A visit to Hell's Canyon Winery

Jocelyn at Swallow's Wine Bar at Hell's Canyon Winery
Photo by Meg McKenzie

There aren't many signs to get to Hell's Canyon, up on top of the hill overlooking Ste. Chapelle, Williamson and most of the other vineyards in Canyon County, Idaho. You either have to have a map or know where you're going. So for this reason my visits to this intriguing winery came pretty late in the summer. Intersperse a road trip to Oregon and Walla Walla, the Idaho Wine Competition, and other distractions, and you'll get why my review is coming so late in the season. But better late than never.

The best way to get to Hell's Canyon is to go left on Chicken Dinner Road off Route 55 going toward Marsing. You'll pass apricot and peach trees, and various and sundry farms and failed housing developments. Finally, you'll come to Symms Road. Take a left, go half a mile, and there's the cute little sign (and cute little winery) overlooking a lovely display of grapevines.

The patio at Swallow's Wine Bar
Photo by Meg McKenzie

One thing you'll notice as you enter Hell's Canyon -- I mean, Swallows Wine Bar -- is that this vineyard tasting room isn't the usual tasting room, where you pay a $5 tasting fee -- or hopefully, nothing -- to sample an array of their best wines. No, here it's more like having a prix-fixe dinner at a fancy restaurant. They have a menu of wines they're pouring that day, a set price, and what they pour is what you get. The flight is served, I'll hasten to say, on a cute tray with coasters that give the provenance and tasting highlights of each wine, just in case you need help discerning the top notes. They also have a menu of some wonderful munchies that go great with each wine -- bread, pesto, cheeses, olives, etc. Although the wine bar itself is tiny, the patio is the draw here: in summer, the six tables on the terrace under the shady trees and overlooking the peaceful vineyard is a pretty sweet place to set a spell. And though I've only been during the afternoon, I would imagine the sunsets there are magnificent.

 A display inside the wine bar
Photo by Meg McKenzie

But let me backtrack a little and tell you something about the owners of Hell's Canyon/Zhoo Zhoo/Swallows. The Robertson clan are among the founders of the Sunnyslope Wine Trail, Steve Robertson having staked his claim to some perfect grape-growing terroir back in the 1970s. Now, his daughters have joined in the family business, thus explaining the separate brands. Daughter Bijou went out on her own and created the Zhoo Zhoo brand, with its colorful, artistic and rather risque labels. Other daughters Jocelyn and Hadley man the winebar and help out in other ways, no doubt. It's a small outfit, only 2,500 cases a year, but you can find their wines at Fred Meyer, the Boise Co-op, A New Vintage Wine Shop and Ericksons. Their most popular? Retriever Red and Bird Dog White. They recently won three bronzes at the Idaho Wine Competition.

The menu at Swallow's Wine Bar
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Inside the bar/shop is a counter where one of the girls takes your order. You then wait outside for your drinks/eats to arrive. The day I went, back in August, I chose the red flight, and only got to taste the Zhoo Zhoo (three small pours for $7). The middle one was just called Brunette -- 56 percent Merlot, 24 percent Cab Franc and 20 percent Cab Sauvignon. At $10 a bottle it’s the cheapest. My favorite was the first wine I tasted, the $19-a-bottle ’03 Claret, which was 70 percent Merlot, 20 percent Cab Sauv and 10 percent Cab Franc. The final wine was a ’06 Syrah. After a while, though, from going back and forth between the three, I found I was creating my own blend (good thing I took notes!). I didn't feel like ordering an entire plate of munchies, but luckily I got to chatting with a friendly couple from Kuna at the next table. Chris and Diann generously shared tastes of their crackers and chorizo ($7) and pesto and French bread (also $7) with me -- both were really, really good and complemented the red wine nicely.

Hell's Canyon Winery/Zhoo Zhoo Wines
18835 Symms Road
Caldwell, ID 83607
(208) 454-3300; hellscanyonwinery.com, zhoozhoo.com

Winemakers: The Robertson Family

 ☻☻☻ - Hell's Canyon/Swallows has a charming setting overlooking 40 acres of wine grapes, and the Robertson clan are friendly and sweet. Not a conventional tasting room, but a wine bar with a prix-fixe pouring menu, so I never got to taste the Hell's Canyon label, only the Zhoo Zhoo on the day I visited (and I didn't get to mix and match the reds and the whites). Signage to find the winery doesn't come into play until you're almost on top of the winery, but the wine commission map should aid you in your quest. The appetizers ($5-$7) I tasted were delicious.

My ratings go from one grape (poor) to five (excellent) and are based on accessibility, ambiance, overall experience and, of course, the wines.

A visit to Cold Springs Winery

Bill and Bing Ringert at their Cold Springs Winery
Photo by Meg McKenzie

When Cold Springs took gold this week for their Astrology Merlot, the first thing I thought was, it couldn't have happened to nicer people. Bill and Bing Ringert have been quietly running their winery out in Hammett for the past 10 years and are some of the pioneers of the Idaho wine movement. They were so very gracious to me on my recent swing through the eastern part of the Snake River AVA wine trail (more on that later) I cheered when Andy Perdue announced their gold as one of the Wine Press Northwest’s first awards of the day at the blind tasting held Columbus Day at Ste. Chapelle in Caldwell.

The next thing I thought was: Where can I get some of that wine right away (Boise being a good hour’s drive from Hammett)? My first thought was the Garden City Fred Meyer on State Street across from the racetrack (it’s at 5425 Chinden, in case anyone’s interested). Why? Its selection of Idaho wines had impressed me (it’s a big, spacious section next to the produce, not stuck over by the frozen meats like at the other store), and so had their prices.

And I was not disappointed. Friendly and officious wine steward Austin Drehmel led me over to the Cold Springs’ display, and they did have the '07 Merlot (hooray!) And at a good price, too. (I think I paid $12 per bottle.)

Coming up the hill to the winery
Photo by Meg McKenzie

But back to my vineyard visit. If you read my Holesinsky posting, you’ll recall it was 4 o’clock by the time I hit the road from Buhl, and I was really pushing it to get to Cold Springs by closing time at 5 (I’d decided to catch them on the flip side, since even Idaho Wine Girls have their limits when it comes to tasting wine before breakfast). But as luck wouldn’t have it, the on-ramp to the highway was closed at Buhl, so I had to drive 30 miles east to Jerome to get on I-84! I knew I wouldn’t make it, so I called ahead to the winery, and thankfully heard they would stay open for me if I got there soon. So I floored it (luckily no ISP were in the area that day)!

One thing that was in my favor: Unlike some vineyards that are tucked away up impenetrable mazes of country roads, it’s really easy to find: “COLD SPRINGS” is writ huge -- bigger than a billboard -- on the roof of their wine shed. I was raising dust clouds up the dirt road through their acres of vines, and there at the top was an unprepossessing, but very welcome sight: their sunny tasting room and winery.

Beth Ringert with award-winning Merlot
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Waiting for me inside was a double delight: the owners themselves, Bill and Bing! The only people missing were their daughter, Beth, who designs their lovely new labels, and Jamie Martin, their obviously very talented master winemaker. 

Later on, however, at a pouring at Fred Meyer in Garden City, I had the opportunity to talk to Beth and get the skinny on her scientific/artistic labels. She's a delight: down to earth and fun to chat with. And I have to tell you: their Astrology Merlot just got better and better with every taste. Right up there with the finest of (mystical Washington wine country) Walla Walla.

I really enjoyed getting to know the Ringerts. But enough about me: Go see for yourself.

Cold Springs Winery
7853  W. Ringert Lane
Hammett, ID 83627208.366.7993 email: vino@coldspringswinery.com

Owners: Bill and Bing Ringert

Winemaker: Jamie Martin

☻☻☻☻

Easy to find: just look to the left as you come over the hill to Hammett from Boise: The huge sign on their roof will just smack you in the face. The tasting room is comfy and cozy, the Ringerts and their help are just as friendly and unassuming as you could find (and Bill is a lawyer! Showing there’s an exception to every rule). Their wines are great, and fairly priced. Open Saturday-Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. $5 tasting fee applied to purchase.

My ratings go from one grape (poor) to five (excellent) and are based on accessibility, ambiance, overall experience and, of course, the wines.

Live from the Idaho Wine Competition!

Mulling it over at the 2011 wine compeition
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Boy, you would think a wine competition would be all fun and frolic, but I'm here to tell you: It sure ain't. Very quiet and serious. (I've been to OpEd conferences with more frivolity!) But this is a good thing, folks. Why? Because some heavy Northwest wine hitters are taking Idaho wines seriously, that's why. 

Moya Shatz from the Idaho Wine Commission is buzzing around the mezzanine at the Ste. Chapelle winery here in Caldwell. Andy Perdue is seated at a table with his laptop, doing the live chat with the gold medal announcements, flanked by two tables of wine experts who are doing a lot sipping, spitting, discussing and awarding. Photographer Katherine Jones from the Idaho Statesman is taking some arty shots of the judges. Meanwhile, behind the screen that runs the length of the room, people are pouring the wines so the judges don't know which bottle they're tasting from.

Wines await their fate
Photo by Meg McKenzie

 So who are these judges, you may well ask. They are, alphabetically, Winnie Alberg from Ellensburg, Wash., Leil Cardozo from the Boise Coop, Ilene Dudunake from New Vintage Wine Shop in Eagle, Kathryn House from Washington state, Dixie Huey from Vancouver, Wash., Dave Rader, a "financial consultant" (that's all Andy divulged), Ken Robertson, a longtime Wine Press columnist, and Dave Seaver from Richland, Wash. Jon Bauer from Mount Vernon, Wash., (where my daughter Gwen is stage managing Tosca for the Skagit Opera Co. this very weekend!) is moderating one panel; and moderating the other is Wine Press columnist Eric Degerman. So, it certainly is an interesting "flight" of judges, I would say.

They have their work cut out for them: 170 wines were entered. Their criteria must be pretty rigorous, since no golds were awarded for any of the Cabernets (gasp), though I guess they did give out a bunch of silvers. According to Andy Perdue, each judge goes through the flight silently, then turns in his or her scores. The scores are put together, and majority rules. They can judge a wine gold, silver, bronze or no medal, based on the quality of the wine.  

Andy's at center background, Eric's in the black shirt
Photo by Meg McKenzie

They just broke for lunch, and the full lineup of medals should be made available by 4 p.m., Perdue (who is a very friendly big bear of a guy) told me.

They started early, and Perdue has been releasing the names of the gold medal winners in real time on his live Internet chat (and I have been tweeting them #idahowine). In order of appearance, here they are by category:

Mead - Camas Prairie 2011 Raspberry Mead
Rose - Williamson's 2010 Blossom Rose

Gewurtraminer - Sawtooth Winery's 2010 Estate Gewürztraminer. 

Pinot Gris - No golds

Merlot - Cold Springs Astrology 2006 (!)

Syrah - Snake River 2009, and Cinder

Malbec - No golds, but three silvers (full list will appear below)

A helper gets wines ready backstage
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Cabernet Franc - Woodriver Cellars 2008 Cab Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon - No gold, six silvers
Red Blend? - Koenig 2008 Alden Cuvee Private Reserve
Riesling - Snake River 2010
Chardonnay - Cinder 2009
Ice Wine - Koenig 2009 Riesling (double gold)
Late Harvest Riesling - Ste. Chapelle
Best White Wine - Sawtooth 2010 Estate Gewurztraminer
Best Dessert Wine - Ste. Chapelle's Late Harvest Riesling
And best red wine (drum roll) goes to Woodriver Cellars' Neil Glancey and his Cab Franc!!!!

Best in show... coming up!

OK, the award we've been waiting for all day:

Best in Show goes to Sawtooth Winery 2010 Gewürztraminer

Just for fun, let's go back to my postings and see whether I singled out any of these award-winning vintages... guess what? I did!
If you go back to my July review of Woodriver Cellars, here's my takeout on the Best Red: "Of the wines I tried, the 2008 Cabernet Franc was by far my favorite..."

Well, it's been an exciting day for all. Congrats to the winners (silvers and bronzes and the totals listed below). I look forward to tasting and retasting all your fabulous wines! And may I say, I love the fact that two big dogs (Sawtooth and Ste. Chapelle) were duking it out with some small, special wineries (Williamson, Cold Springs) and some maybe underappreciated ones (Woodriver, Snake River) for best in show. What a great, diverse group of wineries we have in Idaho! And to those who didn't win ... remember, it's all subjective. And there's always next year...

Here's the breakdown of medals by winery, and below that you'll find which wine won what:

Snake River Winery – total of 10 (1 double gold, 1 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze)
Indian Creek – total of 10 (7 silver, 3 bronze)

Sawtooth – 9 (1 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)

Ste. Chapelle – total of 8 (1 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze)

Cinder – 7 (2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze)

Bitner – 7 (3 silver, 4 bronze)

3 Horse Ranch – 7 (3 silver, 4 bronze)

Colter’s Creek – 6 (3 silver, 3 bronze)

Pend d’Oreille – 6 (2 silver, 4 bronze)

Vale – total of 6 (1 silver, 5 bronze)

Williamson – 5 (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)

Clearwater Canyon – 5 (4 silver, 1 bronze)

Fraser – 5 (4 silver, 1 bronze)

Fujishin – 5 (2 silver, 3 bronze)

Koenig – 4 (1 double gold, 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

Huston – total of 4 (2 silver, 2 bronze)

Woodriver – 4 (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)

Parma Ridge – total of 4 (4 bronze)

Cold Springs – 3 (1 gold, 2 bronze)

Snyder – 3 (3 bronze)

Lost West winery – 2 (2 bronze)

Zhoo Zhoo – 2 (2 bronze)

Camas Prairie – 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze)

Coiled – 1 (1 silver)

Hells Canyon – 1 (1 bronze)

Frenchman’s Gulch – 1 (1 bronze)

Blue Pine – 1 (1 bronze)

Silver
Ste. Chapelle NV Sparkling Riesling, Idaho, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Muscat Canelli, Snake River Valley, $12
Snake River Winery 2009 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Sangiovese, Snake River Valley, $20
Huston Vineyards 2009 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $27
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Merlot American, $25
Colter's Creek Winery 2009 Syrah Columbia Valley, $12
Coiled Wines 2009 Sidewinder Syrah, Snake River Valley, $25
Koenig Vineyards 2008 Amelia Cuvee Reserve Syrah, Snake River Valley, $50
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2007 Freepons Vineyard Malbec Washington, $28
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Malbec Washington, $25
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Cabernet Franc, Idaho, $28
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $15
Ste. Chapelle 2008 Winemakers Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $11
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $24
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $26
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $25
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $28
Woodriver Cellars 2008 Cal-Malbec, Snake River Valley, $25
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Merlot/Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $22
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Couloir Cuvee, Snake River Valley, $17
Colter's Creek Winery 2009 KoosKooskia Red, Snake River Valley, $16
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Syrah/Mourvedre, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2008 Bistro Rouge Washington, $12
Woodriver Cellars 2007 Red Meritage, Snake River Valley, $18
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $24
Fujishin Family Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $20
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $24
Cinder Wines 2009 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $28
Fujishin Family Cellars 2008 Mourvedre, Snake River Valley, $20
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $18
Indian Creek Winery 2010 White Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $12
Cinder Wines 2010 Dry Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Sawtooth Winery 2010 Estate Pinot Gris, Snake River Valley, $13
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Mountain Syringa, Snake River Valley, $12
Colter's Creek Winery 2010 Riesling, Idaho, $10
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Reserve Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Indian Creek Winery 2010 White Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Sawtooth Winery 2010 Estate Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Williamson Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Huston Vineyards 2010 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $24
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Winemakers Series Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $11
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $10
Bronze
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Winemaker Series Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley, $9
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Roussanne, Snake River Valley, $15
Indian Creek Winery 2009 Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley, $16
Williamson Vineyards 2009 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley, $18
Vale Wine Co. 2009 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $20
Woodriver Cellars 2008 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2008 Reserve Merlot, Snake River Valley, $22
Frenchman's Gulch 2007 Syrah Washington, $25
Ste. Chapelle 2009 Winemakers Series Syrah, Snake River Valley, $11
Vale Wine Co. 2009 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $22
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2009 Reserve Syrah Washington, $30
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2008 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $15
Zhoo Zhoo 2006 Model Y06 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $19
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2007 Wood River Vineyard Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Colter's Creek Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc, Idaho, $28
Camas Prairie Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $18
Indian Creek Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2008 Meyer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $35
Snyder Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $11
Koenig Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Hells Canyon Winery 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $30
Cold Springs Winery 2008 Chronology Merlot Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Cinder Wines 2010 Laissez Faire, Snake River Valley, $17
Zhoo Zhoo NV Brunette, Snake River Valley, $10
Snyder Winery 2007 Midnight Train to Ketchum, Snake River Valley, $11
Cinder Wines 2009 Cabernet Merlot, Snake River Valley, $27
Williamson Vineyards 2007 Homestead Red, Snake River Valley, $18
Lost West Winery NV Old Shed Red, Snake River Valley, $10
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2009 Heidi's Blend Red, Snake River Valley, $25
Huston Vineyards 2009 Chicken Dinner Red, Snake River Valley, $18
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $27
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Renaissance Red, Snake River Valley, $23
Snyder Winery 2008 Ruby LaRue Soft Red, Snake River Valley, $11
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2003 Melange, Snake River Valley, $22
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Carmenere, Snake River Valley, $25
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Blauer Zweigelt, Snake River Valley, $15
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $18
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Barbera, Snake River Valley, $18
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Grenache, Snake River Valley, $18
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $25
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Special Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Colter's Creek Winery 2009 Late Harvest Riesling, Idaho, $12
Sawtooth Winery 2007 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley, $
Indian Creek Winery NV White Port, Snake River Valley, $
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2010 Reserve Rose, Snake River Valley, $15
Cinder Wines 2010 Rose, Snake River Valley, $14
Ste. Chapelle 2009 Winemakers Series Gewurztraminer, Snake River Valley, $9
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2007 Estate Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $16
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2009 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $13
Williamson Vineyards 2009 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $15
Fraser Vineyards 2010 Willamson Vineyards Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Lost West Winery NV Old Shed White, Snake River Valley, $10
Huston Vineyards 2010 Chicken Dinner White, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Coyotes High Desert White, Snake River Valley, $12
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2010 Reserve Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Blue Pine 2009 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $1
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Snake River Winery 2009 Cobble Hill Block Estate Arena Valley Vineyard Riesling, Snake River Valley, $13
Cold Springs Winery 2009 Phrenology Riesling, Snake River Valley, $10
Colter's Creek Winery 2009 Chardonnay, Idaho, $12
Snake River Winery 2010 Arena Valley Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $12
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $16
Pend d'Oreille Winery 2009 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $20
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $15




 

A few words about wine clubs

Wine clubs are a great way for you to save money on your favorite bottles and for vintners to ensure that they have customers for their wines. Plus if you live out of the area, you can have your favorite wines shipped to you every three months or so. 

Wine clubs generally also offer other benefits, such as savings (from 5 to 30 percent off the retail price) with their loyalty programs. With most, you agree to purchase a specified number of bottles a year. Memberships are generally free but require credit card registration. And usually, you can cancel any time after the first shipment (or pickup, if you live in the area). Here’s a look, in alphabetical order, at wine programs at some of my favorite wineries in Idaho, straight from their brochures/websites:

Fujishin Family Cellars
Photo by Meg McKenzie

-- Fujishin Family Cellars: “You will receive a quarterly shipment of wine selected by our Winemaker, Martin Fujishin. Included with your shipment, you will receive tasting notes for that wine, as well as a recipe selected to pair with your wine for an outstanding dinner idea. You will receive a 15% discount on all FFC wine or merchandise purchased directly from the Tasting Room.  

“You can choose from 4 membership levels: 2 bottles, 4 bottles, 6 bottles, and 12 bottles each quarter.  For example: If you are a 2 bottle club member, you will receive 2 bottles of Viognier if that is the selection for the quarter. We will hopefully be adding an option to receive a red and a white wine or just reds or whites in the future as we expand our wine selections. The cost of your wine club selection will be automatically charged to your credit or debit card on file each quarter. You can then pick up your club wines at the Tasting Room or have them shipped to your residence at a minimal shipping cost.  (Some state shipping restrictions may apply.)”

Membership Benefits:

• 15% Club Member Discount on all Fujishin Family Cellars Wines purchased from the Coyotes Tasting Room or directly from the winery.
• 10% Discount on purchases of 6-11 bottles = 25% Total Discount
• 15% Discount on full cases = 30% Total Case Discount
• Invitations to special members only Wine Club Events
• Access to wines reserved for Club Members Only!
• Tasting Notes for your club wine and a recipe to pair with your selection. 

Sample Fuijishin wine discounts: 2008 RSV Merlot ret: $21.95/WC $18.66

2009 Gewurztraminer - $14.95/12.71

2008 Merlot- $18.95/16.11

2009 Viognier- $14.95/12.71

2008 Syrah- $19.95/15.34

2009 Riesling – $14.95/12.71

www.fujishinfamilycellars.com

Indian Creek Vineyards
Photo by Meg McKenzie

-- Indian Creek: “Join our Wine-Thirty club. You’ll get three bottles of Indian Creek wine every quarter (three months) as well as other benefits… Mixed option: $35 + tax. Reds only: $40 + tax. These costs are per quarter, and we select the wine. If you are local, you may pick up your wine and we’ll notify you by email or phone each quarter. We can also ship your wine and will add S&H fees. Wine Club benefits: 15% off wine and gift shop items, free admission to our annual Father’s Day open house and 5% on event hosting (weddings, etc.).” www.indiancreekwinery.com

-- Koenig Distillery & Winery: “Every other month (January, March, May, July, September, and November), Wine Club members will receive 2, 4, 6, or 12 bottles of a select Koenig Vineyards wine at the Club discount of 15% for 2 or 4 bottles, 25% for 6 bottles and 30% for 12 bottles. Enclosed with each shipment are detailed winemaker’s notes regarding the vineyard, wine-making process and food pairing suggestions for the selected vintage. Wine Club members will also be entitled to 15% any wine or merchandise purchase in our tasting room and will be exempt from tasting fees for Reserve wines. There is no membership fee and Club memberships may be cancelled at any time. Wines are shipped directly or members may choose to pick up their wines from the winery to avoid shipping costs.

Koenig wines
Photo by Meg McKenzie

“Wines selected range in price from $12 to $25 per bottle. Members who choose to have their wines shipped will be charged a shipping and packaging fee. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) are accepted as payment. You will be automatically billed and shipped your wines. Members who prefer to pick up their wines will be notified of their availability by email.”
www.koenigvineyards.com

-- Periple Wines: Wine Club membership, which is free, entitles you to discounts and invitations to private events. Members also enjoy complimentary tastings at the winery for themselves and up to six guests. There are three price ranges: Origin: 3 bottles ($90-$120); Elixir: 6 bottles ($180-$240); Odyssey: 12 bottles ($360-$480). Bottle are shipped every six months (April and October) at a 5% discount off regular prices for Origin, 10% for Elixir and 15% for Odyssey. The case discount of 15% extends to this program as well. www.periplewines.com

-- Sawtooth Winery: “Love our wines? Ask an associate about becoming a Wine Club Member and start enjoying wonderful member benefits today!” [Example: Retail price for 2008 RSV Cabernet Sauvignon, $25, Wine Club price, $20; retail for 2008 Muscat Blanc, $10, Wine Club, $8]”
www.sawtoothwinery.com

The Snake River tasting room
Photo by Meg McKenzie

-- Snake River Winery: “By joining the Snake River Wine Club, you will receive a 3-bottle shipment of our award-winning wines four times a year (approximately every three months). Because you are a wine club member, you will receive a discount of 20% off these wines with shipments ranging from $30 to $50 each. You will receive an email notification that your wine is on the way and that your credit card will be charged. Your installment will also include a special gift and a letter from the winemaker including tasting notes, technical information and food pairing ideas. Your wines can be conveniently picked up at our tasting room in Downtown Boise or shipping is available to selected states.”

Benefits
• Free membership
• 20% discount on wine purchases for the first month
• 15% discount on all wines under a case
• 20% discount on all Snake River Winery Logo Wear
• Special opportunity to purchase limited release wines and library selections www.snakeriverwinery.com

-- Snyder Winery: “If you like our wines, join a different kind of wine club. It's easy and you will be rewarded for purchasing our wines.

Snyder Wines
Photo by Meg McKenzie

“Buy 12 bottles, receive free wine tasting for you and your guests at our wine bar (normally a $5 dollar value). Buy 24 bottles, receive free wine tasting for you and your guests at our wine bar + special offers for discounts and events. Buy 36 bottles, receive free wine tasting for you and for your guests at our wine bar + special offers for discounts and events and a Spring Release Dinner Party for 2.
Buy 48 bottles, receive free wine tasting for you and for your guests at our wine bar + special offers for discounts and events + spring release dinner party for 2 and two $25 discount coupons for our Steakhouse.

“We have a different kind of club because there's:
• No commitments for purchases
• FREE benefits at our winery and steakhouse
• Bottles of wine purchased for weddings, parties and at our Steakhouse also count to your rewards goal.” www.snyderwinery.com

--  Ste. Chapelle’s Friends of the Vineyard Wine Club: “Fun-filled ‘members only’ events, wine discounts [example: retail price for their popular Soft Red is $8.95, Friends price is $7.16; retail for Ice Riesling: $19.95; Friends price: $15.96]; bi-monthly shipments and educational information.” Ste. Chapelle also offers a Case Club option. www.stechapelle.com.

-- 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards: “3 Horse Ranch Vineyards encourages you to join our wine club: Côtes de l’Aigle (Foothills of Eagle) Wine Club. Membership gives you exclusive pre-release access to 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards upcoming releases, limited production and library wines.

3 Horse Vineyards winery
Photo by Meg McKenzie

“The annual shipments are traditionally: a spring collection in April, a summer selection in June and a holiday shipment in November. You will be notified by e-mail of each specific offering, shipment will follow in about 10 days. Or you can pick up your wine at the 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards Tasting Room at Season’s Bistro and Wine Bar in Eagle (and sample some wine!). Of course, this will assist in reducing our carbon footprint and allow you to save some money. Just let us know, otherwise, on the predetermined shipment date, (4 week window of opportunity here) your wines will be automatically shipped and the shipment charged to your credit card as agreed. Billing charges include shipping, handling and applicable sales tax.

“Stay for as long as you like! Just complete online form or fill out a card in our Tasting Room at Season’s Bistro and Wine Bar 1117 E. Winding Creek Dr., Suite 150, Eagle, Idaho 83616. Most Wine Club Members keep a credit card on file, so we can guarantee availability with each new release. There are no joining fees, no membership fees, and you can cancel anytime.” www.3horseranchvineyards.com

Williamson Homestead Red
Photo by Meg McKenzie

-- Williamson Vineyard: “Wine Club Options: Members will receive two bottles of select Williamson Vineyard wine four times a year. We offer three wine club categories: reds, whites or mixed. Quarterly, your credit card will be charged for wines and shipping.” (Members can opt for pick up at winery and waive S&H fees). Red option: $56 average value (includes tax, S&H. Final pricing depends on combination of wines and distance wine is being shipped). Selection includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Windmill Red and Syrah. White option: $44 average value. Selection includes Viognier, Riesling and Late Harvest Viognier. Mixed: $50 average value. One bottle of red and one of white. Other benefits: 15% discount on wine purchases; 20% off full case of wine; quarterly newsletter; invitations to members-only events, such as the Vineyard Picnic; welcoming gift of logo glass or corkscrew.” www.willorch.com