Updated March 2021
Wine tasting guide to Idaho’s wine region
The Snake River AVA spans 8000 square miles straddling Northeastern Oregon and Southwestern Idaho. This is a relatively new AVA, earning its badge in 2007 and is driving distance from Washington, Oregon, or Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
Overall, it’s a fun up and coming wine region to check out, though the wine at this time leaves much to be desired; reminding us a lot of the up and coming wine region in Fredericksburg, Texas. Read below for our full guide on the Snake River AVA.
Overview
The Snake River is beautiful, with Owyhee mountains as a backdrop visible from the many outdoor tasting areas at the local wineries. We also like the proximity of just 40 minutes to downtown Boise which is bustling with craft breweries and restaurants (even during COVID).
There are even some “urban wineries” in the Boise city limits in a district called Garden City which have some notable wines and great vibes.
The western Sunny Slope Wine Trail is home to 16 wineries, versus the eastern area which only has 6. This arid and dry climate (best described as “high desert”) is mitigated by air currents as well as irrigation from the Snake River and winter snowmelt.
Climate
Idaho’s wine country shares many characteristics with Eastern Washington, including geography influenced by glaciers and volcanoes, very cold winters, and little rainfall. The latitude is similar to Bordeaux and Rhone, so you’ll find many of those varietals being grown here, however we believe the region is young in it’s vines as well as finding the niches that present the best of the region’s terroir.
Our overall impression of the region is that most wines were standard, not very interesting but also not terrible. We can’t name any “stand out” or “can’t miss” spots but also felt there are no “bad eggs” in the wineries we list below.
Where to taste
Sunny Slope Wine Trail
Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is a small operation at 2300 cases a year, with a gorgeous but unassuming outdoor tasting area accompanied by a mountainous backdrop. Wines are fairly basic (the bolder reds had the most to say), and we believe the wines have the potential to be great with more care to the vines and grape selection.
We like the Redhead Rose of Syrah which is dry with some fruit notes of strawberry, fig, caramel, and with a honeysuckle round finish as well as the Lava 100 which is a 50/50 Cab Franc / Merlot blend bold and rich; we can see this pairing nicely with fruity and salty desserts.
Koenig Vineyards
Koenig has a modern tasting room and a broad selection of wines to taste. Their Viogner is quite enjoyable–floral and full-bodied, expressive of its stone fruit (apricot and peach) with notes of lavender and a touch of minerality.
Have you tried ice wine? Koenig is the only producer of Cabernet Sauvignon ice wine in the United States. A rather strange varietal to make ice wine, but we must say that it exceeds our expectations. The naturally cold evenings in Snake River cause concern for frost in the spring given it can kill blossoming fruit, and in 2017 there was a lot of snow which killed many vines in the region.
Sawtooth and Ste Chappelle Wineries
Located next to each other, these two are the most well known (and largest producers) in this region. Wines were adequate at best, but they do offer some older vintages to get a feel for how the wines will age.
As is the case with most large producers, Sawtooth and Ste Chapelle Wineries have beautiful tasting rooms with comfy seats overlooking the vines. if you need some nibbles they have cheese plates and other snack items.
Huston
We turned down Chicken Dinner Road (no we are not joking!) and were greeted by two very good boy labradors which made us feel right at home. The Chicken Dinner label is less expensive and is a weekday wine at best. The Private Reserve label commands a higher price, but is worth the extra spend if it’s available.
We like the casual tasting environment here, as if you were just at a friend’s home, sipping wine in the garden. If you’re lucky, the owners and winemakers, Gregg & Mary Alger, will be there to greet you. Be sure to try their Chardonnay and other varieties grown in the area’s unique red soils to get a real sense of the local terroir.
Garden City (urban district within Boise city limits)
- Telaya: gets its wines from Yakima and other regions outside of Snake River, serves by the glass and is a nice way to end the afternoon people watching on the running path out back.
- Cinder Wines: sources grapes from across the Snake River AVA. None of the wines stood out to us although their Viognier was pretty decent, especially for the price of $23 USD.
- Coiled Wines: were a bit on the bold side for our tastes but we appreciate the Sidewinder Syrah; a rich, jammy and spicy bottle that can stand up well to any big meat dish.
Where to eat
After a long day of tasting, set off on foot to explore the bustling downtown area. Many of the restaurants have outdoor patio seating (weather permitting) to take in the scene.
- Fork: Modern American cuisine with a somewhat upscale setting. The patio located in downtown Boise, accompanied with live saxophone music is a nice setting. Great wine list of local Idaho juice as well as import. Great options for food – we love the lamb lollipops, charred brussels sprouts and short rib.
- Barbarian Brewing: Over 30 home-grown beers on tap–plenty of sours, hazy’s and stouts for the beer lovers and a “Crispy Boy” pilsner for those that just want something refreshing. We love their “Danger Sunset 2020”, a red sour ale aged in barrel for one year with brettanomyces – super funky!
- Wild Root Cafe: Great healthy lunch option with many tasty salad and grain bowls.
- Paddles up Poke: An Idaho favorite for poke bowls. Tangy, spicy sauces and fresh fish — makes for a great takeaway dinner.
- Java: There are a few of these cafe’s littered around Boise. The coffee and breakfast options make for a good location to start the day. We recommend the breakfast burrito.
