Deep roots in Idaho

Idaho is considered by many to be a newer wine-producing state, but the first grapes were grown in Lewiston in 1864 and Idaho became home to the first wineries in the Pacific Northwest. From 1865 to 1919, Idaho experienced a booming wine industry.

“Before grapes were ever grown in Washington or Oregon, they were planted here in Idaho by immigrants – Louis Desol and Robert Schleicher from France and Jacob Schaefer from Germany,” the commission's website states. “They won awards across the country before Prohibition hit the industry hard and brought production to a complete halt.”

In 1970, 45 years after Idaho repealed Prohibition, grapes were planted in the southern part of the state in the Snake River Valley in Canyon County. It was not until 2007 that the Snake River Valley became Idaho's first American Viticultural Area (AVA).

“We have an incredibly unique growing region in the Snake River Valley, particularly in Sunny Slope, where agricultural food production feeds people around the world,” said SCORIA Vice President Sydney Nederend. “It should be no surprise that we produce award-winning wines here.”

The Eagle Foothills and the Lewis-Clark Valley are Idaho's two other AVAs – federally recognized wine-growing regions in the United States. The Snake River AVA is now home to most of Idaho's wineries.

“The Snake River Valley AVA covers more than 8,000 square miles and has an almost famous latitude for growing grapes, comparable to regions around the world,” the commission's website states. “Its enormous size is a great advantage, as it provides an enormous amount of room to grow. In other words, there is room for everyone here.”

Idaho also has a total of six wine-growing regions (the three AVAs lie within these), including the Coeur d'Alene & Sandpoint, Lewiston & Moscow, Western Treasure Valley & Sunnyslope, Eagle, Boise and Garden City, and South Central regions.

Continue to grow

“There has been a lot of planting over the last five years and the fruit will be ready for harvest either this year or in the next few years,” Nederend said. “This should eliminate any excuse for wineries to use fruit from other states. There are enough vineyards to supply all local wineries with fruit from Idaho.”

Nederend says SCORIA, which also has a tasting room in downtown Boise, will be releasing several new wines next year, including a Syrah, a Mourvèdre, a Grenache and a GSM blend.

“For us, the vineyard comes first and our focus is and always will be on caring for our vines, which grow from volcanic SCORIA rock and windblown sand,” said Nederend.

Fujishin Estate Winery, also located in the Snake River Valley, continues to grow its wines and produces a variety of wines.

“The Idaho wine industry is adapting to what grows well in the valley. As a region, we have begun to focus on growing Syrahs, Tempranillos and Petit Verdots,” said Brittany Woodworth, Director of Hospitality & Member Services at Fujishin Estate Winery.

Woodworth said this is because the industry uses a similar latitude to Spain, Portugal and southern France and therefore produces a lot of Spanish and French wines.

“Over the next few years, we at Fujishin plan to build a potential production facility on our estate,” said Woodworth. “This will provide us with the opportunity to harvest and produce wine on-site and reduce the burden of having to make wine off-site.”

The Snake River Valley AVA is home to the Sunny Slope Wine Trail, where several dozen other wineries are located, including Kerry Hill Winery, Bitner Vinyards, Hat Ranch Winery and many more.

Click here for more information about Idaho's growing wine industry and a list of local wineries and cider producers.