Idaho’s quickly-growing wine scene is capturing the attention of the wine trade across the country. In a recently released story in Marketwatch, “Eyes on Idaho,” by Angel Antin, Precept Wine CEO Andrew Browne enthusiastically participated and opined on Idaho’s promise. An excerpt:
“Idaho’s story is in the bottle,” says Andrew Browne, president and CEO of Seattle-based Precept Wine. The company owns two wineries in the Snake River Valley AVA, which extends across southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Sawtooth produces 9,000 cases of wine a year, while Ste. Chapelle, acquired in 2012, makes 85,000 cases under the Ste. Chapelle label and more on a contract basis. “Idaho is an exciting and dynamic winemaking state,” Browne says. “From the viticultural standpoint, Idaho resembles Washington, where the vines hibernate in the winter. But Idaho has even greater elevation variations and diurnal swings, so you get mature grapes and fresh acidity.”
The state’s varieties are best known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but standouts from critical palates include Idaho’s Riesling, Syrah and Tempranillo.
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