With many Californians moving to the Treasure Valley, they’re moving from a state known for its wine. With Napa in the northern part of California and the Temecula wine country in the south, wineries are plentiful and are widely regarded internationally for their vintages. In recent years, Idaho has seen a boom in its wine industry, with more and more wineries opening in the state. Locally, Caldwell is Idaho’s wine country with more than 15 wineries that call the area home.
Every winery has its distinct personality, and naturally, the wines produced reflect that personality. Let’s take a tour of some of the Treasure Valley’s wineries.
Garden City
Garden City, just to the west of Boise, is home to several wineries.
Cinder Wines
www.cinderwines.com
Open Daily at 11 a.m.
107 E. 44th Street
Garden City, ID 83714
Cinder Wines is named after the volcanic cinder that is beneath many of the vineyards they work with. Cinder was named one of the west’s best urban wineries by Sunset Magazine.
Coiled
www.coiledwines.com
Open Thursday – Sunday at Noon
3408 W. Chinden Blvd.
Garden City, ID 83714
Coiled was named in honor of Idaho’s first grape-growing area, the Snake River Valley.
Par Terre Winery
www.parterrewinery.com
Open Thursday – Sunday at Noon
9165 W. Chinden Blvd. Suite 107
Garden City, ID 83714
The owners are former professional ballet dancers, and the term “Par Terre” is a dance term meaning “on the ground.”
Potter Wines
www.jalapenowine.com
5286 W. Chinden Blvd.
Garden City, ID 83714
As their website domain name suggests, they’re known for their jalapeño wine and jalapeño wine lemonade, two vintages that offer a spicy twist on traditional wine.
Split Rail Winery
www.splitrailwines.com
Open Daily at Noon
4338 Chinden Blvd.
Garden City, ID 83714
According to the winery, it “emerged from a fervent belief in supporting local agriculture and creating Idaho-centric products, exploring new wines and wine styles and unfettered love for drinking, eating, and debauchery.”
Telaya Wine Co.
www.telayawine.com
Open Daily at Noon
240 E. 32nd St.
Garden City, ID 83714
The name “Telaya” is derived from two of the owners’ favorite places, the Tetons and La Playa. They consider wine to be both a journey and a meeting place. “When we are traveling, wine can take us home, and when we are home, wine transports us on a comforting escape.”
Caldwell
Caldwell is located in Canyon County, about 45 minutes west of downtown Boise. Caldwell is a growing area in terms of population, but still maintains a lot of the rustic charm the city is known for. Many of this city’s wineries are part of the Sunnyslope Wine Trail.
Bitner Vineyards
www.bitnervineyards.com
16645 Plum Rd
Caldwell, ID 83607
The Bitner’s have focused on showcasing Idaho wines at their best. They are devoted to creating award-winning wines and promoting sustainable and socially conscious practices such as LIVE Certification (the only certified sustainable vineyard in Idaho) and Bee Friendly Farming and hand harvesting.
Fujishin Family Cellars
www.ffcwine.com
Open Daily at Noon
15593 Sunny Slope Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
A family winery located “near the bend,” they’re dedicated to creating wines that encapsulate this unique place we call home.
Hat Ranch Winery
www.hatranchwinery.com
Open Daily at Noon
15343 Plum Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
The winery was named after the Hat Ranch Homestead, founded by the owner’s great-grandparents. The Harless family, much like their ancestors before them, the region as the great new frontier of the wine industry.
Huston Vineyards
www.hustonvineyards.com
Open Daily at Noon
16473 Chicken Dinner Road
Caldwell, ID 83607
The vineyard was named after the town of Huston, Idaho, which once served as a hub for farmers to ship fruits and vegetables via the Boise Interurban Railway. It’s “Chicken Dinner” line of wines are award-winning blends.
Koenig Vineyards
www.koenigvineyards.com
Open Daily at Noon
21452 Hoskins Road
Caldwell, ID 83607
Koenig prides itself on crafting varietal wines that are indicative of their vineyard origin, the Sunny Slope district of Idaho’s Snake River Valley.
Scoria Vineyards
www.scoriavineyards.com
Open Friday – Sunday at Noon
12639 Walker Lake Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
Nestled on a once volcanic ridge, this winery is named for the volcanic scoria rock that covers the land.
Ste. Chapelle Winery
www.stechapelle.com
Open Daily at 11 a.m.
19348 Lowell Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
The winery is inspired by the famed Ste. Chapelle medieval gothic chapel in France. The winery and vineyard also serve as a wedding venue.
Vine and Branch Ranch
www.vineandbranchranch.com
20023 Hoskins Rd.
Caldwell, ID 83607
The Vine and Branch Ranch is a tasting room and restaurant featuring the wines of Snake River Winery and the Stack Rock Cidery.
Williamson Orchards and Vineyards
www.willorch.com
Open Wednesday – Sunday at Noon
14807 Sunnyslope Road
Caldwell, ID 83607
They are combining new world technology with old-world tradition to create rich wines with bright fruit notes balanced with oak structure and minerality.
The Last Word
While this guide is by no means exhaustive, it does represent some of the area’s wineries and vineyards. Many of the locations have won awards for their wines and can stand toe-to-toe with the wines that are produced in California and elsewhere. To learn more about the wines that are being made in the region, as well as additional locations, you can visit the Idaho Wine Commissions website.
