CALDWELL, Idaho — Back when Will Wetmore was playing college baseball in California, it’s hard to fathom he strung together as many hits as he has as a winemaker in his adopted home state of Idaho.
Great Northwest Wine’s reigning Idaho Winery of the Year more than doubled down on that acclaim this spring when Wetmore’s Veer Wine Project 2022 Garnacha won best of show at the 15th annual Idaho Wine and Cider Competition.
That came two weeks after the Veer Wine Project 2021 Mataro was voted best of show at the Cascadia International Wine Competition in Washington state. It was the second straight year he bested the field at the Cascadia.
“I’m already thinking about what’s the next big thing we can do,” Wetmore says, who earlier this year opened an unpretentious tasting gallery in the Boise suburb of Garden City. That new Chinden Boulevard outpost is now home to four gold medals won by Veer at the statewide judging after bringing back five from the Cascadia.
Highpoint Cider in the Teton County town of Victor went back-to-back-to-back as the producer of Idaho’s best cider. During this year’s taste off, its Transplant New England-Style Cider narrowly edged out its own fun and fascinating Prairie Punch as well as High Country Cider Pineapple-Caramel Cider from the Panhandle town of Rathdrum.
Meanwhile, the Alger family placed two wines in the sweepstakes — the Huston Vineyards 2023 Rosé and their Chicken Dinner Wines 2023 White Wine. Each received a double gold medal, signifying an unanimous vote for gold by a panel, on their way to best-of-class acclaim.
Huston also earned a double gold for its 2021 Syrah, which was selected as the best of the category. The Veer 2022 Tressé — a blend of Rhône varieties Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre — also was awarded a double gold medal and emerged as the Best Red Blend of the judging. The success with Rhône varieties by Idaho winemakers throughout the competition stood out to Liz Thach, the Master of Wine from California who was among this year’s judges.
“I was very impressed with the quality of Idaho wines, especially some of the Grenache, Viognier, Malbec and Syrah wines I tried, along with others,” Thach noted. “There is also a sense of terroir shining through in many of the wines, with a hint of cinder and sometimes salinity, from the volcanic soil.”
Koenig Vineyards was in the running for repeating as the best-of-show award with winemaker James Nederend earning a spot in the sweeps with the 2022 vintage of his impeccably balanced Riesling ice wine program.
Hailey Minder’s 3100 Cellars bubble house, which saw the 2017 Whitewater Sparkling Wine to win best of show at the 2021 Cascadia International, used her 2019 vintage of methode Champenoise Whitewater to capture the honor as Best Sparkling Wine at the 2024 Idaho judging.
California judges praise Idaho growers, winemakers
This year’s field included 199 wines and 11 ciders, and the judging panel also featured Mike Dunne, an author based in Sacramento, Calif.; Kaleigh Brook, an advanced sommelier, contributor to Great Northwest Wine and wine buyer for Thief Fine Wine & Beer in Walla Walla, Wash., Tim Donahue, winemaker/educator, Horse Thief Wine Consulting, Walla Walla; Ilene Dudunake, owner, A New Vintage Wine Shop, Meridian, Idaho; Lane Hoss, consultant, Washington Athletic Club, and emeritus VP of operations/wine buyer of Anthony’s Restaurants in Kirkland, Wash.; Kathryn House McClaskey, retailer/educator/journalist, House of Wine, Boise; Annie Morrison, on-premise wine/beer sales representative, Hayden Beverage Co., Boise; and Brad K. Smith, certified sommelier, retired viticulture/enology instructor; cultural specialist, Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic, Grandview, Wash.
In 2011, Thach — pronounced “tosh” — became the first woman in California and the seventh woman in the U.S. to obtain Master of Wine distinction. However, the Texas A&M grad spent much of upbringing in Idaho where her father worked as an acclaimed wildlife biologist and educator. Thach was the first MW to judge the Idaho Wine & Cider Competition since in 2017, and the contributor to Forbes magazine picked up on the synergy between vintners and viticulturists in the Gem State.
“The purity of the grapes is also evident, suggesting high-quality grape growing,” Thach added. “Definitely a region to watch, which now has 72 wineries!”
This year marked the fourth time for Dunne to judge the Idaho competition, but it was his first visit since 2018. He came away impressed, sharing his insight via his website — SignatureWines.us
“What really distinguishes the Idaho wine scene, aside from the character, quality and value of its wines, is the passion and downright eccentricity of many of its grape growers and winemakers,” Dunne wrote.
For the 15th consecutive year, the competition was organized by Great Northwest Wine, a regional media company based in Washington state, in an on-going collaboration with the Idaho Wine Commission. The panel elevated 37 wines and three ciders to a gold medal or better.
Those providing support for this year’s Idaho Wine & Cider Competition included Core Enology Analytical Services, The Hartwell Corporation, Associated Insurance Services, Koenig Vineyards and Visit Boise. The welcome reception/dinner for judges remained in downtown Boise and returned to Anthony’s, the historic Puget Sound-based restaurant group’s second location in Idaho and one block from the judging panel’s accommodations at Hotel 43.
Highpoint Cider dominates with 8 golds in 3 years
In retrospect, it should not have been a surprise that Highpoint bested the field again and that it used the semi-dry Transplant to do it.
A year ago, Highpoint earned a gold medal for its New England style cider. Last year, Highpoint — dedicated to an unfiltered approach to production — won with its Alpenglow blend of raspberry, mint and lime.
In 2022, the Idaho Wine Commission first recruited the state’s premier cider producers to enter their best efforts into the annual judging. That year, Highpoint’s New Hampshire-inspired team of biochemist brothers Alex and Andrew Perez — backed by Washington-grown apples — used its New World-style MotherTrucker to win best of show.
All in all, Highpoint has won a combined eight gold medals using six styles in the past three years, including dry-hopped and twice for Session expressions.
Unfortunately, Highway 22 between Victor and the outdoor destination that is Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is closed indefinitely because of the massive landslide near Teton Pass. Highpoint ships to 40 states via Vinoshipper, including Washington, Oregon and California.
Malbec makes its mark with judges
Perhaps the category that most impressed this year’s judging panel was Malbec, and Thach — president of the Wine Market Council — took notice.
There were six gold medals awarded to Idaho winemakers for their work with the bright and blue-fruited Bordeaux grape that Argentina elevated globally as a standalone variety.
Mike McClure of Indian Creek won best-of-class with his juicy 2022 example, edging out Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Famici Wine Co., and Hat Ranch — each a double gold winner. (McClure’s work with rosé — crafted using Rhône reds Cinsaut and Syrah — also merited a gold for his family’s winery in Kuna.)
The Pasculli family’s Rolling Hills Vineyard project, Great Northwest Wine’s 2023 Idaho Winery to Watch, used the 2021 vintage to produce the Best Cabernet Sauvignon of the judging. The panel also hung a gold medal on the Rolling Hills 2021 Zinfandel.
In addition to the remarkable Riesling ice wine, Koenig Vineyards also won gold medals for its 2021 Sangiovese, Zin-leading 2020 Snake River Cuvée and 2023 Dry Rosé from Merlot — giving James Nederend four for the day.
C.J. and Janet Northrup of nearby Famici finished with three gold medals, a showing that included additional praise for its young Vermentino program. (Famici is Great Northwest Wine’s 2024 Idaho Winery to Watch.)
Arena Valley Vineyard, the scenic estate site of Snake River Winery, made it possible for owner/winemaker Scott DeSeelhorst to win best of class for Cabernet Franc and a double gold with the Austrian red Zweigelt.
Boise native Meredith Smith of Sawtooth Winery earned praise and a gold medal from judges for her 2021 Classic Fly Series Malbec and 2021 Classic Fly Series Chardonnay.
In Lewiston, the father/daughter winemaking team of Art and Kristen McIntosh at Lindsay Creek Vineyards were credited with gold medals for their 2022 Riesling and 2017 Malbec, respectively.
And one of the state’s newest winery — Dunning Estates near the Sunnyslope’s Lizard Butte — reached the superlatives after receiving a gold medal for its best-of-class Tempranillo. The Dunning family opened its doors for the first time during the 2023 Thanksgiving weekend.
More golds for Wetmore and his clients
Indeed, Wetmore is on an unprecedented roll in the Pacific Northwest wine industry that’s nothing short of gobsmacking, and there’s been more on his résumé than the three best-of-show wines in less than 13 months.
His flair with Rhône varieties is astonishing. This year, he used Grenache to win best of show at the Sunnyslope judging. Last year, his expression with Grenache from the 2021 vintage was the best of show at the Cascadia. And last month, his somewhat hedonistic take on Mourvèdre allowed Wetmore to successfully defend his win from the 2023 Cascadia.
As Thach pointed out within her summary of the judging, Wetmore is quick to credit the quality of grapes he works with — particularly Boise State-trained viticulturist Jake Cragin. Yet the Midas touch, skill and daring exhibited by Wetmore extends beyond his efforts with Rhône varieties.
Wetmore took particular delight in learning the 2023 Riesling made under the Veer brand emerged as best of class at Idaho. On the other hand, he stood in disbelief when discovering that a last-minute entry and a flier — his 2023 Project: Carbonic Syrah — also picked up a gold. It was the only red wine from the 2023 vintage that an Idaho producer had the audacity to enter into the 2024 judging.
There is some magic and perhaps a perennial presence of pixie dust on the crush pad at the University of Idaho Agribusiness Incubator along Chicago Street in downtown Caldwell. After all, three times it has been the birthplace for a best-of-show winner at the Idaho Wine Competition. A common thread is Tim Harless, owner/founding winemaker of Hat Ranch Winery.
Harless broadened the scope of the Chicago Street vinification facility with the acquisition of the Vale Wine Co. brand, and soon after in 2014 he hired a beer-making Wetmore to help in the cellar and learn about enology. In 2015, Hat Ranch won the Idaho Wine Competition with a marvelous 2014 dry Muscat grown on the 6-acre Hat Ranch estate along the Sunnyslope.
Six years later, Hat Ranch used a 2018 Cabernet Franc from the historic Lewis-Clark Valley to bring home 2021’s top prize. Harless unselfishly heaped credit on Lane Hewett of Rivaura Vineyards — whose family grew the grapes — and Wetmore for that judging’s No. 1 wine. That same year, Wine Press Northwest named Wetmore’s Veer Wine Project its 2021 Idaho Winery to Watch.
“I’d like to do for other winemakers what Tim has helped me do, which is promote them and feature flights of wines by them — winemakers who don’t have the space — so they can get some exposure,” Wetmore says.
Looking back, there were five wines from the Chicago Street cellar that got a gold or better at the 2023 Gem State judging.
This year, here were 10 wines made by Wetmore for Veer or his clients that won a gold medal or better at the 2024 Idaho Wine and Cider Competition. They include:
- Vale Wine Co. 2021 Merlot — double gold and Best Merlot
- Vale Wine Co. 2023 Sweet Moscato — gold
- Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Malbec — double gold
- Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Estate Pinot Grigio — double gold
- Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Grüner Veltliner — gold
- Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Tempranillo — gold
The tale behind that Pinot Gris, which won best of class and a double gold at the 2024 Cascadia, is particularly intriguing.
“The Hat Ranch Pinot Grigio occupies ¾ of an acre originally planted with Sauvignon Blanc,” Wetmore points out. “After tearing out the Sauvignon Blanc, we planted Pinot Grigio in 2020 and Grüner Veltliner in 2021.
“The Pinot Grigio was picked Sept. 19 at 22 Brix and pressed whole cluster to tank, then cold settled and racked to tank and fermented nice and cold to preserve as much aromatics as possible.”
Its 100-case production was bottled just prior to the Cascadia, which was the first week in May.
2024 Idaho Wine & Cider Competition results
Best Cider / Gold medal
Highpoint Cider Transplant New England-Style Cider (Victor, Idaho), $13.99
Double gold medal
Highpoint Cider Prairie Punch (Victor, Idaho), $13.99
Gold medal
High Country Cider Pineapple-Caramel Cider (Rathdrum, Idaho), $3.50
Silver medal
High Country Cider Lemon-Basil Cider (Rathdrum, Idaho), $3.50
High Country Cider Strawberry Cider (Rathdrum, Idaho) $3.50
High Country Cider Pear Cider (Rathdrum, Idaho) $3.50
Highpoint Cider Alpenglow (Victor, Idaho), $13.99
Highpoint Cider Nomad Reserve (Victor, Idaho), $14.99
Highpoint Cider Sweater Weather (Victor, Idaho), $13.99
Best of show / Best red wine / Best Grenache / Double gold medal
Veer Wine Project 2022 Garnacha, Snake River Valley $36.00
Best white wine / Double gold medal
Chicken Dinner Wines 2023 Chicken Dinner White Wine, Snake River Valley $16.00
Best rosé / Double gold medal
Huston Vineyards 2023 Rosé, Snake River Valley $24.00
Best sweet wine / Double gold medal
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Riesling Ice Wine, Snake River Valley $30.00
Best sparkling wine / Gold medal
3100 Cellars 2019 Whitewater Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley $38.00
Best Merlot / Double gold medal
Vale Wine Co. 2021 Merlot, Snake River Valley $32.00
Best Syrah / Double gold medal
Huston Vineyards 2021 Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00
Best red blend / Double gold medal
Veer Wine Project 2022 Tressé Red Wine, Snake River Valley $36.00
Best Cabernet Sauvignon / Gold medal
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $42.00
Best Riesling / Gold medal
Veer Wine Project 2023 Rêverie Riesling, Snake River Valley $24.00
Best Tempranillo / Gold medal
Dunning Estates 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $37.50
Best Viognier / Gold medal
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2022 100% Viognier, Snake River Valley $16.00
Best Malbec / Gold medal
Indian Creek Winery 2022 For the Mountains Benefit Series Malbec, Snake River Valley $25.00
Best Cabernet Franc / Gold medal
Snake River Winery 2022 Estate Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $21.00
Double gold medal
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2022 Verhey Vineyard Malbec, Washington $32.00
Famici Wine Co. 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley $45.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley $32.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Pinot Grigio, Snake River Valley $24.00
Snake River Winery 2018 Estate Zweigelt, Snake River Valley $16.00
Gold medal
Cinder Wines 2023 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2023 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $23.00
Famici Wine Co. 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $45.00
Famici Wine Co. 2023 Vermentino, Snake River Valley $28.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $24.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $33.00
Indian Creek Winery 2023 Dry Rosé, Snake River Valley $20.00
Koenig Vineyards 2021 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $34.00
Koenig Vineyards 2020 Snake River Valley Cuvée Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32.00
Koenig Vineyards 2023 Dry Rosé, Snake River Valley $20.00
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2017 Malbec, Washington $28.00
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2022 Riesling, Washington $20.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2021 Zinfandel, Horse Heaven Hills $38.00
Sawtooth Winery 2022 Classic Fly Series Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $28.00
Sawtooth Winery 2021 Classic Fly Series Malbec, Snake River Valley $40.00
Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2022 Fumé Blanc, Lewis Clark Valley $22.00
Vale Wine Co. 2023 Sweet Moscato, Snake River Valley $26.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Project: Carbonic Syrah, Snake River Valley $25.00
Silver medal
3100 Cellars 2021 Pool & Drop Sparkling Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley $35.00
Bitner Vineyards 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon?, Snake River Valley $35.00
Bitner Vineyards 2019 Terrosa 50% Petit Verdot 50% Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00
By Translations 2022 Rosé, Columbia Valley $22.00
By Translations 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley $22.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2023 Umiker Estate Vineyard Lochsa Chardonnay, Lewis-Clark Valley $22.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2022 Phinny HIll Vineyard Carménère, Washington $32.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2022 Renaissance Red, Washington $25.00
Coiled Wines 2023 Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $22.00
Coiled Wines 2021 Rizza Sparkling Riesling, Washington $34.00
Coiled Wines 2022 Sidewinder, Snake River Valley $34.00
Colter’s Creek Vineyards & Winery 2023 Estate Bottled Expedition Series Tocai Friulano, Lewis-Clark Valley $30.00
Colter’s Creek Vineyards & Winery 2020 Estate Bottled Expedition Series Reserve Syrah, Lewis-Clark Valley $45.00
Domaine Holesinsky 2023 Buhljolais Organically Grown Sparkling Cuvee, Snake River Valley $22.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc, Washington $39.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2020 Malbec, Snake River Valley $34.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2023 Estate Syrah Rosé, Eagle Foothills $30.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2021 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $39.00
Dude Dewalt Cellars 2021 Estate Tempranillo, Eagle Foothillls $45.00
Famici Wine Co. 2021 Primitivo, Snake River Valley $45.00
Free Dog Wines 2022 T’s Rosé, Snake River Valley $23.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley $38.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2021 GSM Red Wine Blend, Snake River Valley $38.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2021 Windseeker Vineyard Syrah, Snake River Valley $48.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2022 Viognier, Snake River Valley $28.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $34.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Dry Moscato, Snake River Valley $24.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2021 Hat Trick Red Red Wine, Snake River Valley $29.00
Hells Canyon Winery 2022 Zhoo Zhoo Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $29.00
Holesinsky Winery NV IdaPeach Sparkle Peach Sangria, Snake River Valley $18.00
Holesinsky Winery NV IdaPeach Peach Sangria, Snake River Valley $14.00
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2021 100% Malbec, Snake River Valley $38.00
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2022 Idawine Red Blend, Snake River Valley $14.00
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2020 Oktopus Syrah, Snake River Valley $45.00
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2023 100% Viognier, Snake River Valley $18.00
Indian Creek Winery 2022 Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley $27.00
Indian Creek Winery 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley $23.00
Jovinea Cellars 2021 Dolcetto, Washington $30.00
Kerry Hill Winery 2021 Migration Private Reserve Malbec, Snake River Valley $48.00
Kerry Hill Winery 2022 Gold Rush Sparkling Merlot Rosé, Snake River Valley $45.00
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Merlot, Washington $28.00
Lost Sage Wines 2020 Estate Nebbiolo, Snake River Valley $32.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2020 Estate Bottled Merlot, Snake River Valley $36.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2020 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley $40.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2022 Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley $25.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2023 Estate Avielle Rosé of Big Reds, Snake River Valley $25.00
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2021 Merlot, Columbia Valley $26.00
Rivaura Vineyard & Winery 2021 Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $38.00
Rivaura Vineyard & Winery 2021 Estate Vineyards Grenache, Lewis-Clark Valley $36.00
Rivaura Vineyard & Winery 2023 Estate Vineyards Rosé, Lewis-Clark Valley $19.00
Rivaura Vineyard & Winery 2023 Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Lewis-Clark Valley $28.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $42.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2023 Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $24.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Merlot, Snake River Valley $38.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $38.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2021 Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley $35.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2023 Rosé, Snake River Valley $24.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2023 Spruzzi Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley $28.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00
Sawtooth Series by Sawtooth Winery 2021 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $40.00
Sawtooth Series by Sawtooth Winery 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $40.00
Sawtooth Winery 2023 Classic Fly Series Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $30.00
Sawtooth Winery 2023 Classic Fly Series Pinot Noir Rosé, Snake River Valley $26.00
Snake River Winery 2023 Estate Viognier, Snake River Valley $16.00
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2021 Panoramic Malbec, Snake River Valley $45.00
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2022 Panoramic Malbec, Snake River Valley $45.00
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2022 Panoramic Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley $45.00
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2022 Open Air Muscat Blanc, Snake River Valley $26.00
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2023 Panoramic Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley $28.00
Telaya Wine Co. 2021 Lanae Ridge Vineyard Syrah, Snake River Valley $40.00
Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2019 Reserve Cabernet Franc, Washington $38.00
Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2022 Sèmillon, Lewis-Clark Valley $22.00
Vale Wine Co. 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $34.00
Vale Wine Co. 2023 Viognier, Snake River Valley $24.00
Veer Wine Project 2022 Emerald Slope Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $45.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Unstable Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $24.00
Veer Wine Project 2022 Mataro, Snake River Valley $35.00
Veer Wine Project 2022 The Scavenger Red Blend, Snake River Valley $25.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 The Scavenger Rosé Wine, Snake River Valley $20.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley $24.00
Veer Wine Project 2022 Ai Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00
Vizcaya Winery 2019 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $33.00
Williamson Vineyards 2023 Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $23.00
Williamson Vineyards 2020 Windmill Red, Snake River Valley $34.00
Veer Wine Project 2022 Le Compère Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32.00
