Don’t let roadwork keep you from visiting Idaho Wineries
We encourage you to read this great article and filmed interview by the Idaho Statesmen on Williamson’s winery as well as others in the Valley.
It’s a good time to be a fan of Idaho wine.
Gem State winemakers produced two best-of-class awards and 11 gold medals at this spring’s international Cascadia Wine Competition in Hood River, Ore. And with spring in full bloom, Treasure Valley residents and tourists alike are making the tasting rounds.
Alas, the proposed weekend lane reductions on Interstate 84 between Nampa and Caldwell for resurfacing work mean it may take wine lovers from the Boise area more time to reach the Sunnyslope Wine District. Both the eastbound and westbound lanes on the stretch between Franklin Boulevard and Franklin Road will be repaved by the Idaho Transportation Department, and the bulk of the work is expected to take place over four weekends. Those dates haven’t been set yet. There will be some additional overnight work on I-84 as well as roadwork on some other southern Idaho routes this summer.
Mechanical Trimmer Reduces Time and Labor in the Vineyard
After a harsh winter, Williamson Vineyards is preparing to cut out any dead wood that was the result of negative zero temperatures that our region saw in 2017. In preparation for this heavy pruning we utilized a mechanized trimmer to cut the tops of the canes. This helps the vineyard keep down high labor costs of removing all the dead canes by hand.
Mike Williamson did great representing the Idaho Wine industry when he spoke with KTVB news this week! While this last winter was brutal in numerous ways, there are several silver linings for the vineyards. Yes, the 2017 crop will be small but it could result in some pretty amazing wines! Also, retraining from the ground up is not as expensive and doesn’t take as long to get back to full production as totally replanting. All in all, we are still optimistic about the future of Williamson & Idaho wines.
The Idaho wine industry has been growing in leaps and bounds and this growth brings in new visitors to our beautiful state. We were very pleased to read this awesome article that talks about the hospitality of the wine tasting rooms in Idaho. Across the board the wineries in Idaho have been greeting visitors with open arms and making guests feel welcome in our wineries and in our state!
Recent legislation passed will help Idaho wineries like Williamson become more competitive in the marketplace. Check out this clip from KIVI News.
We are thrilled with how well our wines are preforming! Check out the most recent medals from the Savor Northwest Wine Awards.
- 2013 Syrah – Gold medal
- 2011 Reserve Petite Sirah – Silver medal
- 2015 Blossom, Rosè of Sangiovese – Bronze medal
The Williamson Family and Staff are very excited to announce that the following wines have been awarded medals at the 2017 “East Meets West” West Coast Wine Competition!
- 2013 Williamson Vineyards Syrah – Gold Medal
- 2015 Williamson Vineyards Blossom ~ Rose of Sangiovese – Silver Medal
For most of a century, Treasure Valley customers drove out in the fall to Williamson Orchards on Idaho 55 west of Nampa to buy apricots, peaches, apples and cherries. A trip to the Williamson family’s fruit stand offered customers a chance to buy fresh, local, flavorful fruit and perhaps to talk to a member of the Williamson family.
To supplement stand sales, the Willliamsons packed and sold fruit for grocers. Over time, though, grocers opted increasingly for fruit picked green that could travel long distances. As profits dwindled, the need to reinvest in the business loomed.
The family decided a change was needed. They had planted 28 acres of vineyards in 1998 for nearby Ste. Chapelle, Idaho’s oldest and largest winery. Five years ago, they decided to sell their packing house, phase out the tree-fruit business and concentrate on growing wine grapes. Last year, they closed the fruit stand.
Today, Williamson Orchards, one of the Treasure Valley’s most recognizable century farms, has mostly completed the transition across on the Sunnyslope near the Snake River. Control has passed from the third generation, Roger Williamson, 66 and John Williamson, 64, to their three children, Mike, 39, Bev, 36, and Patrick, who just turned 29.
They are becoming leaders in Idaho’s wine industry. On Tuesday, Feb. 14, as the Idaho Wine Commission begins its annual industry meeting in Boise, the Williamson name is recognized both for grapes and wine.
“We had very loyal customers for long time at our fruit stand, but three families can’t eat on what a fruit stand does,” said Roger’s son, Mike, the operations manager at Williamson Orchards and Vineyards. “We can have the wine tasting room open all year around.”
This winter certainly packed a whollap. Does the fridgid temperatures and piles of snow leave you wondering what does this mean for Idaho wine country? Mike Williamson, our operations manager spoke with the Wines and Vines Magazine about just that very topic.