7-27 IAN Vineyard Growth

I have often laugh about using the expression Nampa, not Napa. But in all candor, Idaho is definitely becoming serious wine country. I don’t know if it is because of the latitude or longitude or excellent marketing on behalf of the Idaho Wine Commission, the locavore movement, or just plain business opportunity. However, the number of vineyards that are startups in Idaho is growing at a rapid rate. Here is Moya Shatz, Executive Director of the Idaho Wine Commission: “More wineries are opening up every year or every month for that matter. It seems like in 2008 there were 32  wineries and today there are 48. We are getting calls every  week with people wanting to know how do I start a winery how do I plant a vineyard and that is what led us into wanting to do this research. We want to give people accurate information we don’t want them to just go out there and plant. Do a little research 1st.”

  And that research is being funded by the Idaho Wine Commission in the form of having an expert mapping the best areas in Idaho to start a winery or, at the very least, a vineyard. This  research involves soil types, elevation, water availability and so on. So potatoes and beef, look out, you’ve got a competitor coming at you… Although, what complements a steak and potato dinner more than a good glass of wine? A conundrum.