For Skip Smyser, a gentleman’s life isn’t only built in courtrooms or Capitol chambers—it’s also found in the quiet complexity of a good Cabernet. A former Idaho legislator, respected lobbyist, and lifelong Idahoan, Smyser is known for helping shape state policy. But his lesser-known legacy is just as rich: championing Idaho’s wine laws and cultivating a lasting family passion for wine.
“Back in the early days,” Skip recalls, “Idaho had no laws for wine. Saint Chapelle, Ron Bitner—these guys were pioneers. As the Senator from that area, I carried the legislation that really created the rules for Idaho wine.”
Through trial and error, Smyser worked alongside vintners to carve out the legal space for an industry that today is flourishing.
As his understanding grew, so did his love for wine. “At first, like a lot of people, I started with the sweetest white I could find. Then you evolve. Pinot Noir is the crossover wine. From there, you find yourself at Zinfandel—and eventually, you land in Cabernet and stay.”
This evolution became a family journey. All three of Skip’s children worked in Napa Valley wineries, and his daughter Logan opened a wine-focused restaurant in Boise that was respected for its standout cellar.
“I’ve always said, a great wine makes the food better, and a great dish brings out the best in wine. But when they both elevate each other? That’s perfection.”
A personal cellar filled with vintages from Chateau Montelena and Joseph Phelps is testament to Skip’s lifelong devotion. His oldest bottle? A 1976 Saint Chapelle—among the first numbered bottles ever produced in Idaho.
Today, Smyser sees a bright future for Idaho wine. “We’ve got some incredibly talented winemakers now—Bitner, Telaya, Kerry Hill. Idaho reds can stand with the best of Walla Walla.”
For this gentleman of wine, the journey from politics to Cabernet has been as layered and lasting as a fine wine—best enjoyed slowly, and always shared.