There Was Time For Relaxation

It wasn’t “all work and no play” on the homestead. Lillian and her husband, George, had a wonderful circle of friends consisting of early Sunnyslope settlers. Neighbors were always willing to lend a hand if you needed it, and were always happy to come together for a good meal!

We hope you enjoy this picture of an impromptu picnic from the past. Lillian is pictured in the middle with a giant slice of watermelon! Also pictured are her neighbors; Mr. & Mrs. Caldwell and their two girls, plus Mrs. Barnes and her little one. The photograph was sent to Lillian’s mother with a note written on the back asking her to “Look at this and send it back. We wanted to show you the size of the melon we grew. She took the picture when I had a big mouth full! So look and laugh and send it back. I am afraid you wouldn’t burn the picture if I asked.”

We are so glad Lillian’s mother never burned the photo. Sorry Lilly! While no one wants to be caught with a mouth full, we love seeing these tough pioneers enjoying a little time of leisure. Not to mention the size of the watermelon, no one grows them that big anymore!!
Don’t forget to join us for our own Pink Picnic coming up on July 17th!

July Promotion

Alzheimer Awareness

Like so many today, the Williamson family has experienced the difficulty of caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Our family feels strongly about helping those with this horrendous disease and their families. Help us help Alzheimer’s Association in their mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

For the month of July, when you purchase a wine tasting, we will offer an additional wine sample with a donation of $1 or more to the Alzheimer’s Association. 100% of your donation goes to Alzheimer Association.

Hard Work Creates a Farm

Rome was not built in a day and neither was the family farm. Lillian and George continued to make improvements to their homestead over time. Between 1918 and 1919 they were able to build a barn, which allowed them to keep more livestock. They started to raise a small herd of dairy cows which proved to be helpful. Like with most start-up farms, money was tight so Lilly and George sold their surplus milk and cream. We suspect having fresh cream for their morning coffee was an added perk too!

 

Lilly and George didn’t live lavish lives but they loved their land and they were willing to make the most of it. They experimented with raising different crops. They were the first family to plant apples in the area and continued to plant various fruit trees over the years. Surprisingly one of their first crops that brought them some financial windfall was a bumper crop of tomatoes! You can see (below) a picture of the field of young tomato vines, they covered in white paper tents to protect the plants until the danger of frost was past. 

April Promotion

Save The Bees!

The Williamson family has farmed in this valley for 4 generations and have relied on our native pollinators for the health and success of our orchards and vineyards. Help us help Pollinator Partnership in their mission to promote the health of pollinators (not just Honey Bees) through conservation, education and research.

  Donate at least $1 to our Save The Bees program and receive an extra wine sample. 
*Promotion is valid only with the purchase of 5 wine samples for $5.

From Sagebrush to Homestead

In the early 1900’s Lillian Williamson Gammon, and her husband George, decided to try their fortune on the new frontier. They left Virginia and headed west by wagon. While briefly stopped in Oklahoma they heard about some interesting land opportunities in the young state of Idaho. Thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862, they were  able to settle on 80 acre parcels along the sunny slopes of southern Idaho, near the Snake River.

The top photo depicts George Gammon surrounded by sage brush on his newly acquired land. He and Lillian worked very hard to clear the property and built a simple two story house on their homestead. In the lower photo you can see Lilly in front of their home with her horse “Buttercup”. Notice our beloved windmill peaking out from behind the house, the same fan blade pictured here is currently displayed on the front of our tasting room!

 

SavorNW Wine Competition

Savor NW Wine Competition is an annual wine competition held annually in February which showcases the best of Northwest wines. It is one of the largest wine awards programs open to all commercial wineries in the Pacific Northwest. We’re so proud to be in the Snake River Valley AVA with all the wonderful wineries in it. Go Idaho!

2014 Reserve Petite Sirah – Gold
2017 Dry Riesling – Gold
2016 Malbec – Silver
2016 Sangiovese – Silver

To see the list of winners and competitors, follow this link.

2019 West Coast Wine Competition

This wine competition was established in 1982 and the West Coast Wine Competition has annually recognized wines produced and bottled in the West. So naturally we were thrilled that the two wines we entered received awards. Our 2016 Malbec received a Double Gold-93pt. and Best of Class, excellent for a first vintage wine. To add to our excitement, we received a Gold-92pt. for our 2017 Dry Riesling. Both of these delicious wines are available in our tasting room.

Follow this link for more details of the competition.

 

A Peek Into The Past

Lillian (Williamson) Gammon was the first family member to move to Idaho in 1909. Lillian was raised in Abingdon, Virginia and was the 3rd born and only daughter of Nancy & Archilus Williamson. Lilly married George “Eddie” Gammon and together they traveled west via wagon, looking for good farm ground. After stopping briefly in Oklahoma, they settled into the sunny slopes of southern Idaho, near the Snake River. Not only was the land good for growing but it was cheap, thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862. Lilly’s younger brother, Henry Williamson, followed shortly after upon hearing about the “superb growing ground” his sister had homesteaded. This is the oldest picture our family has of both siblings. In this picture you can also note their middle brother, Charles Williamson, who never lived in Idaho but did father Jack Williamson, our grandfather!

March Promotion

Receive an additional wine sample when you sign up for our mailing list.

  Want to be a part of the Williamson tribe? Tired of missing out on all the fun events at the winery? Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get the skinny on all upcoming events, wine releases and specials. During the month of March, everyone who signs up gets an extra* wine sample.
*Promotion is valid only with the purchase of 5 wine samples for $5.

Celebrating 110 Years Of Farming!

The Williamson Family is so proud to be celebrating a 110 years of family farming! Our family homesteaded on the sunny slopes of the Snake River Valley back in 1909. The Williamson family has always striven to be good stewards of the land and to adapt with the climate and the times. Over the next year we will share a few historical “snap shots” of life on the family farm.