Sunnyslope Wine Trail

One could easily visit four wineries in an afternoon along the Sunnyslope, but a slower pace is suggested to enjoy the surroundings and perhaps stop at a roadside market for fresh produce, specialty foods or artisan items. Several tour services now provide a carefree experience by managing reservations, tasting fees and, of course, transportation. Sunshine Wine Tours (sunshinewinetours.com) and Snake River Wine Tours (snakeriverwinetours.com) come highly rated and operate year-round, offering personalized attention and terrific onboard charcuterie trays.

Sunnyslope Wine Trail

1 – Bitner Vineyards

3 – Famici Wine Company

Cideries

spotlight on:

AWARD-WINNING IDAHO WINE ... HOLESINSKY

VINEYARD + WINERY

Nestled on the edge of the majestic Snake River Canyon lies Holesinsky Vineyard + Winery, a hidden gem in Idaho's wine country that is producing exceptional wines with a commitment to sustainability and innovation. Holesinsky is a remarkable place, boasting the highest elevated commercial vineyard in the northwest, sitting pretty at a dizzying 3,770 ft. The altitude combined with its proximity to the river provides a unique microclimate that cultivates grapes to perfection.

Holesinsky Winery is a pioneer in Idaho's wine scene, joining Idaho’s growing vineyards and wineries way back in 2001. James Holesinsky, the founder, started with just 1,000 Chardonnay vines on the land where his childhood home once stood before a tragic fire. Now, more than two decades later, the vineyard has grown to include Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Muscat, all organically grown and proudly producing award-winning wines year after year.

Their hard work and dedication have paid off, with Great Northwest Wine naming Holesinsky Winery the Idaho Winery of the Year in 2022. Today, their family vineyard produces over 15,000 cases annually, yet they never compromise on quality, organic farming and innovative winemaking techniques.

When summer rolls around, you can catch the Holesinsky Winery team at the Sun Valley symphony and summer concerts, where their Buhljolais rosé is a crowd favorite. And if you're looking for the perfect refreshment during the hot months, make sure to snag a bottle of their Sparkling Idaho Mountain Spring water, available at Atkinsons' Markets or The Village Market.

(continued from page 14) kids the value of hard work—it just kind of all worked together and has grown quickly,” says Earl Sullivan. Telaya is an amalgam of the Sullivans’ favorite places—the Teton Mountains along Idaho’s eastern border and the beach ("playa" in Spainish). The modern, glass-front building offers spectacular river views and a welcoming outdoor patio. As busy as the winery is, the winemaking operation provides a backdrop for wine club tastings and tours, with nearly 90% of its product shipped to members in 28 states.

The Sullivans recently acquired another rural production facility in the Sunnyslope area. “We’re calling it Telaya West. It won’t be a regular tasting room, but we’ll be doing a series of events starting with four concerts.”

The ‘local by local’ movement keeps Sullivan enthusiastic about Idaho’s wine industry. “We don’t have the huge acreages of other wine areas—but our quality is just so good. In a smaller area, growers and producers work really well together to raise the bar, and that helps everyone.”

Sullivan says he has a close relationship with his growers in Idaho and Washington, with dedicated rows so he can track quality and conditions year after year. He can visit all the grapes before they’re harvested and even has a say about what day and time they’ll be cut from the vine. That care and attention have earned awards and a big following for Telaya wines.

The Sullivans are rapidly increasing production to prevent sellouts, increasing from 4,350 cases in 2021 to more than 10,850 in 2022. Accolades include their 2018 Syrah, which won Best of Show at the Cascadia International Wine Competition.

Neighbors to Telaya in the Garden City urban tasting corridor are Rolling Hills, Cinder, Coiled, Par Terre and Potter Wines, to name a few. Whether it’s a tasting room experience or an estate vineyard you’re after, it’s time to explore the vast variety of southwest Idaho wine country and its creative winemakers. g