The intrigue of the fastest growing wine region in the United States led me on a journey to learn more about Idaho Wine. I left Napa on a very hot Friday afternoon to fly to the land of the unknown. I’d never traveled to Idaho but was inspired to learn it was the fastest-growing wine region in the United States. Pretty compelling stuff, particularly when you consider wine today is made in every state in the union.
The flight from Sacramento to Boise was easy. One hour. I’d had no idea it was that close to Northern California. In fact, its proximity to Oregon is 45 minutes by car. This alone makes it a compelling destination. Add into that the vast amount of outdoor activities and you’ve got the perfect vacation locale. It’s also an idyllic place to dip your toes into the world of Idaho wine.
Boise is the capital of Idaho. It alone has an incredible amount of history surrounding it. French trappers named it boisé which means “wooded”. This tree-lined river was a place to rest for travelers crossing the vast Snake River plain.
Boise is located in Treasure Valley. There are six rivers in the Valley (Payette, Boise, Weiser, Malheur, Owyhee, and Burnt rivers) drain into the Snake River the largest tributary (1,078 miles) in the Pacific Northwest region.
In 1862 it was Boise Basin that was at the center of the biggest gold rush the United States would ever see. More gold was removed from this region than anywhere in the country.
With the Gold Rush came the Basque (about 15,000 of them) and the farmers. The region was a beneficiary of the Owyhee irrigation project which rerouted water for farming purposes.
The location of this region is remarkable. Particularly because of the dynamics of wine surrounding it. They are in the best of company being located at the 43 parallel north. Famous neighbors in the same parallel from Camina de Santiago de Compostela to Tuscany, Languedoc-Rousillon, Provence, and many more. This makes it a great region for wine-growing with views benefitting from their short, hot, and very arid summers, to the cold overcast snowy winters.
It’s also been a hotbed for modern-day relocations during today’s “Great Resignation”. While I don’t know the exact numbers, in my personal experience talking to people who live and work in Boise, I found that 4 out of 5 people I met had been in Boise less than 2 years. What drew them here? The cost of living, wide-open areas, wilderness, and vibrancy of Downtown Boise, perhaps the attractive future in the world of Idaho wine.