French-Canadians are credited with naming Boise, which — depending on your source — translates to “woods” or “wooded.”
Two centuries later, one would bet those Francophone fur trappers would appreciate the wine industry that’s surrounded Idaho’s state capital and its downtown population of 210,000. Count the bedroom communities, and it’s nearly 600,000 people.
Not only is the area one of the fastest growing in the United States, but there’s also the sexy new Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area surrounding it.
“We’re getting tourists come through just because they saw it on the news and phone calls from distributors and restaurants on the East Coast,” said Beverly Williamson, marketing manager for Williamson Vineyards in Caldwell. “We’re not a hobbyist wine area anymore.”
Those flying into Boise will appreciate the airport’s modern terminal, completed in 2004. And tourists quickly pick up on the clean, safe and hip vibe to downtown, which features the Capitol building (closed until 2010 for renovations), headquarters for three Fortune 500 firms, urban renewal and a college campus.
Travel tip: Just remember you now are in the Mountain Time Zone.
Lodging options include the boutique Hotel 43 with its chic and high-tech accommodations and Chandlers Steakhouse on the ground floor. The Grove Hotel, another high-rise downtown destination, is adjacent to the Qwest Arena.
Fans of spectator sports will find pro teams competing in baseball, basketball, hockey and indoor football. Boise State University’s football program ranks among one of the most entertaining in the country, and the PGA Tour’s minor league circuit visits each September.
Those preferring outdoor activity will enjoy the 25-mile Boise River Greenbelt that meanders past BSU. Bike rentals can be had downtown at several shops. Museums include the Old Idaho Territorial Penitentiary. Each Wednesday from May to October, there’s the “Alive After Five” festival centered on food and music. And the Boise Co-op promotes Idaho Preferred products, Snake River Farms meat and Northwest wine.
The city’s renovated downtown district includes the Grove, the Basque Block and BoDo, and each offers an array of worthwhile dining options.
A number embrace regional wines, and Wine Press Northwest has featured several during our 10-year history — Andrae’s, Bardenay, Mortimer’s and the Red Feather Lounge. It’s virtually impossible to find a better weekend brunch than at Red Feather. Grab lunch inside a wine bar/shop by walking into Pug Ostling’s Grape Escape Wine & Remembrance. For a wicked tropical drink and live music, swing into Reef.
Dinner options exist in wine country, too. In Nampa, Copper Canyon is a past Match Maker participant, and winemakers also recommended Brick 29 Bistro. In Marsing, the Sandbar River House pours local wines.
Blue Ribbon Artisans in Meridian provides a fascinating culinary village with a bakery, coffee shop, estate meats, wine shop/deli and an estate dairy program with hedonistic ice cream. There’s French fine dining as well as a pub.
Working up an appetite is easy for winesters, who can taste at a dozen wineries within an hour’s drive of Boise. (Drop the kids off at Roaring Springs Water Park in Meridian.)
One day could be spent around the agricultural-rich Sunny Slope within the Caldwell-Parma-Marsing triangle.
In Parma, there’s Parma Ridge and Snake River. Caldwell features five with tasting rooms open to the public: Bitner, Hells Canyon, Koenig Distillery & Winery, Ste. Chapelle and Williamson.
On another day, patronize the four wineries around Nampa, Kuna and Eagle. In between Marsing and Nampa, there’s Sawtooth. South of Meridian you’ll find Indian Creek and Silver Trail in Kuna. And north of Meridian, in Eagle, there’s Wood River Winery — formerly known as the Winery at Eagle Knoll. The change will be official in May.
And maybe someday one of these Idaho wineries will begin referring to their Chardonnay treated in French oak as “Boise’d.”
* Eric Degerman is managing editor of Wine Press Northwest.
Print
E-Mail
