Top 100 wines of Idaho - Page 2
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.
Discovering the wine region of Idaho
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.
Discover the grape variety: Muscat Ottonel
Muscat Ottonel has the character of a grape variety with a distant lineage. It was first obtained in 1839 and continues to be planted in nearly 2,000 hectares of vineyards around the world. It shows good vigour and promises satisfactory production, of the order of 6 kilos per vine. The bunches, which are rather loose, are quite large, bearing berries with a strong character. A pleasantly musky flavour and a lot of juice characterize the pulp, protected by a medium skin. The bluish-black skin contributes to the exceptional beauty of the vineyards at harvest time. The size of the ellipsoidal berries is another argument in favor of Muscat Ottonel, which is also known as Muscat Ottone or Muscadet Ottonel. Resin, toast, honey and wild flowers are all present in the wines made from this variety. If the foliage, which turns yellow in autumn, is one of its charms, remember to protect the fruit from grey rot and coulure.
News from the vineyard of Idaho
Master Sommelier Larry Stone explains why he sold Lingua Franca to Constellation Brands
Stone will remain on board as a brand ambassador and adviser to the business he created back in 2012. The winemaking team, spearheaded by Thomas Savre and Burgundian consultant Dominique Lafon, is still in place too. ‘We’re all still there and we’re going to keep making great wine, but we will have better resources,’ Stone told Decanter.com. Stone, a Master Sommelier, purchased the 61 hectares Janzen Farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley on December 31, 2012. He had been working at Evening Land’s a ...
Rare whiskies and DRC excite buyers at Sotheby’s HK auctions
A methuselah of Romanée-Conti 1976 from Burgundy’s vaunted Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was among the highlights in a two-day series of Sotheby’s wine and spirits auctions in Hong Kong last weekend. The six-litre bottle sold for HK$1.25m (US$159,350), against a pre-sale estimate range of HK$1m to HK$1.4m. In a separate spirits auction, a single bottle of Yamazaki 35 Year Old Japanese whisky fetched HK$1m (US$127,440). Rare white Burgundy was also in-demand during the weekend event. Top lot in a f ...
Tobermory launches 24-year-old whisky finished in Oloroso Sherry casks
Only 3,600 bottles of Tobermory 24 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish will be available, following last year’s release of a 23-year-old Hebridean Series single malt from the same batch. Bottled at 52.5% abv, Tobermory 24 has spent the last nine years in Oloroso Sherry casks sourced from González Byass. The series is part of a new focus on aged Tobermory releases under Brendan McCarron, master distiller for parent company Distell, master blender Julieann Fernandez and Tobermory manager Cara Gilbert, 28 ...