News

03/06 Explore Northern Italian Wine and Cuisine

Italy is country full of spectacular food, wine, and people.  Last year Kat became Idaho’s only certified Italian Wine Professional (IWP) and is excited to deliver the knowledge she gained with our amazing students.  Wander through the wine world of Northern Italy with us accompanied by wonderfully paired local cuisine.

From Prosecco to Barolo, we’ll sample six different wine selections and discover the viticulture and vinification methods that give these wines a pure ‘sense of place’.  But, what would wine from Northern Italy be without amazing cuisine with which to enjoy it? A complete four course meal, created by Chef Ben Johnson of Crane Creek Country Club, will be served including antipasti, primo, secondo and dolce courses.   Join us for a fabulous evening of wine, food, and education.  Ciao!

07/12 The 2017 Production Series is Here!

Summer is in full swing and this heat has us wishing for cooler times.  It’s in that mindset that we’ve released our full wine production series schedule for the fall.  From grape growing to blending and finishing, we’ll explore the ins and outs of wine production.  This is a great series for those interested in making their own wine or just want to learn more about how their favorite beverage is made.  For more information, click through our ‘Classes’ link to access more information about these great production classes.

09/10 Falling into Another Vintage

As the weather cools and the kids have headed back to school, life is returning to a distinct pace and routine. For wineries and vineyards throughout the northwest, harvest has begun and for some, is in full swing!

The 2015 vintage is shaping up to be a historically warm one with our first fruit arriving 10-14 days earlier than the 2014 vintage (a warm vintage, too!). In Washington, this wine grape harvest is the earliest on record as sparkling and some white wine producers started pulling fruit the 6th of August!

In Idaho, harvest began August 17th with the picking of Chardonnay grapes for sparkling wine. While we still have a few weeks until late-ripening varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon are harvested, we’re busy processing wine samples in the lab and helping area wineries make the best of this busy season.

On the wine education front, we have an exciting new set of classes for this fall. “Killer Cabernet Sauvignon”, will explore the intricacies of this “King of Cult Wines”. Our “Wine and Cheese Pairing Perfection” class will satisfy your taste buds and your curiosity as we uncover the keys to create classic pairings. Lastly, our “Bubbles” class is one to celebrate as we explore the fun and wild world of sparkling wine!

In honor of the ‘Back to School’ craze, we’re offering an Early Bird special. Register by September 12th for any of our fall classes and you’ll be rewarded! Enjoy 20% savings on registration for our Cabernet and Bubbles classes and a $10 savings on our cheese and wine pairing class. Our specialty courses tend to fill quickly, so reserve your seat before it’s gone.

Happy Harvest 2015!

06/28 A Perfect Day in Boise, ID

What a pleasure to be included in Sunset Magazine’s feature of Boise. This truly is a fantastic place.

Read the Full Article Here >>>>

06/28 Summer sippers: 10 Idaho wines to brighten your palate and your day

Thank you Idaho Statesman for including Kat’s favorite Idaho summer sipper. Read the full article for some great recommendations from members of the Idaho Wine Industry.

Read the Full Story Here >>>

03/18 From Barley to Beer

Winemakers across the globe say ‘Great beer makes great wine’.   While we love our wine, being around it constantly can lessen our desire to pull out that cork.  After all, we spend hours putting corks in bottles!  Instead, we would rather hear the clinking of beer glasses. So came about our saying, and in honor of it, House of Wine has decided to expand into the wonderful world of craft beers. We have recently hired on a certified cicerone, Brian Golden, to teach our newest class; Beer 101: From Barley to Beer. If the world of beer seems a bit confusing, here are a few basics to help start your beer journey.

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02/22 The Battle of Preservation Methods

When it comes to wine preservation wine drinkers will try anything to be able to make that open bottle last longer than a few days.  The most common forms of preserving wine are pumps and gases. Unfortunately neither of these tends to fully achieve the job.  Instead they leave wine drinkers disappointed in a wine they once loved.

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02/18 Food notes: Learn about wine; dine at Edge Brewing; Crooked Fence celebrates two years

Thank you Idaho Statesman for including us in your “Food Notes”

Read the Full Article Here >>

01/10 Northwest Wine Night Radio

Listen to the Broadcast >>

01/09 10 Great Things to do in Northwest Wine Country

Now that is exciting! Thanks Wine Press Northwest for including us in your list.

Click here to view “10 Great Things to do in Northwest Wine Country”

11/12 The H.O.W. Behind Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Every family has their own traditions, whether it is pretending to enjoy grandma’s green jell-o or making sure the stuffing is made just right. One of our favorite parts of Thanksgiving is getting to share those family traditions with other people. This year we want to share with you our favorite Thanksgiving recipes and the stories behind them. Maybe this year you can adopt one our family traditions. Cheers!

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10/31 Vintage 2013…. A Harvest to Enjoy

Every year winemakers across the world predict, plan and of course, pray for a great vintage.  We know it never turns out the same but we draw upon our knowledge, technical tools and of course, perspective from colleagues, to prepare for the onslaught of fruit.  While we’re still wrapping up the 2013 vintage in Idaho and it’s too early to tell what the final quality will be, this vintage provides some notable highlights and challenges.  Read More »

10/15 How to Create the Perfect Cheese & Wine Pairing

There is something unique about enjoying perfectly paired cheeses and wine. If you are like me, then an ordinary cubed cheese plate won’t suffice as you want to awe your guest with perfect pairings. Cheeses, just like wine, develop their unique flavors through different fermentation, ripening and aging processes. When it comes to cheese and wine pairings there are two main ways to create a perfect pairing.

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10/01 “Crush” Class: Behind the Scenes

The process of turning grapes into wine is one that has been occurring for thousands of years.  As a winemaker and instructor, I tend to take the whole process for granted and forget what an exciting endeavor fermentation can be.  That is until I have a group of enthusiastic and engaged students remind me, as happened this past Saturday, the 29^th of September. Read More »

09/17 Falling Back in Love with Red Wine

While many of us look to the changing leaves for the approach of Fall, I look to the change in wine menus. With the falling leaves comes the reduction of refreshing white wines and the appearance of bold, warming red wines. Each harvest I find myself falling back in love with my favorite classic red wines. When thinking of the classics, three red wines instantly come to mind; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.  These wines have all made their unique impressions and long-lasting appearance in the wine world.

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08/22 Local Wine Events and Classes

Thank you Boise Weekly for including our classes in your article. Read Boise Weekly’s “Local Wine Events and Classes” to see what other fun events are going on.

Read more on Boise Weekly’s website Read More »

08/19 From Grape to Glass: Harvesting in a Nutshell

With the start of September a distinctive buzz begins to fill the air in Idaho’s wineries. Machines begin to turn, grapes begin to be picked and the subtle hum of fermenting grapes can be heard in the cellar. That is right; it is harvest time in the great state of Idaho. While many of us think about harvest as a fall event, winemakers prep for it year round. Read More »

06/19 Masters of Wine set to critique Idaho wine industry

We were excited to be quoted in the Great Northwest Wine website article titled “Masters of Wine set to critique Idaho wine industry.”

Read more on the Great Northwest Wine website »

06/11 Idaho’s high-elevation Pinot Gris produces awards, fans

We were excited to be quoted in the Great Northwest Wine website article titled “Idaho’s high-elevation Pinot Gris produces awards, fans.”

Read more on the Great Northwest Wine website »

06/10 Urban Wine Tour

We all love spending a day out in our wine country, driving winding roads surrounded by vines and orchards, and leisurely sipping away on wines in the great outdoors.  And, while we love wine country, sometimes the drive back after a full day of tasting can be less than exciting. So, we’ll let you in on a little secret: Are you ready? You can get to a tasting room from Boise in less than 10 minutes, or even without a car at all! Downtown Boise and Garden City are home to quite a few tasting rooms-all listed below. Next time you are thinking of going on a wine tour, skip the long haul and venture upon an urban wine tour!

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05/28 June is Idaho Wine Month

Watch the Video Clip on KIVI-TV »

05/20 Great Beer makes Great Wine

There is a saying that, as members of the wine industry, we have learned to love; ‘Great beer makes great wine’.   While we love our wine, being around it constantly can lessen our desire to pull out that cork (heck, we spend hours putting corks in bottles).  Instead, we would rather hear the clinking of beer glasses. So came about our saying, and in honor of it, our event coordinator, Justina, took a different tour on her last visit to Oregon. Instead of the typical days spent in the Dundee Hills sipping away on Pinot Noir, she headed to downtown Portland and embarked upon a beer tour.

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04/30 Taste of Two Idahos

We’re excited to be featured in Salt Lake Magazine’s travel article titled “Taste of Two Idahos,” by Mary Brown Malouf.

Read more on the Salt Lake Magazine’s website »

04/15 A Hidden Secret in Napa

When thinking about the Napa Valley it is common to think BIG. Vineyards as far as the eye can see, large ornate tasting rooms, and wineries that produce tens of thousands of cases of wine. While this is common, like every great wine region, Napa has its hidden secrets. Amongst the Mondavi and   Beringer’s, Napa Valley is home to a number of small production wineries that will leave you wanting more.

While in Napa we had the pleasure to visit such a winery, Ackerman Family Vineyards.  Located in the Coombsville AVA, Ackerman produces around 500 cases of wine a year. As we drove up the winding road to the vineyard we couldn’t help but be awestruck by the beauty of this small vineyard. While at the vineyard we had the pleasure of being shown around by Lauren Ackerman, the owner of the winery, and learned some very interesting things about the property.

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04/01 Forget the Numbers, Remember the Art

When discussing with friends and colleagues the merits of wine judging, the responses I receive vary from envy to hatred.  Friends perceive this as a magical position wherein I drink copious amounts of wine while marking scores with a bright red pen in a fashion reminiscent of the teacher in, “The Christmas Story”.    Others, including many of my winemaking buddies, scorn the system stating that it’s overly judgmental and devalues the “art” of wine.  So, in an attempt to better explain the process, here’s my perspective as a consumer, winemaker, scientist, educator and lastly, wine judge.

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03/18 Can Moscato Challenge Chardonnay?

Can Moscato challenge Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for dominance on the world stage?

“Classic” grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are much like the “classic” wine regions from which they reign: well-known, top-selling varietals that hold permanence in the marketplace.  However, just as with wine regions across the world, market dominance is a fluid thing and the battle continual.  While some might view Moscato as simply a trendy, secondary varietal; sales figures, brand visibility, potential for growth and permanence indicate that it is currently and will continue to be a contender in the battle for wine market share.

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03/17 Great Northwest Wine Competition

Kat was honored to be a judge at the inaugural Great Northwest Wine Competition took place March 16-17, 2013, at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Ore. The competition drew nearly 800 entries from wineries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.

03/15 Strengthening, widening Idaho’s wine culture, one sip at a time

We were excited to be featured in the Idaho Statesman article titled “Strengthening, widening Idaho’s wine culture, one sip at a time.”

Read more on the Idaho Statesman website »

02/25 Soils Impact on Wine

How does soil influence wine quality?

Regardless of the region or the varietal, wine quality is the sum of a wine’s intensity, complexity and balance.  Wine lovers and romanticists often describe that they can taste the soil in the wine.  While such declarations may be scientifically challenged, it is clear that soil has a direct impact upon wine quality in three major ways.  First, the physical properties of the soil impact water holding and rooting capacity.   Second, the chemical composition of the soil influences plant growth and development.  Finally, the biological status of the ground impacts pest and disease pressure upon grapevines.  Thus, the physical, chemical and biological composition of a soil proves that it is more than merely “dirt” and is dynamically linked with wine quality.

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11/26 New to Wine: You’re not Alone!

Critics, educated oenophiles, and wine trades people have begrudged the de-sophistication of wine consumption.  Historically accepted as a drink for the elite across the world, the acceptance of wine by peoples of varied classes and cultures is growing.  Increased availability and production across the globe have allowed wine to penetrate formerly uninterested markets wherein wine is not a deep-rooted cultural norm such as Russia, China and even the United States.  These new consumers lack a cultural wine script and thus, are a challenge to many established wine producers.    The global wine trade will be intensely affected as these novice consumers require more, broadened wine style production in classic regions, product education, clear product branding, and are strongly affected by local and international influencers.

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11/12 Wine for Thought: Acidity

Acid is a fundamental component of wine and impacts wine structure and microbial stability as well as sensory perception. If a wine has too much acid it can taste sour but if it has too little it can taste dull, lifeless and flabby. In an ideal world, all harvested grapes will contain an exact balance of components and the desired acid level for the winemaker’s intended wine style. Unfortunately, this is near impossible as climactic variations and weather events, varietal differences, and varied wine styles all impact acid development and stability.

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