There is no controversy around the word "evolution" in today's Idaho wine and vineyard industry.  Despite any historic or current reservations regarding wine sales in the state, the growing and positive economic impact of today's Idaho wine industry is giving sway to new attitudes, and an undeniable, step-by-step process leading Idaho toward the attainment of its own distinctive character in the world of Pacific Northwest wines.

     Just as the forces of synergism played key roles in the maturation of  wine industries in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, so too are these forces becoming obvious in Idaho's maturing industry.  The number of Idaho wineries and vineyards is on the rise, along with the number of winemakers joining Idaho's wine industry from other states. 

       Partnerships, networking and the cross-pollination of ideas, combined with the sharing of knowledge, experience and skills, together have engendered camaraderie among members of the wine and vineyard industry and collaboration with state tourism agencies, USDA and the University of Idaho.  Clearly, the synergism of these forces is stimulating industry and wine tourism growth. 

        Ken Mc Cabe of Corus Estate Wines (parent company of Sawtooth Winery in Idaho's Snake River Valley and other of Northwest wine regions) points to investments in better equipment for growers, as well as for wineries, as further evidence of Idaho's maturing industry.  He also notes an increased investment in marketing by the Idaho's wine commission to promote grape growers and wine producers in the state.  McCabe says "more and more industry members are working together cooperatively to insure world-class products."

       "Fifteen wineries came to Sawtooth to take a look at what we are doing new," McCabe points out.  "We had recently added new sorting tables that get out stems better, and two new basket presses which are softer on grapes as they extract free-run juice.  We also showed off our small, new, two-ton fermenters we are using for smaller lots.  We are producing viognier and rousanne which need to be more delicately handled.

       “When you get a half dozen wineries taking steps forward, others want to follow," concludes McCabe of the collaboration between members of both the wine and vineyard industries.

       Ste. Chapelle winemaker Chuck Devlin sees an opportunity for world-class Idaho ice wines as part of the state's growing reputation.  His winery has been making riesling ice wine since its 2001 vintage.

       "Idaho has the perfect climate for making ice wine,” he explains.  "The growing season is very warm, bringing the grapes to full ripeness.  Then, by the end of the harvest, temperatures fall to freezing levels early in the evening, usually into the low teens. Temperatures stay low until well after noon the following day, sometimes never warming past freezing."

OTHER ICE WINE PRODUCERS

       Two other Snake River Valley wineries more recently entered the laborious world of ice wine production.  Koenig Distillery and Winery now produces a riesling ice, in the tradition of their Austrian heritage.  Andy and Greg Koenig source their hand-picked ice wine grapes from high above the Snake River Valley at Windridge Vineyard.  Corus Estates Sawtooth winery produces a gewürztraminer ice wine.

       Making ice wine requires waiting for over-ripe grapes (read very sweet) of more than 40 brix to freeze on the vine. Grapes then are hand harvested and pressed while they are frozen; water forms ice, and gradually, the extremely concentrated, sweet juice runs out of the press one its way to becoming that precious commodity called ice wine. 

       The Idaho Wine Commission reports wineries in 2005 number 23 -- eight more than just two years ago.  It believes there are enough wineries concentrated in the Canyon County area alone to offer wine tourists a full wine-country experience.  Officials are working with the state Transportation Department and the Boise Visitors and Convention Bureau to help direct travelers into the area to explore its maturing wine trail.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD

       It is hard to predict what the future Idaho wine and vineyard industry will look like; but the present trend strongly suggests big benefits for both the industry and the visitors and consumers who enjoy it.  Three years ago, a University of Idaho study estimated wine to be a $30 million industry the Snake River Valley's Canyon County alone, where 10 Idaho wineries are located; statewide, the revenue total was $45 million.  With eight more wineries and nearly 1,000 additional acres of producing vineyards now on hand, a follow-study should reveal dramatic growth of the industry's economic impact, including the corresponding impact on Idaho's tourism  industry.

        All signs suggest Idaho's wine and vineyard industry is experiencing a rapid pace of evolution, and that's good news for industry members and wine enthusiasts alike.

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WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE WINE TOURIST

       The payoff is clear for wine enthusiasts interested in Idaho... the growth and maturation of the state's wine and vineyard industry means consumers and travelers can expect a fuller, richer and finer experience with both the opportunities for wine-country travel and the enjoyment of Idaho wines.  More and more Idaho wineries are catering to tourism... the lifeblood of many wineries throughout Pacific Northwest wine country.

       For more than 20 years, Ste. Chapelle (Idaho's oldest and largest winery) has hosted a Summer Concert series, currently attracting thousands of visitors a year.   The concert-series kicks off in June as an integral component of the winery's Sunday celebrations on Father's Day every year.  The concert-goer's view from Ste. Chapelle's outdoor-concert venue includes a considerable foreground of luxuriant vineyards and an expansive background that slopes away to the famous Snake River, winding its way through the valley it created. 

       Ste. Chapelle does much more than host concerts to cater to their winery visitors.  Its commitment to the winery-visitor experience is backed up by the winery's knowledgeable and friendly Guest Services staff.  Visitors are invited to learn more about the winemaking process by taking one of the winery's daily, complimentary tours and by tasting the wide variety of Ste. Chapelle wines.  Tours are especially popular during fall harvest, when visitors can experience the thrill of a grape crush in full swing.  Other times of the year, guides take guests through the cellars for an up close tour of the winemaking process currently underway.

       Providing quality services (otherwise difficult to find in its locale) is the approach Carmela Vineyards uses to cater to its visitors.  Well east of Boise is Glenns Ferry -- a rather isolated town in the wide open spaces of the Snake River Valley's eastern reach -- home of Carmela's estate.  In addition to housing its winemaking operations, a gift shop and tasting room, the "stone chateau" of the winery includes a restaurant (open seven days a week for lunch and dinner plus Sunday Brunch), a bar and live music Thursday evenings and a big screen for Monday-night football gatherings, and banquet-conference rooms.  The dining room overlooks Carmela's 9-hole golf course (open seven days a week) and a beautiful view of the Snake River Canyon.  Carmela's facilities are located adjacent to the large and well-known Three Island Crossing State Park with beautiful sites for RVs and campers, overlooking the site where more than 150 years ago, Oregon Trail pioneers faced a difficult river crossing on the banks of the Snake River.

       Certainly, The Winery at Eagle Knoll (now Woodriver Cellars) was designed and developed with the wine-country enthusiast in mind.  Here too, the emphasis is on catering to the wish of most wine-country travelers... to have a memorable experience.  Owners Mike and Joy Kauffman were wine-travel enthusiasts for many years before embarking on a plan to open their own winery.  The couple's personal wine-travel experiences became the foundation of their new venture and were the driving force behind the winery..  Not only are visitors sure to come away with good memories of their wine-tasting experience, but they are very likely to return for any of a number of reasons -- to enjoy one of the winery's summer concerts, or to restock their supply of  smoked meats and cheeses the Kauffmans produce in their onsite smoke house, or maybe for a picnic and a stroll through the rolling grounds of expansive lawns, gardens, creek and waterfall.  The Kauffmans are also banking on what they know is true about wine-country travelers... they tell their wine-enthusiast friends and family about their most memorable experiences.

       Well to the east, off I-84 at the Buhl exit (Hwy 30 near Twin Falls), you will find  Blue Rock Vineyard & Wine.  Opened just this year, Blue Rock appears to be developing an approach similar to that of used at Eagle Knoll to cater to the wine-tourism market.  Russ and Claudia Snyder have been developing their Buhl, ID winery (as well as its lovely grounds) for more than five years.  The grounds were part of the Snyders' plan to make their winery as attractive and memorable as possible for their visitors.  The Blue Rock estate sits on a hill, overlooking the vineyard and taking in expansive views of the Snake River Canyon and mountain tops of Sun Valley... views bound to attract future visitors.  Even while the winery construction was being completed, the Snyders have been able to host weddings and class reunions on their grounds. Summer 2006 will see more of the same, in addition to Jazz and Blues weekly dinners and lunches. 

        Other Idaho wineries are following suit with more emphasis on attracting and catering to visitors.  The trend is bound to continue and expand as the state's wine-country tourism increases.

       "Most people don't know we have a wine industry here," claims Ron Bitner of Bitner Vineyards near Caldwell.  "It's finally starting to grow, and we'd really like to get tourism in the valley to grow as well." 

       Bitner has been growing grapes in the Snake River Valley since 1981.  Currently, he releases only a limited production of wine under his own label, contracting with other Idaho wineries for the sale of most of his grapes.  As a veteran of Idaho's wine and vineyard industry, Bitner speak to the changes in the local industry over the past 25 years.  Today, he concludes the wine industry of southwestern Idaho is poised to take off, much as did Washington's Yakima Valley in the 1980s.

       The surge of public interest in wine over recent years, increasing popularity of wine-country touring, and a growing trend toward using wine for dining and entertaining are all factors suggesting a maturing the wine-consumer and wine-tourism markets as well... factors that are all parts of the engine driving the growth of Idaho's wine and vineyard industry and how it markets itself to potential visitors and other wine enthusiasts.

       "There is a lot of tourism potential here," notes Bitner. "We have the growing conditions here, and we have the scenery... we have everything.  I think the wine grape industry in Idaho is on an upward climb."

       There is no denying Idaho is on a roll, a roll toward its own, distinctive place in the world of wine.  If you have not yet visited Idaho wine country or tasted its wines, you'll want to soon.  If you haven't visited recently, you'll want to return.  You're sure to get a taste of the excitement and Idaho's unique terroir, too.

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Learn more about Idaho's maturing wine industry:

 History      Viticulture     Growing         More             AVA         Catering to  
                     Research      Numbers     Vineyards    Application   to Tourism     
 of wineries