CALDWELL, Idaho — In 2010, when Great Northwest Wine launched the Idaho Wine Competition, a Cabernet Sauvignon from 5-acre Fraser Vineyard in the Snake River Valley earned a double gold medal and won best in show.
This week, 15 years later, Idaho-grown winemaker Greg Koenig stole the show when his 2020 Fraser Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for his soon-to-open winery called Devil’s Bedstead went double gold and was voted the No. 1 wine of the judging.
“That’s a first for me — for a red wine,” Koenig said, “but it’s really a tribute to Bill Fraser and his finding that site.”
Fraser, born and raised in Boise, died at the age of 76 in February. The celebration of life for the Ivy League-educated, outdoors-loving contractor was May 4 in Boise. Among the attendees was longtime wine merchant Ilene Dudunake of A New Vintage Wine Shop in Meridian. She has judged her state’s wine competition for more than a decade.
“Greg was the first winemaker to step into my shop 24 years ago, and I vowed I would always carry Koenig wines,” Dudunake said. “To this day, I still do, even after he sold Koenig Vineyards (in 2019) to the Nederend family. When we learned that Greg had won best of show with the Fraser Vineyard Cabernet, I was overwhelmed with emotion. With the loss of Bill Fraser recently, that made it even more special for this wine.”
Boise educator/journalist Kathryn House McClaskey, proprietor of the downtown shop cleverly branded as House of Wine and poised to become Idaho’s first Master of Wine, knew there was something extra-special about that Cab when she first judged it.
“It’s an intense wine with ample ripe Cabernet Sauvignon character,” she noted. “The concentrated black cherry and black currant notes with a hint of mint are well-integrated with the toasty coffee and baking spice oak notes. The grippy tannins are balanced by the full body and fresh acidity, which carries into a long, pleasing finish. A well-crafted wine that is enjoyable now but has enough density to age well for up to a decade.”
This marked the fourth year for cider producers to participate in the judging, and Meriwether Cider Co., used its Uncharted Imperial — a semi-dry entry that features regional apples and oak influences — to win best-of-show honors. It is crafted in a modern style using dessert/table varieties such as Gala, Granny Smith and/or Fuji apples, finished at 8.5% alcohol by volume and retails at $6 for a 16-ounce can. It’s among the handful of ciders Justin Simms and James Holm produce year-round for the Leadbetter family — multi-generation wildland firefighters — in the Boise suburb of Garden City.
The best white wine, a gorgeously aromatic dry 2024 Gewürztraminer by Parma Ridge Winery, also reached the sweepstakes by starting off with a double gold medal, which represents a unanimous vote for gold by the panel of judges. Owner/winemaker/chef Storm Hodge teamed up with winemaker/vineyard manager Megan Hartman to also earn a double gold for their stunning 2020 Cabernet Franc as well as a gold for their 2021 Cab.
Huston Vineyards is nicely into its second-generation program as vineyard manager Joshua Alger and his winemaking brother Jacob used estate Grüner Veltliner to win the Best Sparkling Wine award and a gold medal for a still wine made with the understated Austrian white grape. Their 2022 Syrah off historic Sawtooth Vineyard, whcih included a 2% co-ferment with Alger family Viognier, was voted best of class after first earning a double gold.
Dude DeWalt Cellars near the city of Star turned a Port-style Touriga Naçional into the judging’s top sweet wine. The Eagle Foothills producer, led by Johnna and Trae Buchert, also earned a double gold and best-of-class award for a reserve Malbec.
Telaya Wine Co. can pour the state’s Best Rosé, which spotlights Sawtooth Vineyard’s work with the somewhat obscure Rhône red variety Cinsaut, at its tasting room along the Boise River Greenbelt in Garden City. Winemakers Earl and Carrie Sullivan also earned a gold medal for their block-specific Malbec grown by the Williamson family.
Will Wetmore’s winemaking led to a remarkable seven gold medals. Four were for his own Veer Wine Project, a pair were on behalf of Hat Ranch Winery and founding winemaker Tim Harless, and a gold medal was given to a Malbec that Wetmore oversaw for young Dunning Estates near the Sunnyslope’s iconic Lizard Butte.
Wetmore, who used a Mourvèdre (aka Mataro) to win best of show at the 2024 Idaho Wine Competition, shined with Grenache, Barbera and Chenin Blanc under Veer. His golds for Hat Ranch were more mainstream — Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2022 vintage.
Famici Wine Co., backed up its 2024 Idaho Winery to Watch acclaim with three gold medals — two proprietary blends, a white and a red — and a 2022 Cabernet Franc.
Another Boise product — Meredith Smith — handles the winemaking for both Ste. Chapelle and Sawtooth wineries. Her 2024 Panoramic Sauvignon Blanc for Ste. Chapelle, the state’s largest and oldest winery, merited a double gold. Her Classic Fly Series for Sawtooth brought back gold medals for the 2023 Viognier and 2024 Albariño.
James and Sydney Nederend, who purchased Koenig Vineyards in 2019, won three gold medals between their two brands — Koenig Vineyards and SCORIA Vineyards. With Koenig Vineyards, there was the best-of-class 2024 Chardonnay and double gold for the suave Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah. There were four examples of Malbec to merit a gold medal at this year’s judging, and SCORIA’s expression from the 2022 vintage was among those.
Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Lewiston, led by winemaker Coco Umiker, used Lewis-Clark Valley grapes for the youthful Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon and buzz-worthy Crawford Vineyard in Washington’s Yakima Valley for her complex Pinot Gris.
Kindred Vineyards, a Sunnyslope producer who recently opened a satellite tasting room along with pizza in downtown Caldwell, received a gold medal for Sangiovese (named Summer Silhouette) and another for its Petit Verdot-led Gypsy Soul blend created by owner/winemaker Craig Davis with Jack Morehart.
The competiton was staged Tuesday, May 20 at Koenig Vineyards, which has been home to the annual Gem State wine show since 2017. This year’s panel featured Sonnay Alvarez, owner of Altanto Vino Wine Marketing serving Idaho, Washington and California, and an international journalist; Ilene Dudunake, owner, A New Vintage Wine Shop, Meridian; Kathryn House McClaskey, Master of Wine Stage 3 student, educator/consultant/retailer, House of Wine, Boise, and journalist, Idaho Press/Boise Weekly; Annie Morrison, Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 certification; director of alumni & parent relations, College of Idaho, Caldwell; Mike Rader, Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 1 certification, panelist, Great Northwest Wine, Kennewick, Wash.; and Jim Thomssen, wine specialist, Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic, Nampa. They evaluated 129 entries from throughout the Idaho wine and cider industries.
Devil’s Bedstead a decade in making for Greg Koenig
Devil’s Bedstead — named for an 11,800-foot peak near Sun Valley — has long been a dream for Koenig. He and his wife, Kristen, began to map out their next winemaking chapter soon after they sold Koenig Vineyards to the Nederends, whose families have farmed crops and cattle in the Snake River Valley for generations.
Koenig’s namesake winery began 30 years ago in 1995. The soft opening for the Devil’s Bedstead tasting room, barrel room and patio — a quarter-mile off Hoskins Road on Caldwell’s Sunnyslope — is scheduled for the weekend following Father’s Day. Longtime supporters of the Koenigs are being contacted via a mailing list that seems destined to fill up rapidly, especially considering the foundation of Devil’s Bedstead is Fraser Vineyard, a high-density 5-acre site that yields about 500 cases in a grower’s vintage. The Koenigs plan to cap production for their Devil’s Bedstead brand at 800 cases each year.
Bill and Bev Fraser established that vineyard in 2003 at 2,700 feet elevation just west of the Sunnyslope. A decade later, the Frasers divorced. Bev took on the eponymous winery and vineyard as part of the settlement. In 2014, the Koenigs first purchased Fraser grapes. A year later, they began leasing the vineyard. And in 2018, the Koenigs acquired the vineyard from Bev Fraser.
Fifteen years ago, the Frasers charged $29 for their best-of-show Cab. It wasn’t the most expensive wine in that judging, and two other Fraser Vineyard reds also won a gold medal that year — a 2008 Cab and 2009 Malbec.
This spring marked the third time in the past decade that a Koenig-crafted wine emerged as the No. 1 wine in the mind of judges at the state competition. His first titles were won in 2016 and 2019 with dessert-style expressions of Riesling.
While many winemakers often nudge the price up after a bottling receives early acclaim or shines in a competition, the Koenigs will keep the retail price at $40 for their Devil’s Bedstead 2020 Fraser Cab. In terms of the Pacific Northwest, it’s a bargain that’s available within an hour’s drive west of Boise. And the tasting room that Koenig and his son, Alden, built for Devil’s Bedstead is easy enough to find — a 100 yards or so up the gravel road from Koenig Vineyards.
“It’s exciting to witness Greg bring his winemaking talent and kind and generous nature back to the Idaho wine industry,” House McClaskey said. “The quality of Idaho wines has never been higher and will surely increase with Greg back in the fold.”
16th annual Idaho Wine & Cider Competition
Best of show / Best red wine / Best Cabernet Sauvignon / double gold medal
Devil’s Bedstead 2020 Fraser Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $40.00 — 95 points
Best white wine / double gold medal
Parma Ridge Winery 2024 Dry Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley $25.00 — 93 points
Best sparkling wine / gold medal
Huston Vineyards 2023 Huston Estate Vineyard Sparkling Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $55.00 — 92 points
Best rosé / gold medal
Telaya Wine Co. 2024 Rosé, Snake River Valley $28.00 — 92 points
Best sweet wine / gold medal
Dude DeWalt Cellars 2021 Touriga Naçional Dessert Wine, Snake River Valley $40.00 — 91 points
Best cider / gold medal
Meriwether Cider Co. NV Uncharted Imperial Cider, $6.00 — 92 points
Best Syrah / double gold medal
Huston Vineyards 2022 Syrah, Snake River Valley $38.00 — 94 points
Double gold medal
Koenig Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah, Snake River Valley $36.00 — 94 points
Best Cabernet Franc / double gold medal
Parma Ridge Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $38.00 — 93 points
Best Malbec / double gold medal
Dude DeWalt Cellars 2021 Reserve Malbec, Snake River Valley $54.00 — 93 points
Best Tempranillo / gold medal
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $42.00 — 93 points
Best red blend / gold medal
Veer Wine Project 2023 Le Compère Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32.00 — 93 points
Double gold medal
Ste. Chapelle 2024 Panoramic Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley $28.00 — 93 points
Best Chardonnay / gold medal
Koenig Vineyards 2024 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $22.00 — 91 points
Best Albariño / gold medal
Sawtooth Winery 2024 Classic Fly Series Albariño, Snake River Valley $30.00 — 91 points
Gold medal
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2023 Heritage Series Louis Delsol Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $36.00 — 93 points
Veer Wine Project 2023 Barbera, Snake River Valley $39.00 — 92 points
Famici Wine Co. 2022 Vicino Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $32.00 — 92 points
Parma Ridge Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $42.00 — 92 points
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $33.00 — 92 points
Veer Wine Project 2024 Unstable Chenin Blanc, Snake River Valley $24.00 — 92 points
Veer Wine Project 2023 Garnacha, Snake River Valley $36.00 — 92 points
Huston Vineyards 2024 Huston Estate Vineyard Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $38.00 — 92 points
Telaya Wine Co. 2022 Block W-02 Malbec, Snake River Valley $42.00 — 92 points
SCORIA Vineyards 2022 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley $34.00 — 92 points
Kindred Vineyards 2022 Gypsy Soul Red Wine, Snake River Valley $45.00 — 92 points
3100 Cellars 2020 Whitewater Sparkling Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $38.00 — 92 points
Sawtooth Winery 2023 Classic Fly Series Viognier, Snake River Valley $30.00 — 92 points
Dunning Estates 2022 Outlaw Malbec, Snake River Valley $40.00 — 91 points
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2024 Crawford Vineyard Pinot Gris, Washington $22.00 — 91 points
Famici Wine Co. 2022 Rusty’s Red, Snake River Valley $28.00 — 91 points
Kindred Vineyards 2023 Summer Silhouette Red Wine, Snake River Valley $52.00 — 91 points
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $33.00 — 91 points
Rock Spur Vineyards & Winery 2023 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $100.00 — 91 points
Famici Wine Co. 2024 Rusty’s White, Snake River Valley $24.00 — 91 points
Laissez Faire Wine Co. 2023 LF Proprietary White Wine, Snake River Valley $22.00 — 91 points
Silver medal
3100 Cellars 2021 Alluvial Sparkling Mourvèdre Rosé, Snake River Valley $40.00
Cinder Wines 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $42.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2022 Umiker Vineyard Estate Syrah, Lewis-Clark Valley $32.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2023 Renaissance Red, Washington $25.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2023 Teammate Red Wine, Washington $36.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2023 Verhey Vineyard Malbec, Washington $32.00
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2024 Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Washington $22.00
Dunning Estates 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $39.50
Dunning Estates 2023 Oakley Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $29.00
Dunning Estates 2024 Colt Steel Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $29.00
Famici Wine Co. 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $45.00
Famici Wine Co. 2022 Malbec, Snake River Valley $45.00
Famici Wine Co. 2022 Primitivo, Snake River Valley $45.00
Famici Wine Co. 2024 Vermentino, Snake River Valley $32.00
Free Dog Wines 2019 Merlot, Snake River Valley $29.00
Free Dog Wines 2022 Albariño Snake River Valley, $23.00
Free Dog Wines NV Off the Leash White Wine, Snake River Valley $23.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $38.00
Fujishin Estate Winery 2024 Viognier, Snake River Valley $28.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $34.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Estate Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $36.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Tempranillo, Snake River valley $32.00
Hat Ranch Winery 2023 Hat Trick White, Snake River Valley $26.00
Holesinsky Winery and Vineyard 2021 Purple Sasquatch Cabernet, Snake River Valley $45.00
Kindred Vineyards 2023 Carménère, Snake River Valley $45.00
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Nebbiolo, Snake River Valley $34.00
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Syrah, Snake River Valley $34.00
Laissez Faire Wine Co. 2022 Red Wine, Snake River Valley $24.00
Laissez Faire Wine Co. 2023 Verdejo, Snake River Valley $22.00
Meriwether Cider Co. NV Black Currant Crush Hard Cider, Idaho $6.00
Meriwether Cider Co. NV Ginger Root Hard Cider, Idaho $6.00
Morris Hill Wine Co. 2024 Rosé of Malbec, Snake River Valley $15.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2021 Kenneth Storm Red Wine, Snake River Valley $42.00
Parma Ridge Winery 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley $42.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2022 Azzurro Red Wine, Snake River Valley $42.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2022 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $42.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2022 Mascot Red Wine, Snake River Valley $42.00
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2023 Carménère, Snake River Valley $38.00
Sawtooth Winery 2024 Riesling, Snake River Valley $14.00
SCORIA Vineyards 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $34.00
SCORIA Vineyards 2022 Merlot / Malbec, Snake River Valley $38.00
Snake River Winery 2023 Estate Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $20.00
Snake River Winery 2023 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley $20.00
Snake River Winery 2024 Estate Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $16.00
Ste. Chapelle 2023 Panoramic Red Blend, Snake River Valley $48.00
Ste. Chapelle 2024 Panoramic Pinot Gris, Snake River Valley $28.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Carménère, Snake River Valley $34.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Mataro, Snake River Valley $36.00
Veer Wine Project 2023 Tressé Red Wine, Snake River Valley $36.00
Veer Wine Project 2024 Project: R-Mountain Arneis, Red Mountain $24.00
Veer Wine Project 2024 Reverie Riesling, Snake River Valley $24.00
Vizcaya Winery 2020 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $33.00
Williamson Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $42.70
Williamson Vineyards 2021 Homestead Red Wine, Snake River Valley $38.00
Williamson Vineyards 2021 Wanderlust Red Wine, Snake River Valley $34.00
