Statesman – A winery in rural Ada County will likely be approved. But can it sell alcohol?
On Wednesday, the Ada County Commissioners appeared likely to deny an appeal to the commission that opposed a family business’s plan to produce wine on their property off Homer Road, north of Eagle.
Melanie Krause of Cinder Wines uses Syrah to win Idaho Wine Competition for third time
Melanie Krause was a winemaking star on the rise at Château Ste. Michelle in Washington state when she returned to her native Idaho to make world-class Syrah in the Snake River Valley and launch Cinder Wines in 2008.
Idaho Press – Snake River Valley Wine Region Turns 15
Idaho’s first official wine region celebrated its 15th anniversary last month. The Idaho Wine Commission announced in a press release that the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area was designated on April 9, 2007, thanks to a group of Idaho wineries, vineyard owners, ag officials, and academics. The Snake River Valley AVA has grown from 15 wineries in 2007 to more than 40 today and has its own sub-region, the Eagle Foothills AVA.
BoiseDev – Ada County Commisioners weighing regulations on wineries and neighborhood concerns
Ada County is hoping to broker a compromise between cutting regulations on wineries in rural areas and neighbors hoping to keep their say over who can and cannot sell alcohol near their properties.
Great Northwest Wine – 2022 Idaho Winery of the Year: Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery
Last year not only served as the 20th anniversary of James Holesinsky’s eponymous wine program in Idaho’s largely overlooked Hagerman Valley, but it also marked a period of unequaled acclaim for the wines crafted by him and his chemist/wife, Caitlin.
Food & Wine – These Are America’s Next Great Food Cities
The state is still better known for its potatoes than its grapes, but with 1,300 acres of vineyards, the wine scene is one of the Pacific Northwest’s best kept secrets. And women are leading the charge, like Idaho natives Leslie Preston and Melanie Krause, who cut their teeth in Napa Valley and Woodinville, Washington, respectively, before returning home to open two of the region’s most exciting wineries, Coiled and Cinder.
Growth and wine collide: Homeowners, winery industry clash as development comes to Eagle foothills
Once winter eases its grip, he tries to spend every minute possible enjoying his expansive wrap-around deck or working in his vineyard trimming vines with his two trusty golden retrievers at his side. His property is nestled in the Eagle foothills, largely surrounded by other small farms or single-family homes with expansive acreage. Pasculli’s home and multiple varieties of wine grape vines have a commanding view of the rolling hills off in the distance.
GEAR PATROL – The Best Canned Wines to Get Buzzed on the Go
You’ve probably seen a burgeoning beverage category populating the portable drinks section of your local grocery store or wine shop in the last few years, and you’re wondering if it’s any good. Just like the newer, better versions of boxed wine, canned wine has been coming into its own, and both winemakers and retailers are taking note.
Wine Business – Hot Brands 2021: Family Finds Success in Lewis & Clark Valley
Nestled along the Clearwater River in southeastern Idaho lies a property that the Hewett family has called home since the 1950s, but their history in the area is much longer.
Great Northwest Wines – Idaho lawmakers consider allowing 17-year-olds to serve alcohol
BOISE, Idaho — Lawmakers in Idaho, the fastest-growing state in the country for the past five years, are reviewing legislation that would make theirs only the second state to permit a 17-year-old to serve alcohol.
Wine Enthusiast – Six Dark Sky Parks for Wine Travel Beneath the Stars
Stars, planets and the Milky Way have enthralled humans since we first gazed into the night sky. Unfortunately, in modern times, 80% of North American residents have lost their view of the cosmos to artificial light pollution.
Wine Country – TOP 7 U.S. WINE REGIONS TO VISIT IN 2022
After the wild ride that the past two years has been, we’re all itching to travel more in 2022. While that long-awaited trip to the Rhône Valley or Tuscany sounds incredibly dreamy right about now, due to the unpredictability that comes with travel these days, we realize a European vacation may not be in the cards right now. The good news is, you can still enjoy an amazing wine-fueled getaway this year… maybe just closer to home.
ShermansTravel: ShermansTravel’s Top Budget Destinations of 2022
Experience the thriving local beverage scene with a wine flight for $20 at Telaya Wine Co., cider tasting at Meriwether Cider for $12, or beer sampling at Barbarian Brewing for $18 to $22. Complimentary activities also abound: Walk the largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest, Freak Art Gallery; hike along the foothills surrounding the city; or stroll the 25-mile long Boise River Greenbelt.
ShermansTravel: 9 Reasons to Visit Under-the-Radar Boise
Like many cities around the U.S., Boise has a burgeoning craft brewing scene. Beer lovers should visit Barbarian Brewing’s Downtown Tap Room or Garden City Brewery to enjoy a selection of up to 24 brews. The sours — including the Sour Gummy Guys, which is made with Sour Patch Kids — are the true standouts. Meanwhile, Meriwether Cider serves up outstanding craft ciders. Don’t miss the barrel-aged Cider Old Fashioned or the dry ginger root cider.
FORBES – Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Best Off The Radar Wines To Give
You can give the wine lover in your life one of the usual suspects, or you can be creative and gift them with an off the radar wine that’ll knock their socks off. Here’s a roundup of some off the radar wines that will impress the wine aficianados in your life:
The Seattle Times – 36 celebratory wines
THANKS TO VACCINES, this year’s holiday season should see safer celebrations and festive family gatherings, which should result in more Northwest wine being shared as 2021 gets put to bed.
The Seattle Times – Top 20 Northwest wines of 2021
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS worked in favor of Josh Lawrence, who finds it rather delicious to revisit the time a vineyard expert told him the Royal Slope of Washington’s Columbia Basin was too cold to produce award-winning wine.