Rivaura Estate Vineyard and Winery meets the Clearwater River, surrounded by rolling hills and … [+] fantastic views.
For travelers seeking lesser-known wines, affordable tastings, and breathtaking views, Idaho is becoming a hot destination for a bit of the grape.
If you didn’t know Idaho produces great wine, take a look at who’s been winning top honors in the Pacific Northwest. An Idaho vintage has won the Cascadia International Wine Competition for the last three years, a testament to the state’s efforts to restore its pre-Prohibition legacy as the earliest center of wine production.
Traveling here is a treat, and not just for the outdoor activities – even in Boise, the few crowds you might encounter are light. The vibe is casual and laid back. And there’s positively no snootiness or pretention at wine tastings. Yet the wine is every bit as good as what you’ll find in well-known, touristy wine destinations.
If you’re familiar with Walla Walla Valley wines, you know the elevation, soil, and climate in that region is ideal for winegrowing. Since Lewiston, Idaho, shares the same type of terroir, it too has the perfect conditions for growing great wine. But because Idaho doesn’t have a booming population or a huge built-in wine-drinking population, it relies on its wine clubs and its visitors to discover what it has to offer.
And what it has to offer is definitely worth a trip. The Lewis-Clark American Viticultural Area (AVA) is just a short drive from Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport. Authorized as an AVA in 2016, it covers over 300,000 acres that run along the Snake and Clearwater Rivers in Idaho and Washington, with the majority in Idaho. From a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon to a crisp chardonnay, this region is producing the classics but also branching out into lesser-known varietals.
That means that visitors get to sample a full range of wines surrounded by natural beauty at a fraction of the cost of Napa or Sonoma tastings.
Rivaura’s award-winning wines helped put Idaho on the map as a wine country competitor.
When I tasted my way through Idaho, I knew Rivaura Estate Vineyard and Winery would stick in my mind long after I left. It could have been the unbelievable views, it might have been that they produce 100 percent estate wines, but it was most likely that no matter what varietal or vintage I tasted, I loved it.
I’m not alone.
Rivaura (named after the river that runs along the property and the special aura you feel when you’re there) was Great Northwest Wine magazine’s 2022 Idaho Winery to Watch. Sip Magazine awarded Rivaura double gold medals for its 2019 Viognier and 2020 Cabernet Franc rosé, and a gold for its 2019 grenache.
Rivaura’s tasting room opened in 2020 and is pretty epic. You’ll take a long driveway about 800 feet up, where the views are sweeping. While you can make yourself comfortable inside, it’s likely you’ll be drawn outdoors, where sipping tables are the perfect vantage point to take in the Clearwater River, mountains rising up behind it, and the vineyard spread before you. Order a bottle of Insomniac Red Wine and then just take it all in.
The price tag for these award-winning wines and breathtaking views? Tastings are only $10, which is credited back to any 2+ bottle purchase. One-on-one Winemaker Tastings with Lane Hewett are $50 and include a whopping 10 wines. If you’ve tasted in Napa, you know what a steal this is.
Next, make your way to Clearwater Canyon Cellars, conceived of 21 years ago on a 100-year-old family homestead. Winemaker Coco Umiker and Vineyard Manager Carl Umiker are the husband-wife team that has transformed the family farm into an impressive vineyard garnering attention throughout the wine world.
Clearwater Canyon was named the Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year in 2020 and has earned 41 platinum awards for various varietals over the years. Coco Umiker is a bit of an Idaho legend and will teach you all about the history of winemaking in this area. The casual tasting room features floor-to-ceiling maps that detail the AVA, and Umiker will answer any questions you have without the slightest bit of condescension. Her nature will immediately put you at ease as you sample the Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon against the Malbec, ultimately buying both.
You will likely need a bite to eat to accompany your tastings, and fortunately you can have both at
Lindsay Creek Vineyards farms its own wheat and chickpeas for fresh bread and hummus, and its wines … [+] are the perfect complement.
Lindsay Creek Vineyards. Owned and operated by brothers Art and Doug McIntosh and their wives, Michelle and Brenda, Lindsay Creek is situated in a beautiful, rural spot that is positively bucolic.
A large, trellised outdoor patio overlooks the sprawling farm, a garden fountain bubbling nearby. Inside you’ll find a towering space anchored by a wine bar, fresh peonies and roses in a glass vase, and your choice of tables and chairs to accommodate groups of all sizes.
Lindsay Creek farms their food alongside their grapes, so menu items are true farm-to-fork offerings. A decadent hummus comes from their freshly grown chickpeas, durum wheat bread originating from the farm you see from the patio arrives warm to the table, and organic vegetables remind you to start shopping at farmers markets.
And we haven’t even gotten started on the wine. From the tempranillo to the cabernet franc, it all tastes divine as you gaze out over the farmland where it was crafted. Lindsay Creek wines took home several honors from the Cascadia Wine Competition: two golds for their estate cabernet franc and chardonnay, and three silvers for their riesling, estate semillon, and merlot.
If you’re getting the sense that you can’t really go wrong taking a tasting trip to Idaho, you’re right. While many choose to taste in the Sunnyslope region and in Boise itself, both of which have a much greater concentration of wineries to choose from, my wine tasting heart is near Lewiston. The serenity of the surroundings and the opportunity to talk grapes with the winemakers themselves make a trip to the Lewis-Clark AVA a win-win.
