Idaho first became a wine producing region in 1812 when French and German immigrants began planting grape varieties imported from their European homeland. Today, wine production is one of Idaho's fastest-growing agricultural industries, as vineyards flourish in the southern Snake River Valley and wineries extend into Idaho's northern panhandle. The river is key to Idaho's grape quality, as it helps control the climate by cooling vineyards in summer and protecting them from frost in the spring and fall. A mountainous state, Idaho vineyards thrive at elevations as high as 3,100 feet / 930 meters above sea level, resulting in a wide range of varieties and growing conditions. Another characteristic unique to Idaho is its volcanic ash soil which naturally limits the growth of the ungrafted vines and produces grapes with concentrated flavors and high acidity.

• As of 2001, Idaho has no recognized appellations, but when current plans are finalized, the state's first official wine producing region will likely be the Snake River Valley
• Approximately 1,200 planted acres / 480 planted hectares
• Future growth is expected along the river's 600 mile / 960 kilometer course
• Climate: high daytime temperatures and very cool nights, with wide temperature swings that allow grapes to ripen to full flavor

Click here for a varietal listing from Idaho