Vineyards and wineries
As of April 2007 Idaho has earned Viticultural Area status, indicating a thriving wine industry. Bitner Vineyards, Koenig Distillery Vineyards, Sawtooth Winery, Ste. Chapelle Winery, Parma Ridge Vineyards, Snake River Winery, Indian Creek Winery, Weston Winery, and Hells Canyon Winery are just a few of the burgeoning wine producers along the Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway. Visitors can stop to taste wine and view spectacular vistas of the vineyards and Owyhee Mountains.
The first vineyards in Idaho were planted in the late 1800s and by the early 1900s Idaho was nationally known for the production of fine wines. Prohibition ended the economic viability of wine production. In the 1970s vineyards were reintroduced to the Snake River Plain and the first harvest was in 1975 at the Ste. Chapelle vineyards. Since then the industry has grown to become a vital part of the Idaho agricultural landscape.
Hot days and cool nights with rich volcanic soils create the ideal growing conditions for grapes with perfect sugar/acid balance. Award winning Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, and Chardonnays are the major white wine varieties with Syrahs, Cabernet Sauvignons, and Merlots the leading red varieties.
Wineries
• Koenig Distillery and Winery