Idaho Wine Country

Filed in archive Vineyards on March 14, 2007

Idaho has been known for a long time as one of the states in the U.S. that isn't that easy to get a drink in. In fact, they only recently lost one of their last "dry" counties, so they are bursting at the seams it seems. Now that they can drink, they can also start planting their own vineyards and making their own wine along the Snake River Valley. This river goes through a pretty large portion of the state, so this is a pretty big deal.

From Idaho Wine Industry Gets Major Boost:

It's a first for the state of Idaho that could bring in big dollars. The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has designated Idaho's Snake River Valley as an American Viticultural Area, or AVA. That distinction brands the southern portion of the state as America's next great wine region.

As of April 9th, Idaho's Snake River Valley will take its place among 236 AVA's in the U.S.A. a third of which are in California.

"It's an exciting time," said Ron Bitner, owner of Bitner Vineyards and the acting director of the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission, "We are finally going to take off and be part of the Idaho culinary experience."

The AVA extends along the Snake River, east to west, from the Twin Falls area into Oregon. Several factors make this region prime for growing grapes.