The 13th annual Idaho Wine and Cider Competition took place on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, and identified the state’s top wines and ciders this year. The competition was organized by Great Northwest Wine and supported by a judging panel of respected writers, sommeliers, winemaking consultants, wine buyers and industry experts.
The panel of judges evaluated 164 Idaho wines submitted by 35 wine brands and 13 cider entries from across Idaho. The judging took place at Koenig Vineyards in Caldwell, Idaho.
“The Idaho Wine Competition shows how extraordinary Idaho wine is,” said Moya Dolsby, executive director of the Idaho Wine Commission. “Our wines are winning more gold and double gold medals every year. We saw familiar names win this year, but we also had several newcomers win gold medals for the first time, which is very exciting.”
"We hope that these competitions will help the consumer know about most of the top wines and ciders produced in Idaho while providing professional feedback to the member wineries and cideries," said Eric Degerman, Great Northwest Wine President and CEO and Idaho Wine Competition director. "Another goal is that the experts we recruit each year to serve on the judging panels will turn into ambassadors for Idaho's craft beverage producers and hospitality industry. There is a growing list of people in the trade wanting to see and taste what's going on in Idaho.”
"And this year,” Degerman added, “the judging panel awarded 21 percent gold medals, which is a respectable figure for any wine competition held in the U.S.”
The annual competition took place in advance of Idaho Wine & Cider Month in June. Wineries and cideries across the state hosted special events, offering promotions, and featuring their winning wines.
Each wine and cider in the Idaho Wine Competition was evaluated on appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall quality. Judges conducted the tasting blind. Winners include:
Best of show/Best Syrah/Double gold medal: Cinder Wines 2020 Syrah, Snake River Valley $35.00
Best white wine/Best Chardonnay/Gold medal: Vale Wine Co. 2021 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $23.00
Best rosé/Gold medal: Dude DeWalt Cellars 2021 Rosé, Eagle Foothills $26.00
Best Cabernet Sauvignon/Double gold medal: Roghani Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $51.20
Best of class/Double gold medal
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Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Dry Moscato, Snake River Valley $21.00
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Kindred Vineyards 2020 Papas Malbec, Snake River Valley $44.00
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Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Riesling, Washington State $17.00
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Parma Ridge Winery & Bistro 2019 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $36.00
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Rolling Hills Vineyard 2019 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $36.00
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Koenig Vineyards 2019 Lanae Ridge Vineyard Nebbiolo, Snake River Valley $32.00
Best of class/gold medal
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Indian Creek Winery 2021 Viognier, Snake River Valley $17.00
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Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2016 Merlot, Washington State $26.00
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Rolling Hills Vineyard 2018 Mascot Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley/Snake River Valley $36.00
Double gold medal
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Parma Ridge Winery & Bistro 2021 Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley $23.00
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Williamson Vineyards 2021 Albariño, Snake River Valley $27.60
Gold medal
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Cinder Wines 2021 Rosé of Syrah, Snake River Valley $25.00
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Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2020 Carménère, Washington State $32.00
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Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2019 Coco’s Reserve Selway, Lewis-Clark Valley $45.00
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Famici Wine Co., 2021 Rosé of Graciano, Snake River Valley $27.00
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Fujishin Family Cellars 2019 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley $29.95
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Hat Ranch Winery 2019 Malbec, Snake River Valley $32.00
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Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2021 JH Stainless Steel Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $18.00
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Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2021 Buhljolais Gertchen Vineyard Rosé of Syrah, Snake River Valley $14.00
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Huston Vineyards 2019 Merlot, Snake River Valley $31.00
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Indian Creek Winery 2019 Star Garnet Red Wine, Snake River Valley $17.00
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Indian Creek Winery 2021 Rosé of Syrah, Snake River Valley $20.00
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Kerry Hill Winery 2019 Monarch Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $35.00
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Koenig Vineyards 2021 Williamson Vineyard Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18.00
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Owyhee Vista Vineyard 2021 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $20.00
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Parma Ridge Winery & Bistro 2019 Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00
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Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State $35.00
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Veer Wine Project 2019 Vincens (Merlot), Snake River Valley $30.00
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Williamson Vineyards 2019 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $33.60
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Y Knot Winery 2020 Syrah, Snake River Valley $28.00
Idaho Cider Competition
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Best of show/double gold medal: Highpoint Cider MotherTrucker – Wild, Hazy, Juicy Cider, $3.59
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Best of class/double gold medal: Meriwether Cider Rosé Cider, $18.00
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Best of class/gold medal: Cedar Draw Cider Wickson Vixen Cider, $14.00
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Gold medal: Highpoint Cider Spur – Ginger Infused Session Cider, $3.49
This year’s judging panel featured Deborah Parker Wong, global wine editor for SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel magazines; Tim Donahue, a winemaker and formerly the instructor of winemaking at Walla Walla Community College; Ilene Dudunake, owner, A New Vintage Wine Shop, Meridian, Idaho; Lane Hoss, wine buyer/vice-president of operations for Anthony’s Restaurants, which is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington; Kathryn House McClaskey, director of education, Hayden Beverage Co., Boise, Idaho; Ellen Landis, certified sommelier/journalist, St. Petersburg, Florida; and Jeff Ritchey, winemaker/owner of California-based Winerat Consulting, Snake River Valley, Idaho.
The Idaho Wine and Cider Competition was sponsored by BASF, Bayer, Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau, Corteva Agriscience, Gowan USA, Great Northwest Wine, Koenig Vineyards, and Wilbur-Ellis. Visit IdahoWines.org, for more information about wineries, vineyards, and events in Idaho.