Nampa not Napa

 A study has found wine producers in Idaho contribute $73 million in economic value to the state.?The study by Boise State University found the industry supports 625 full-time jobs and produces $19 million in employee wages.?? A key player in Idaho wines is a former Chairman of the Idaho Wine Commission. Ron Bitner, started his career as a professional entomologist  working with bees and he traveled extensively. Dr. Bitner has spent nine seasons working in Australia with his bees, but also came to enjoy the Australian wine country which lead to his interest in vineyards. He opened Bitner Vineyards and it, along with winemaking in general in Idaho is thriving. “7 years we’ve tripled the number of wineries. Showing our economic muscle a little bit. Because we are high mountain desert, we need to have the cold air drifting away from us in the springtime and in the fall to mature our grapes but we also have very long hang times. So we mature our grapes, hot summer days, cool summer evenings, keep the acid levels up and make world class wine. The number of wineries have gone from 14 to 40 in the state next year.”

So forget Napa…start thinking Nampa, or thereabouts.