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Special Delivery from Idaho Vineyards

For our March article we changed things up a bit and tasted two wines from Idaho thanks to our friend, and guest taster, Amanda Blumenstein. In town for her work with Micron, Amanda hand delivered two bottles from the award winning Cinder Winery right outside Boise. And we are grateful for her Bacchian efforts! Since we already had our two bottles, Eileen offered to host at her house. Now, don’t get me wrong, this group of ladies enjoys exploring new establishments and returning to old favorites, but on a chilly winter night it was lovely to spend a few hours together at Eileen’s warm, stylish home.

Many of us associate Idaho with potatoes or more recently memory chips (considering our new collaboration with Micron). However, Idaho and its capital city Boise have much to offer, including high quality wines. Just a bit of geography: Idaho borders Canada to the North, Washinton and Oregon to the west, Utah and Nevada to the South, and Montana and Wyoming to the east. The hub of the wine growing activities can be found in the Snake River Valley, which is near Boise in the Southwest corner of the state. While Idaho settlers planted grapes in the 1860’s, the industry has blossomed since 2002 when there were 12 wineries in Idaho; now there are more than 65 with 1,300 acres dedicated to vineyards. Liz Thach, “Why the Idaho Wine Industry is Growing Right Now,” Forbes, July 25, 2024.

Known for high desert climate, volcanic soil, and robust agriculture, the warm days and cold nights of the region make it ideal for producing cool climate grapes like Syrah, Riesling, and Chardonnay. According to Wine Folly, three factors contribute to Idaho’s unique terroir along the Snake River. “[1] Varied geography creates microclimates allowing for grape diversity. [2] A diurnal [daily] range and elevation to enhance aromatics and freshness in wine. [3] Volcanic, glacial and alluvial [fertile soil resulting from flowing waters] soils give wines distinct aromatics.” “Idaho Wine Guide”, Wine Folly, January 2026. Another interesting fact: Boise and Syracuse are on the same latitude as Rhone and Bordeaux, prestigious wine regions in the south of France.

Thanks to Amanda, our wines came from the Cinder winery owned and operated by Melanie Kruase and Joe Schnerr. With twenty years in the business, these winemakers credit the complex volcanic soil and friendly climate for the quality of their product. We tried a Riesling and a Rosé of Cinsault (pronounced “sin-so”), a variety new to this group of tasters.

As you may know, Rieslings often get a bad rap for being too sweet, but the variety is site dependent and versatile. “Riesling makes everything from bone dry wines of great elegance to wines so sweet they are close to syrup.” Henry Jeffreys, “What is Riesling” GoodFood, July 2022. Depending upon the region, Riesling can provide notes of green apple, floral, pear, apricot, peach, citrus, or even honey if it is aged.

According to Wine Folly, Cinsault is “one of the minor grapes found in Rhone blends and Provencal Rosés; Cinsault delivers fresh, punchy reds that are just as floral as they are fruity.” Madeline Puckette, “Cinsault”, Wine Folly, June, 2025. While it’s classic pairing is with escargot, “Cinsault rosé wines are fantastic with salads, grilled fish, Mediterranean cuisine, or simply enjoyed as an aperitif on a sunny day. Overall, Cinsault’s food-friendly character makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of culinary experiences.” Steven McAllister, beverage director of CookNSolo restaurant group and Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia as quoted in Brian Freedman, “Cinsault: Everything You Need To Know,” Food & Wine, May 14, 2024. Freedman goes on to explain that “Cinsault boasts red berry and cherry notes, as well as hints of minerality and flowers” and often produces a wine like Pinot Noir.

Now that we’ve covered geography, geology, and agriculture, let’s turn to the wine tasting. To recap our novice approach to tasting: none of us is a wine expert but we know what we like and are happy to share our unbiased opinion with you. To keep things consistent, we developed our own unique rating system: pass, glass, bottle, case; you can interpret it as 1, 2, 3, and 4 stars.

Cinder 2024 Dry Riesling (Snake River Valley, Idaho)

Tasters: Surprisingly, the tasters preferred the Riesling to the Rosé, which is unusual for this group. Pam and Eileen noted the light simple flavor which was not overly sweet but enjoyable. Kate found the flavor a bit too simple, describing the wine as “comfortable but flat.” Kathy mentioned the fragrant ending, floral tastes, and strong aroma. Carolyn enjoyed the fruity but easy taste and the hint of smoky, earthy flavor at the end. Overall, this well-balanced Riesling exceeded expectations and reinforced the value of tasting different varieties.

Winemaker: Zingy acidity meets aromas of honeysuckle and mandarin. Bright citrus and green apple lead to a crisp, refreshing finish with subtle softness for added depth.

Retail Cost: $27

Rating: Buy a BOTTLE

Cinder Rosé of Cinsault (Snake River Valley, Idaho)

Winner of the “Best Rosé” at the 2021 Idaho Wine Competition.

Tasters: All agreed that this Rosé was light and simple. Kathy mentioned it was “a good choice if you wanted to drink Rosé all day” – sounds like a fun plan. Both Carolyn and Kathy noted the burst of spicy flavor at the end. Eileen and Pam enjoyed the simple, tasty flavor, but Kate reported that nothing specific jumped out to her.

Winemaker: Crisp, light body and notes of red fruit like strawberry and raspberry, with hints of citrus, melon, and spice. Celebrated as a refreshing easy-drinking wine that often wins awards and praised for its balance and versatility with food.

Retail Cost: $28

Rating: Buy a GLASS