By Jordan Kamali
March 22, 2024 · 6 min read
Most people don't think of Idaho when they think of wine. That's about to change. The Snake River Valley AVA — established in 2007, Idaho's first American Viticultural Area — now encompasses more than 50 wineries across southwestern Idaho and two eastern Oregon counties.
The elevation helps: at 2,700 to 3,000 feet, the vineyards sit above the valley fog and benefit from intense summer sun and cold nights. That diurnal swing — sometimes 50°F between afternoon and after dark — slows ripening and preserves acidity, producing wines with depth and structure uncommon at this price point.
The flagship varieties here are Syrah, Viognier, Tempranillo, and Merlot. The volcanic basalt soils reward all of them in different ways.