Idaho AVAs
The state covers 83,500 square miles of land in the Rocky Mountains, stretching between the latitudes of 42°N and 49°N. Idaho's vineyards, concentrated largely in the southwest, share their latitudinal position with the Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence regions of southern France, but certainly not their climate.
There is deliberate and focused viticultural activity in Idaho; with 3 official AVAs established as of the time of writing, and the variety of microclimates allows for many different wine styles to be produced. The state was initially much better known for its cool climate wines, made from varieties such as Riesling (including ice wine), Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. More recently there has been more focus on red wines, including more heavily structured Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo and Malbec.
Idaho’s wine production is located mostly in the southwest, near the border with Oregon. Some is in the more northerly "panhandle" part of the state on the border with Washington, and also around Boise in the south-central area.
Winters are still harsher in Idaho, and severe cold and frosts led to significant vine loss in 2016. Summers are hot and dry, usually requiring irrigation, and overall the state has a continental climate. Altitude provides most of the temperature modifications necessary for viticulture in Idaho, and vineyards vary between 600 and 3,000 feet above sea level. At raised altitudes, sunlight is more intense and evenings are colder, leading to a diurnal temperature variation that ensures grapes keep their acidity as they ripen.
Overall, Idaho has a much shorter growing season than the more-famous wine-producing regions of the western United States. The typically mild fall season allows the berries just enough hang time to reach full ripeness.
Eagle Foothills AVA
Established on 24 November 2015, Eagle Foothills AVA is located in the southwestern part of the state, north of Boise, and completely within the vast, and younger, Snake River Valley AVA. Eagle Foothills AVA was the first AVA in Idaho and includes portions of both Gem and Ada counties.
The Eagle Foothills AVA is located in the Unwooded Alkaline Foothills ecoregion, land that isn't given over to much agriculture, except in areas near available water for irrigation. The majority of the region has been used for livestock grazing or as a wildlife habitat.
The topography of Eagle Foothills is defined by number seasonal creeks and streams, which have cut paths through the hillsides. The resultant sloping banks are favored for vineyards, especially those with south-facing exposures that maximize direct sunlight.
The Eagle Foothills AVA encompasses 49,815 acres and nearly 550 acres planted to vineyards. The AVA is located in hardiness zones 7a and 7b. Vineyard elevations are approximately below 2,000 feet. It gained its distinct status due to its proximity to Prospect Peak (4,874ft) and its soil.
Similar to the greater Snake River Valley AVA, the Eagle Foothills AVA has a semi-arid climate. However, receives a few more inches of rainfall and has a slightly longer growing season than the Snake River Valley AVA average.
The soils are also fairly uniform, consisting of granite pebbles and sandy loam based on volcanic ash from the ancient Lake Idaho.
A fairly eclectic number of grapes are grown in the Eagle Foothills AVA, reflective of both the surrounding Snake River Valley AVA and the wider experimentation of Idaho's relatively small wine industry. Varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Nearest Large Cities
Boise.
Nearest Airports
BOI
Boise Airport
Lewis-Clark Valley AVA
Established on 19 April 2016, the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA is located in northern part of the state and a contiguous area of southeastern Washington adjacent to the Columbia Valley AVA. The AVA encompasses the area around the Washington city of Clarkston and the neighboring city, Lewiston, in Idaho.
The establishment of Lewis-Clark Valley AVA shifted the border of the neighboring Columbia Valley AVA. The region encompasses 479 square miles (307,000 acres) with nearly 100 acres of grapes currently planted throughout the Lewis-Clark Valley between the Clearwater and mid-Snake Rivers and their tributaries. About 72%, 219,838 acres, is located in Idaho with the rest is in Washington.
The topography consists primarily of deep, V-notched canyons, low plateaus, and bench lands formed by the two rivers. Vineyard elevations are all below 2,000 feet. The elevations are lower than the surrounding regions which allows for warmer temperatures and more growing days, with the highest areas of the appellation are all just shy of 2,000 feet above sea level.
These lower elevations play an important role for the success of local viticulture. The climate of Lewis-Clark Valley AVA is particularly cold, with winter temperatures averaging as low as 20°F (-7°F) creating the risk of winter frosts cold enough to kill vines.
The low elevation of vineyard sites is used to create a favorable microclimate for vineyards. By increasing diurnal temperature variation and maximizing sunshine hours with a favorable aspect, grapes are able to ripen to their full potential. The Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, has the state's lowest elevation vineyards that successfully ripen a wide variety of wine grapes.
Lewis-Clark Valley AVA is further defined by the dominant humus-rich mollisol soils that contrast with the volcanic andisol soils of the surrounding regions.
Grape varieties that grow well in the region include the varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay as well as the common Rhône varieties that are popular in the Columbia Valley AVA of Syrah and Viogner. The scale of wine production is small enough that wineries are still experimenting with what varieties will be the most successful, these have included Sauvignon Blanc and Rkatsiteli.
Nearest Large Cities
Spokane
Coeur d’Alene
Nearest Airports
GEG
Spokane International Airport
Snake River Valley AVA
Established on 8 March 2007, the Snake River Valley AVA is located in Southwestern Idaho (stretching across 11 counties) and two counties in eastern Oregon. Located near the state capital, Boise, it covers five million acres along the Snake River, and includes more than 90 percent of Idaho’s vineyards.
The Snake River Valley AVA’s borders are defined by the ancient (now dry) Lake Idaho and the moderating climate created by the Snake River, which transverses across southern Idaho before turning north to mark the border between the states of Oregon and Idaho, finally joining the larger Columbia River near the Yakima Valley AVA. A small, northern portion of the Snake River Valley AVA crosses into the southeast of Oregon.
Located on the same latitude as Oregon's Umpqua Valley AVA, the Snake River Valley AVA has a more drastic diurnal temperature variation than other AVAs in the Pacific Northwest due to the high elevation of most of the region's vineyards. At elevations of 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level, the region is also more than 400 miles from the tempering effects of the Pacific Ocean.
The Snake River is vital to the region's overall terroir because it provides not only water for irrigation (necessary in the AVA's dry environment), but also unique microclimates. Air currents cooled by the river help, in turn, to cool nearby areas, which is particularly beneficial in this hot climate. In winter, the wind currents work in the opposite way, warming the surrounding areas sufficiently to stop the vines from being killed by the cold.
The Snake River Valley AVA is made up of flat, river-basin land with altitudes ranging from 2,100 to 3,400 feet above sea level, surrounded by even higher mountains. Although the growing season in the Snake River Valley AVA is considerably shorter than in regions in Washington and Oregon, the intense sunlight and high diurnal temperature variation brought about by the altitude are often sufficient to ripen the grapes.
Soils are varied, but are generally free draining, derived from sediments left by the now-dry Lake Idaho. The sandy soils and extreme temperatures mean that the vine-killing phylloxera louse cannot survive here.
White wine from the region has a piercing acidity and minerality, crisp fruit flavors and lower alcohol – all of which are related to the short and extreme growing season. Red wines are more problematic, they often show balance and harmony with an Old World elegance but they can also be thin, tannic and lacking in ripe flavors.
Roughly 1,800 acres of commercial vineyards exist in the Snake River Valley AVA. A diverse range of wines are produced in the valley from grape varieties including Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and Syrah.
Nearest Large Cities
Boise
Nearest Airports
BOI
Boise Airport