Your ultimate guide to Idaho Wine Country.
Make Boise your next wine destination.
Two weeks ago, I landed in the capital of Idaho, excited and expectant as can be.
As a wine writer and journalist, I’m always grateful to explore new places and learn from the people who make them special. When I received an invitation from the Idaho Wine Commission and Visit Boise (pronounced BOY-SEE) to visit, I accepted without hesitation. Not only had I never been to the land of potatoes, but I’d long had a curiosity about wine from this northwestern state.
Ahead of my adventure, I received a shipment of Idaho wines to prepare my palate for what I was to experience. With that delivery came information about Snake River Valley, which is Idaho’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA) established in April 2007. Spanning 8,263 square miles with over 1,350 acres of vineyard plantings, the Snake River Valley AVA encompasses most of southwestern Idaho and a few counties in Oregon.
Idaho has yet to claim one grape variety as its own, and that’s because it considers itself an ideal place to grow and produce several grape varieties well. According to the Idaho Wine Commission’s website, the 43rd state grows the following white grapes: Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/Grigio, and Viognier; and these red grapes: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Malbec
The Idaho Wine Commission dubbed 2025 the year of Tempranillo, which I think is great given that this Spanish grape thrives in the Snake River Valley. Coincidentally, this region sits on the 43rd Parallel – the same latitude as European wine regions such as Bordeaux, Bulgaria, as well as parts of Italy and Spain.
Get into my favorite sips and tips below, and trust and believe that there is something for EVERY PALATE in Idaho wine country.
WHERE TO STAY
Downtown Boise is a walkable, vibrant, and beautiful place. Everywhere you turn, you see someone riding a bike or zooming down the street on a scooter.
I stayed at Hotel 43 (a sweet nod to Idaho being the 43rd state and its wine country being on the 43rd parallel), which is also connected to one of the city’s most cherished steakhouses, Chandlers.
FUN FACT: I’m a hotel girlie through and through and will always choose a hotel–boutique or major chain–over an Airbnb. (I ain’t sorry!)
Other hotels in downtown Boise that were cool included Hotel Renegade, The SPARROW, Inn at 500 Capitol, The Avery Hotel, Arcardia Hotel, and The Riverside Hotel.
WINERIES TO VISIT
From urban wineries to traditional tasting rooms, there are plenty of options in Boise for wine enthusiasts to explore. When working with the Idaho Wine Commission to coordinate my visit, I wanted to ensure that my itinerary had a mix of everything.
My first day in Boise, I borrowed a bike from my hotel (which highkey is one of my favorite accommodations in a bikeable city) and rode along Boise River Greenbelt–a 29-mile long pathway–to my two tasting appointments.
First up: Split Rail Winery in Garden City.
Founded in 2010 by winemakers Jed Glavin and Suzanne Meyer, Split Rail is a small production winery that likes to have fun. From making a pet-nat of Riesling (White Noise) to blending Roussanne with a sour beer, Split Rail uses 50 percent Idaho fruit and 50 percent Washington fruit to make their wines. They were also one of the first wineries to can wine in the Pacific Northwest.
One thing I completely nerded out on during my tour was the five different aging vessels in the winery. A true flex, this helps in their mission to make minimal intervention wines that put the grape varietals at the center stage.
Next, I rode my bike for less than five minutes to Telaya Winery, which is situated right along the Boise River with a beautiful outdoor patio. Owned by husband and wife Earl and Carrie Sullivan, Telaya–which is a blend of their two favorite places, the Tetons and la playa–uplifts Bordeaux varietals while delivering exceptional hospitality.
My second day was comprised of a wine tour led by Snake River Wine Tours. This four-hour tour led me and my fellow passengers to the Sunnyslope Wine Trail, which is about 40 minutes outside of Boise. While not yet officially a recognized AVA, Sunnyslope is home to beloved Idaho wineries such as St. Chapelle, Koenig Vineyards, Hat Ranch Winery, and Scoria.
On my final full day, I visited 3100 Cellars (Idaho’s ONLY sparkling wine house), which is located in Eagle Foothills AVA. As Idaho’s second AVA, Eagle Foothills has a unique soil composition and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo very well. Making my way back to Downtown Boise, I stopped by Veer
Honorable mentions: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Famici Vineyards, and Cinder Wines.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for me, especially when I spend most of the day tasting wine. ā café, Neckar Coffee, and Guru Donuts (the Healthy Homer is DIVINE!) each provided me with yummy bites to get my day started.
LUNCH
For this to be my first stop after I got off the plane, Acero Boards + Bottles did not disappoint. They have a wonderful lunch menu as well!
DINNER
Hemlock (located in the Inn at 500) and The Avery Brassiere both offer different culinary experiences that are rich had flavorful.
CIDER + COCKTAILS
Water Bear Bar, Highlander Bar, Chandlers, and Meriweather Cider Company are all within walking distance and provide a satiating and refreshing taste of Boise.
WHAT TO DO
While there is SO much to do in Boise, I would highly recommend scheduling a food tour with Indulge Boise. Founded by Angela Taylor in 2016, Indulge Boise tantalizes the senses and provides a wealth of information about Boise. I took the Sip and Savor tour, which was a lovely combination of rich, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Honorable mentions: Basque Block & Museum, Boise Art Museum, Idaho Capitol, and Freak Alley Gallery.
Many thanks again to the Idaho Wine Commission and Visit Boise teams for curating such an amazing itinerary for my stay. Your kindness, enthusiasm, and incredible hospitality made my first visit to Boise incredibly memorable, and I cannot wait to return.
WINE-ish NEWS
Is the wine industry really ‘fighting for its life’ or simply in a moment of transition?
Smokiness in wine might be a good thing.
Kudos to my fellow wine writer
on writing this lovely story spotlighting queer wine professionals for Bon Appetit!- epically articulates why the discourse around this year’s Essence Festival was warranted, and why the consumer has to be patient as transformation and transition occur.
THE CORK BOARD
SUBSTACK OF THE WEEK
If you love books, music, and pop culture commentary, then you should subscribe to immediately. Based in the DMV, Erin Duncan is a good friend of mine whose penmanship and love for reading I’ve admired since we met almost a decade ago.
What makes Erin’s Substack so special is that it gives readers a glimpse into her thought process when it comes to selecting her reads and assembling her wonderfully curated playlists.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHICAGO, IL – Beyond The Glass presented by The Veraison Project is BACK! Last year’s event was such a great success that we’ve moved it to a bigger venue! Grab your ticket for the 2025 Beyond The Glass: Food & Wine Experience happening on August 9 – I hope to see you there!
OMG love you. I'm blushing at my shoutout <3333333
ALSOOOOOOOO I never knew Idaho had so many gems!
Chasity over here making me want to head to potato country.