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You may have noticed our motto is "come as you are." It means, here in Idaho we take a more relaxed approach toward wine. You can forego the formalities and simply enjoy.

But for some, every glass is an opportunity to plumb the many nuances and complexities of wine: its characteristics, its value, even its flaws. Drinking wine is just one part of the fun. Discovery is the other.

There is some good news in this pandemic.

With most of humanity in lockdown, Mother Earth is already showing positive signs of recovery. In Los Angeles, the notorious smog—which has defined the city for decades—has lifted. Meanwhile in Venice, Italy, the once murky, polluted canals are crystal clear (the cleanest they've been in 60 years). And in our national parks, wildlife roams free and appears to be thriving without us around.

Are the contents of your wine rack dwindling faster than your stash of toilet paper?

Well, you've come to the right place! While maintaining the appropriate amount of social distance, we've put together this quick guide of Idaho wineries that are still very open and very essential. So you can restock without leaving home.

ICYMI, earlier this year we looked at what wineries do in the winter, a period of dormancy that is anything but unproductive. Now, as signs of Spring are beginning to appear, we wanted to return to the vineyards for another important time for growers (maybe the most important): bud break. 

Amid the rugged and scenic landscape of the Lewis-Clark Valley, people can take advantage of year-round adventure: hiking, kayaking, fishing and hunting, and other daring pursuits. But recently, another activity has begun to define the region: sipping fine wines.

Have you ever been part of a book club? Well, everyone knows the best thing about a book club is the fantastic assortment of wine and snacks! Every month it's like an after dark version of brunch. (Is “dunch” a thing? Feels like it should be.)

So imagine how delightful it would be to join another kind of club that takes all the best elements of book clubs (lots of wine) and only requires you to read the label on a bottle.

If you’re like us, Open That Bottle Night (OTBN) occurs on every day ending in “y.” But for many wine lovers, it’s an annual event that takes place on the last Saturday of February where you’re encouraged to pull the cork on that special bottle of wine you’ve been saving for “someday.” This unofficial (and glorious) wine holiday is the brainchild of former Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Created in 1999, the idea came about when the two noticed there was one question readers always asked: “what bottle should I open?”

Here at the Idaho Wine Commission, Valentine's Day is one of our favorite times of the year. Wine and romance just go together like Cabernet Sauvignon and filet mignon, Champagne and caviar, Riesling and ricotta...

Okay, we already know from last month's blog about ice wines that most wineries don't just shut their doors and go into hibernation for the winter. But there has to be more to the story than that, right?

Well, yes, there is.

Baby, it's cold outside. Which means it's the perfect time for ice wine – one of nature's coolest (and sweetest) discoveries!