A visit to Koenig Vineyards

Koenig has a lot going for it. For one thing, the location is right across from Lowell (read Ste. Chapelle) Road on Route 55 in Caldwell. That means that when the concert is over on Sunday afternoon, the vineyard/distillery about a half-mile away down Grape Lane is where a lot of thirsty Idahoans head, since the tasting room is open until 5 p.m. on weekends, and guess what, gang: No tasting fee!

 

I really enjoyed the short ride past actual farms and the Snake River, up a little hill and past peach and apricot trees with ripe fruit hanging off them to the tasting room/distillery. The building itself is a big, boxy rectangle with a little balcony hanging off the second floor and some grape processing equipment down front. There’s a big circular parking lot with usually a half-dozen visitors’ cars parked there and a picturesque stack of fruit crates in the background. And that’s about it.

The distillery
Photo by Meg McKenzie

But inside is a different story. There’s a cool little ante-room at the bottom of the curving staircase, with a view of the crazy-genius-looking copper distillery for the potato vodka the Koenig brothers produce along with their wines. But you’re here for the vino, so up, up the steps you climb toward the sound of laughter that greets you in the second-floor tasting room. 

OK, so it looks like every other tasting room you’ve visited in Canyon County: the bottles adorned with medals, the shelves of wine, books about wine, glassware and logo-adorned clothing, at 30 percent off. But Koenig has several amenities that gives their tasting room a leg up. There’s that little table off to the side, with Carr’s crackers and a chunk of Jarlsberg cheese: Help yourself and munch between tastes. It really does clear the palate, and with that lineup of reds waiting for you, it can help you distinguish between the Merlot and the CSPV (Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blend). 

Belly up to the bar -- don't be shy!
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Then there are the gals who pour the wines – pleasantly, eagerly, without fuss, able to talk knowledgeably about the wines, but also to shoot the shit with patrons in a friendly way. Kelly and Caroline were there one afternoon. I got to swap stories about children with Caroline, who moved here from England with her husband, an American.

The last thing is that lineup of bottles. There are at least eight different wines to sample. I started with the Viognier – light and fruity, a real crowd-pleaser. Then I switched to the reds: the Sangiovese – what Americans used to know as Chianti. Koenig’s was dry, really dry. I moved on to the CSPV, which had a great nose, but was also a little dry for me, flavorwise. After some crackers and cheese, I moved on to the Merlot, which was smooth, high-alcohol and pretty good. 

Exterior of the tasting room
Photo by Meg McKenzie

But something was missing. You guessed it: the winemaker. Greg Koenig – who also makes wines for his neighbors, the Bitners. “Does he ever show up in his tasting room?” I asked Caroline, who shook her head and volunteered that she herself had only seen the maestro once. Dang it! Making my way down the winding staircase, I reflected once again how much an AWOL owner subtracts  from the vineyard experience. Not that chatting with Caroline and enjoying a free smorgasbord of wine wasn’t awesome. But I guess I would liken it to going to a dinner party without a host. You feel kind of cheated.

Koenig Vineyards
20928 Grape Lane
Caldwell, ID 83607

208-455-8038, www.koenigvineyards.com

Owners: The Koenig brothers
Winemaker: Greg Koenig

Cheese and crackers, baby not included
Photo by Meg McKenzie

☻☻☻☻ The Koenig tasting room, which I've visited a couple times, is light and airy with a convivial atmosphere. There always seems to be folks standing around chatting and swirling their wineglasses. It's located conveniently off Sunny Slope, and is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. There's no tasting fee, and a lineup of wines that includes sparkling vintages and cordials. But the busy winemaker doesn't have time to hang out at his winery. Bummer.

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

A visit to Davis Creek Cellars

Talk about a 3G network! Gina Davis, along with parents George and Gayle Davis, comprise Davis Creek Cellars, based in the quaint little one-horse city of Marsing. 

Tasting room, downtown Marsing
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Remember that movie “The Last Picture Show,” that showed a town where tumbleweeds tumble down the street? Well, Marsing sort of reminded me of that place – but in a good way, let me hasten to add. Once again, I was decompressing from a visit to Ste. Chapelle, and in need of small, unique and low-key. And excellent vino. I found much of that and more at Gina Davis’ homey yet kind of sophisticated little storefront.

It’s not far off the Sunny Slope wine loop of Caldwell. Simply continue down Route 55 (or Sunny Slope Road, as it’s called in the vineyard-heavy area around Lizard Butte) till you come to the river. After going over the bridge, look for the US Bank on the right.Then slow down and look to your left. Otherwise, you might miss Davis Creek Cellars, which is in an antique building next to the teeny-tiny City Hall.

Davis Creek: A little bit homey, a little bit elegant
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Despite its surroundings, Davis Creek is far from decrepit. In fact, when I stepped inside Gina’s cute little tasting room, it almost felt like I was in someone’s home – someone with excellent taste. There’s even a loungy area with a couch and coffee table, along with the bar and high stools for sipping and socialization.

Speaking of which, a trio of wine club members were in mid-flight when I bumbled in, but they easily absorbed me into their midst (I even snagged an invite to the Treasure Valley Welcome Club!). The winemaker herself provided a studied contrast to the convivial group. Appearing somewhat shy and reserved, the dark-haired young woman began pouring me tastes of her Viognier and Chardonnay without extracting a dime from my pocket. While a sign clearly proclaimed there is a tasting fee, I had marched right past it. But because her pours were so generous, I actually instigated the transaction, pressing a five-dollar bill into her hand.

Winemaker Gina Davis with some discerning customers
Photo by Meg McKenzie

But, perhaps because of the soda-pop sweetness of the Ste. Chapelle Soft White I had just imbibed, or maybe it was the handfuls of salted nuts I had crammed into my mouth on the way to Marsing. Whatever the reason, the first few sips of Gina’s white wine struck me as a bit dry – OK, let me be frank: crazy dry. However, as my palate adjusted, things improved. Gina, a University of Idaho grad whose first wines were harvested in 2007 (she sources her grapes from Sawtooth, Skyline, Williamson and Windy Ridge, south of Meridian), is one of only a few local winemakers to tackle a Tempranillo (Indian Creek is another), a wine made from a Spanish grape that I have yet to come to terms with. (I just can’t get past that smoky cigar aroma, or maybe it’s that cabbage-y aftertaste). Whatever, I quickly made room in my glass for the next pour, which was a 2009 Portuguese-style wine called Touriga Nacional. Wowza. It alone was worth the five bucks (especially as a bottle goes for $29). The grapes for this vintage came from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington state I am forced to divulge. All the same, it was pretty amazing.

Gina's parents, George and Gayle
Photo by Meg McKenzie

Gina does not ship her wines ($16-$29) directly to customers, but according to her website, Ericson’s Fine Wines in Nampa does. You can also get a bottle at the Davis Creek booth at Capitol City farmers market Saturdays in downtown Boise – and meet her adorable parents.

Davis Creek Cellars
429 Main Street, Suite 101
P.O. Box 442, Marsing, ID 83639
(208) 794-2848; info@daviscreekcellars.com

Owner/winemaker: Gina Davis

Interior of the Davis Creek shop in Marsing
Photo by Meg McKenzie

☻☻☻☻ A short way off the Caldwell wine loop, Davis Creek Cellars is a solid four-grape experience. While I found the whites kind of hot and dry, the reds were mellow and flavorful. I also love what Gina Davis has done with the place: still completely authentic Old Idaho on the exterior, modern and cozy and eclectic inside – and her lab/Weimaraner-mix puppy, who greets you at the door with a blue chew toy, is too cute for words. There is a tasting fee, but just this once I didn’t feel shaken down but proferred it gladly. I think the whole woman-winemaker thing had me at hello. Plus the fact that her parents are in on the journey also pumped up my feelings of goodwill – and that Touriga wine of hers will blow your mind. Tasting room is open Friday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

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