Other wine scenes in the United States are often overshadowed by California wine country. However, wine tasting in Boise and the Snake River Valley is a newer up-and-coming wine scene. The wine tastings are super affordable and the wines are decent. Some of the grapes are even sourced from Washington and Oregon. Wine tasting is a good addition to any weekend in Boise.
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History of the Snake River Valley
Established in 2007, the Snake River Valley AVA includes areas in Southwestern Idaho and two areas in eastern Oregon. In total, the Snake River Valley contains 1,800 acres and 46 vineyards.
How to Get to the Snake River Valley
To get to Boise and the Snake River Valley, you will want to fly into Boise Airport. This airport has many domestic flights. Most routes are from the West Coast, Chicago, and NYC. This is not an international airport, so you will have to grab a connecting flight.
Then, you will need to hop on the 84 West for about 20 miles. This will take you to Nampa which has a ton of wineries in the region.
When to Visit
The wineries are typically open more days and have longer hours during the summertime. However, any time of the year is fine to go wine tasting in Boise. We went during the wintertime and were still able to visit a lot of wineries.
Where to Stay
If you want to go wine tasting in Boise and the Snake River Valley you can stay pretty much anywhere in Boise. It is about a 30-minute drive to the Snake River Valley from Downtown Boise. We opted to stay at the Springhill Suites Boise Park Center. Other places include the Hyatt Place Boise Downtown, the Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown, and the Residence Inn Downtown.
Best Wineries to go Wine Tasting in Boise and the Snake River Valley
The Boise area has 1,300 acres of vineyards and over 65 wineries. It is definitely a newer wine scene but the area is worth a visit for wine lovers.
Hat Ranch Winery
Cost: $10 for 5 wines
Hours: 12pm-5pm
Best Wine(s): Vale Pinot Noir
Hat Ranch became a farm/homestead in 1902. 100 years later in 2002, the owner Tim Harless, became interested in wine. In 2011, Hat Ranch produced its own vintages and has continued to grow since then. Present-day you can opt to taste all of their wines in the tasting room. A tasting is only $10 for 5 pours so you can easily try all of their wines thus making it a great place to go wine tasting in Boise.
Huston Vineyards
Cost: $10 for 5 wines
Hours: 12pm-5pm
Best Wine(s): 2019 Huston Malbec
Huston Vineyards might have been our favorite stop when wine tasting in Boise. They create a small batch of various types of varietals, depending on the weather that year. A tasting is $10 for 5 wines, which I feel like was a steal for their delicious wines. You cannot go wrong with whatever you try.
Sawtooth Winery and Tasting Room
Cost: $15 for 3 wines
Hours: 11am-5pm
Best Wine(s):
The 70-acre Sawtooth Estate makes it one of the main wine producers in the area. You can opt to create your own flight of 3 or choose one of their preselected flights. They also have a few snacks and specialty drinks as well. I recommend trying one of their champagne jello shots. The view from the tasting room was incredible as well and made for a relaxing atmosphere thus making it one of the best places to go wine tasting in Boise.
Ste. Chapelle Winery and Tasting Room
Cost: $18 for 4 wines
Hours: 11am-6pm
Best Wine(s): Panoramic Gewurztraminer
Right next door to Sawtooth Winery is Ste. Chapelle. As one of the older wineries, it brought wine to the area in 1975. They have a pretty extensive tasting menu and several appetizer type dishes to go with the wines. A tasting here will cost $18 for 4 wines. It is a good place for wine tasting in Boise as you can see what some of the original wine from the area is like.
Split Rail Winery
Cost: Glasses Only
Hours: Wed-Sun: 12pm-6pm
Best Wine(s): Me and My Thoughts Mourvedre
Split Rail Winery does some more unique types of wines. -Think more funky type wines like a Carbonic Mourvedre. They focus on Rhone Varietals and make different wines every year. Split Rail is one of the more unique places for wine tasting in Boise but it is a fun experience.
Telaya Wine Co.
Cost: $20 for 4 wines
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 12pm-6:30pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-7:30pm
Best Wine(s): Tempranillo
Telaya Wine Co is conveniently located near Downtown Boise, thus making it perfect for wine tasting in Boise. Telaya started in 2008 and has grown since then to produce a lot of the wine in the area. The tasting room is massive with both indoor and outdoor seating making it great place to hang out for a while.
Other Wineries to go Wine Tasting in Boise
Other noteworthy wineries that were recommended to me include Fujishin Family Cellars, Potter Wines, and Coiled Wines. If you get hungry when wine tasting in Boise, Spot Pizza is a decent place to grab lunch.
Although wine tasting in Boise and the Snake River Valley was a fun way to spend a day, the United States has some of the best wine regions in the world. If you have more time after wine tasting in Boise, head over to California or Oregon for some of the excellent wineries there.
