Top 100 wines of Idaho
Discover the top 100 best wines of Idaho as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Idaho and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Idaho is the third largest state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, bordered by the famous wine states of Oregon and Washington. Currently, Idaho is better known for its potatoes than for its wine. However, with the rapid growth of the wine business and the quality of the wines produced here in recent decades, its profile is rising.
Idaho's different mesoClimates allow for many different styles of wine to be produced.
Initially, the state was much better known for its cool-climate wines, produced from Grape varieties such as Riesling (including Icewine), Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Climate change has led to a greater emphasis on red wines, including the more structured Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo and Malbec.
Idaho's wine production is primarily in the southwest, near the Oregon border. Some is in the northern Part of the state, the panhandle, on the border with Washington, and around Boise in south-central Idaho.
Originally from Italy, it is the famous Sangiovese of Tuscany producing the famous wines of Brunello de Montalcino and Chianti. This variety is registered in the Official Catalogue of Wine Grape Varieties, list A1. According to recent genetic analysis, it is the result of a natural cross between the almost unknown Calabrese di Montenuovo (mother) and Ciliegiolo (father).
wines from the region of Idaho go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or spicy food such as recipes of thai beef skewers, osso bucco of lamb or homemade pork curry.
On the nose in the region of Idaho often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, non oak or oak and sometimes also flavors of red fruit, black fruit or earth.