Would you believe it if I told you that Idaho was home to the first wineries in the Pacific Northwest?

Before a single grape was ever planted in Washington or Oregon, European immigrants were already growing them here. Louis Desol and Robert Schleicher from France, and Jacob Schaefer from Germany planted the first vines in Lewiston in 1864. By the 1870s, they were winning awards at competitions around the country. Idaho wine was on the up and up… and then Prohibition came along and brought the whole thing to a halt. It wasn't until the 1970s that vineyards started up again, in the Snake River Valley and Northern Idaho.

The Snake River Valley was officially designated as Idaho's first American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2007, followed by the Eagle Foothills AVA in 2015 and the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA in 2016.

The land in Idaho is special. It’s what drew those first winemakers to start the craft here in 1864, and it’s the same land powering one of the most exciting wine scenes in the country today.

The geography that started it all

Idaho has something that winemakers travel across the world for: the right latitude. The Snake River Valley sits at nearly the same latitude as some of the most celebrated wine regions on the planet, including Rhone Valley in France, Tuscany in Italy, and the Rioja region in Spain. Add ancient volcanic soil, warm sunny days, and cool evening temperatures, and you've got conditions that are, geographically speaking, perfect for growing grapes.

Each of Idaho's three AVAs has its own character and microclimate. The Snake River Valley is the biggest and most established, with a high desert climate that provides the ideal balance of natural sugars and acids in the grapes. The Eagle Foothills, tucked into a higher elevation with unique granitic soils and more rainfall, produces wines with a lot of character. The Lewis-Clark Valley farther north is at a lower elevation with a temperate climate. This creates nutrient-rich silt and air drainage ideal for wine grapes that prefer a warmer climate. All three have their own collections of winemakers doing inventive things with well rounded, fruit forward wines.

Today Idaho has more than 60 wineries and 6 cideries that generate over $314 million in economic impact across the state. Idaho wines have been proudly holding their own against Oregon and Washington in competitive blind tastings for five consecutive years.

Things you probably didn't know about Idaho wine

I love a good fun fact, and Idaho wine is full of them. Here are a few worth sharing at your next dinner party (over a bottle of Idaho wine, of course):

More than 50% of Idaho's wineries and cideries are woman-owned. We are leading the country in female entrepreneurship in the beverage industry. That's worth raising a glass to.

The Eagle Foothills AVA is home to Idaho's only sparkling wine winery, 3100 Cellars. It’s named after Idaho’s 3,100 miles of white water.

Idaho's cider scene is growing. Not long ago there was only one cidery in the state. Now there are six and they make really good stuff. One of the people behind Idaho cider is Molly Leadbetter of Meriwether Cider, who is Idaho's first and only Certified Pommelier. There are only 97 Certified Pommeliers in the entire world. Molly is also an organizer of Idaho Cider Fest, which will be on October 3, 2026.

SPONSORED BY ST. LUKE'S FITONE Tomorrow is the day. FitOne registration opens June 3. ​St. Luke's FitOne registration opens tomorrow, June 3, and you don’t want to miss it! It's just $25 for any distance – 5K, 10K, or half marathon – but only on June 3. Prices go up June 4. Plus: kids 12 and under race free with a paid adult. The FitOne race is September 26 in downtown Boise and it's one of the best days of the fall. Don't miss out! Register on June 3

Come as you are

One of the best things about Idaho wine culture is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. You're not going to walk into a tasting room and feel like a noob for not knowing wine lingo. The culture here is casual, curious, and welcoming, whether you're a wine nerd who can talk terroir and tannins all afternoon or someone who just knows they want red wine.

Most Idaho wineries are family-owned and operated. Think parents, kids, kids' spouses, maybe a dog or two. Rolling Hills Vineyard is one of them. The whole family works there, and their Garden City tasting room feels like walking into their living room. These family-owned businesses make Idaho wine special. You're tasting something that a family poured years of their life into – you can taste the dedication and care.

What's happening this June

June is Idaho Wine and Cider Month, which means there's even more reason than usual to pay attention. You can explore the calendar of events here.

​Savor Idaho at the Idaho Botanical Garden is one of the signature events of the month, bringing together Idaho wineries and cideries for a tasting in one of Boise's most beautiful outdoor settings. It’s happening on Saturday, June 7 from 2-5pm. More info and tickets here.

The Idaho Wine Commission is also dropping five short Idaho wine trivia videos this month, each one covering something you probably didn't know about Idaho wine. The first animated video landed Monday, June 1 on Instagram and Facebook, with a new video debuting every week in June.

Drink local

The Treasure Valley's wine scene is one of the most accessible in the state — in some stretches it’s walkable or bikeable. Tasting rooms are clustered along the Boise River Greenbelt and Garden City's craft beverage corridor, spread out into Eagle's rolling foothills, and scattered along the Sunnyslope beyond Caldwell. The area is home to nearly 50 wineries and cideries, each offering their own unique technique and style.

Here are a few faves:

​Telaya Wine Co. is the spot if you want old-world inspired wines with arguably one of the best patios in the valley. It’s right on the Greenbelt and dog-friendly, plus the list of award-winning wines and food truck pop ups are hard to beat.

​Ste. Chapelle is the oldest and largest winery in Idaho, founded in 1975. It’s known for producing outstanding wines and a popular “Soft” series that continues to expand with offerings of Soft Red, Soft White and Soft Huckleberry. The cathedral-inspired tasting room is truly unique with stunning views of the Snake River Valley.

​Split Rail Winery leans into experimentation in the best way. Rhône varietals, sparkling wines, concrete tanks, clay amphoras. They love a bit of the unconventional and it shows in the glass. Their tasting room is also right on the Greenbelt.

​VEER Wine Project is built around the idea that you don't have to order the same thing twice. They make wines designed to push you toward something new or something you wouldn't normally reach for.

SPONSORED BY BOISE CITY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & HISTORY We the People: Becoming American On June 4, The City of Boise is partnering with the Idaho Office for Refugees for a live storytelling event featuring the voices of Americans whose journey to the U.S. started with displacement. Explore Idaho's resettlement history, hear firsthand accounts from storytellers representing Ukraine, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and experience the cultural heritages they continue to carry with them as they contribute to the American experiment. ​We the People: Becoming American is happening Thursday, June 4 at JUMP. Doors open at 5pm and the program begins at 6:30pm. Come early to explore Boise Public Library's Excitetrike and check out books, games, and activities! This event is part of the City of Boise’s America 250 commemoration. Free and open to everyone. Get the details

All the Treasure Valley tasting rooms

Boise & Garden City

• Telaya Wine Co. — 240 E. 32nd St., Garden City
• Cinder Wines — 107 E. 44th St., Garden City
• Proletariat Wines — 106 E. 36th St., Garden City
• Western Collective — 111 W. 33rd St., Garden City
• Split Rail Winery — 3200 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City
• Rolling Hills Vineyard Urban Tasting Room — 152 E. 52nd St., Garden City
• Meriwether Cider Co. — 5242 Chinden Blvd., Garden City (taproom) & 224 N. 9th St., Boise (Cider House)
• Cider Sisters Cider — 5111 Allworth St., Garden City (by appointment)
• VEER Wine Project — 4338 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City
• Laissez Faire Wine Co. — 521 E. 41st St., Garden City
• Morris Hill Wine Co. — 5228 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City (by appointment)
• Noble Mead — 9165 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City
• SCORIA Downtown Boise Tasting Room — 111 S. 10th St., Boise
• Kludt-Williams Family Winery — 1611 N. 13th St., Boise (Hyde Park)
• Lost Sage Wines — 8571 N. Lost Sage Ln., Boise
• Terra Nativa Vineyards — 136 E. Idaho Ave., Meridian

Western Treasure Valley & Sunnyslope

• Indian Creek Winery — 1000 N. McDermott Rd., Kuna
• SCORIA Caldwell Tasting Room — 12639 Walker Lake Rd., Caldwell
• Hat Ranch Winery — 15343 Plum Rd., Caldwell
• Dunning Estates — 19937 Vino Lane, Caldwell
• Famici Wine Company — 16085 Plum Rd., Caldwell
• Gem 73 — 21254 Chalk Hills Lane, Caldwell
• Vizcaya Winery — 8987 S. Greenhurst Rd., Kuna
• Kerry Hill Winery — 17264 Kerry Hill Ln., Wilder
• Huston Vineyards — 16473 Chicken Dinner Rd., Caldwell
• Free Dog Wines — 15593 Sunnyslope Rd., Caldwell
• Bitner Vineyards — 16645 Plum Ln., Caldwell
• Vale Wine Co. — 15343 Plum Rd., Caldwell
• Stack Rock Cidery at Peaceful Belly Farm — 20023 Hoskins Rd., Caldwell
• Kindred Vineyards — 14253 Frost Rd., Sunnyslope
• Fujishin Estate Winery — 17543 Allendale Rd., Wilder
• Parma Ridge Winery & Bistro — 24509 Rudd Rd., Parma
• Koenig Vineyards — 21452 Hoskins Rd., Caldwell
• Owyhee Vista Vineyard — 4420 E. Kuna Rd., Kuna
• Ste. Chapelle Winery — 19348 Lowell Rd., Caldwell
• Rock Spur Vineyards & Winery — 3301 S. Warren Spur Rd., Melba (by appointment)
• Sawtooth Estate Winery — 19348 Lowell Rd., Caldwell
• Williamson Orchards & Vineyards — 14807 Sunnyslope Rd., Caldwell
• Devil's Bedstead Winery — 21500 Hoskins Rd., Caldwell
• Cuesta Sol Vineyards — 16385 Cuesta Sol Ln., Caldwell (by appointment)
• Van Patten Cellars — 3767 Sand Hollow Rd., New Plymouth
• Hells Canyon Winery & Zhoo Zhoo Wines — 18835 Symms Rd., Caldwell
• Snake River Winery — 24013 Arena Valley Rd., Parma (not open to the public)

Eagle

• 3100 Cellars — 4004 W. Homer Rd., Eagle
• 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards — 5900 Pearl Rd., Eagle
• Buckhorn Vineyards — 2177 E. Dunyon St., Eagle
• Dude Dewalt Cellars — 5446 Hwy 16, Eagle
• Siren Song Wines — 55 E. State St., Eagle
• Sol Invictus Vineyard — 6394 Schmidt Ln., Star

If you want to easily explore local wine:

• Check out Idaho Wine Commission’s event calendar
• Get tickets to Savor Idaho June 7
• Take a tour with Snake River Wine Tours, Sunshine Wine Tours, or Idaho Wine Tours
• ​Find a local winery near you

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

This story is sponsored by the Idaho Wine Commission.

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