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Intense Heat

Temperatures soared across the Pacific Northwest in June this year, and the heat wave lingered in Idaho for a good chunk of the summer. National Weather Service data showed the Treasure Valley in southwest Idaho—home to two of the state’s American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)—had the hottest summer on record. And the heat affected the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA in the northern part of the state as well.

“During bloom time, it was about 100 degrees, so bloom went really fast,” said Vince Hewett, assistant winemaker at Rivaura Vineyard near Julietta, Idaho. He said they saw consistent 100-degree weather for close to a month in June and July.

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Idaho saw its summer temperatures rise sharply in June and continue through the months of July and August with temps regularly over 90 degrees— often climbing to triple digits. Climate research has found higher average temperatures are increasing, and the EPA reports that heat waves have increased in intensity, frequency, and duration over the last fifty years. For Idaho wine growers, like Mike Williamson of Williamson Orchards and Vineyards, the heat of the past few summers is a growing concern. “I kind of obsess a little bit over the 10-day forecast,” he says. “So, if something’s on the horizon, we start taking action to get ready for it now.”

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So, you get our emails, read our blogs, and love Idaho wine. But how much do you know about us and the work we do? And more importantly, how can YOU help us help grow the popularity of Idaho wines?

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So, you have an idea. You like wine. Maybe you even have a background in science or chemistry. Or maybe you’ve fermented a batch or two and just have a knack for it. Now you’re thinking about going into the wine biz. But how to begin? Well, you’ve come to the right place. When it comes to starting a winery in Idaho, we wrote the book.

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Remember the old days when ordering a bottle of wine filled you with dread? Back when a tuxedoed waiter would look down his nose and shudder at you for ordering a dry white with your ribeye. Or a bold red with your whitefish? Well, drink up! Those days are gone, my friend.

A recent survey finds 90% of Americans care more about drinking what they like over what's 'right.'

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The canopy has been set. The vines have been pruned. The grapes have been watered (and dried out). Now, comes the moment of truth. It's Harvest, the most anticipated and exciting time of year for winemakers and wine tasters alike. After months of hanging on the vine, the grapes are brought inside and winemakers finally get to see, and taste, the fruits of their labor.

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The new gold standard

COVID-19 has spoiled so many events in 2020, but it couldn’t stop the Idaho Wine Competition from proceeding on a hot and sunny day in the middle of August. That’s not to say its presence wasn’t felt. For the 11^th edition of the event hosted by Great Northwest Wine, the judges were respectfully spaced at least six feet apart from one another, per social distancing safety guidelines, at Koenig Vineyards in Caldwell, Idaho.

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These days, any number of online businesses specialize in sending subscription boxes of curated items direct to your door – including food, clothes, beauty supplies and more.

But did you know wine clubs were the OG subscription service?

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Today, we're going to talk about something you wouldn't expect on a wine blog: food. In retrospect, it's not that far of a stretch. Good wine and good food... rarely do you have one without the other. Half the fun of wine is exploring and experiencing all the flavors that a particular bottle brings. Add food to the mix and you've just doubled your fun — discovering the ways the flavors of both come alive. Read More

The first step to understanding wine is knowing how to talk about it.

Wine is one part chemistry, one part art, and one part English class. It seems there are more ways to talk about wines than there are types of wines. But, with the right terminology, you can go far. Here are some basic lingo to help you sound like and expert. 

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