CALDWELL, Idaho — It was no shock to see the storied Riesling ice wine program at Koenig Vineyards win best of show in the 2023 Idaho Wine & Cider Competition — the third time in the past decade.
This time, however, it wasn’t founder Greg Koenig who doted on those icy marbles of Riesling and took the voluptuous wine to bottle. Instead, it was James Nederend and his wife, Sydney, who purchased Koenig Vineyards in 2019 at Greg’s request. Several months later, the Koenig 2018 Riesling Ice Wine was voted as Idaho’s No. 1 entry in the Gem State’s judging.
This spring, the Koenig Vineyards nonvintage Riesling Ice Wine — a blend primarily from the 2021 harvest — outshined all other comers at the annual Gem State judging.
“For us, we’re proud to carry on Greg’s tradition,” James says. “He’s been making amazing wines for years and years and really helped push the Idaho wine industry forward along the way.”
Sidebar: Unique approach to ice wine leads to win for Nederend, Koenig Vineyards
The May 23 judging attracted a record 214 entries. Results are used to help promote Idaho Wine & Cider Month, which includes the industry’s signature event — Savor Idaho on Sunday, June 13 across the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise.
For the 14th 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. For the 2023 comparative tasting, the commission brought in judges from both coasts, and the group elevated 37 wines and five ciders to a gold medal or better.
This year’s panel featured Kristin Ackerman-Bacon, publisher/CEO, Sip Magazine and Cidercraft Magazine, Seattle; Tim Donahue, Horse Thief Wine Consulting, Walla Walla, Wash.; Ilene Dudunake, owner, A New Vintage Wine Shop, Meridian, Idaho; Nate Frazier, sales representative, Barrique Distributing, Garden City, Idaho; Guy Harris, owner/wholesaler/importer, Cru Selections, Woodinville, Wash.; Lane Hoss, vice-president of operations/wine buyer of Anthony’s Restaurants, Kirkland, Wash.; Kathryn House McClaskey, winemaking consultant/educator, House of Wine, Boise; Annie Morrison, on-premise wine/beer sales representative, Hayden Beverage Co., Boise; and Peg San Felippo, certified sommelier/journalist, Milwaukee, Wis., columnist, City & Shore magazine, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Those providing support for this year’s Idaho Wine & Cider Competition include Anthony’s Restaurants, Visit Boise, Corteva Agriscience, Koenig Vineyards and Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness. The welcome reception/dinner for judges was in downtown Boise at Anthony’s, two blocks from the judging panel’s AAA Four Diamond accommodations at The Grove Hotel.
Highpoint Cider returns to pinnacle with Alpenglow
The judging panel met on the historic Sunnyslope for the seventh straight year, dating to when founder Greg Koenig opened his showpiece tasting room near Highway 55 west of Caldwell.
Cider producers continue to make delicious impressions on the judging panel, and Highpoint Cider near the base of the Tetons in Victor entered the Best of Show cider for the second consecutive year.
This spring, it was the bordertown producer’s Alpenglow, a semi-sweet effort from its Cellar Series, infused with raspberry, mint and lime that earned a double gold medal, which reflects an unanimous vote for gold by judges. Highpoint also earned gold medals for three semi-dry ciders — the unfiltered and hopped Tram-Line, the New England-inspired Transplant and the Spur, a ginger-infused unfiltered session cider.
Popular Treasure Valley cidery Meriwether earned a gold for its Foothills Semi-Dry Hard Cider — the Leadbetter family’s program that led the field when cider first became part of this judging in 2017.
Cellar for Hat Ranch, Veer continues impressive run
And a string of the state’s — and the Northwest’s — top wines keep coming out of the University of Idaho’s Agribusiness Incubator in Caldwell.
The wine made in the bays along Chicago Street by Will Wetmore and Tim Harless continues to gather acclaim for Hat Ranch Winery, their clients and Wetmore’s own brand, Veer Wine Project.
The Hat Ranch 2022 Unoaked Chardonnay reached the sweepstakes as the Best White Wine after emerging as the Best Chardonnay and opening with a double gold medal. Other superlatives include the Vale Wine Co. 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Best Cab, double gold), Hat Ranch 2020 Malbec (Best Malbec, double gold), Kerry Hill Winery 2019 Vixen Cabernet Franc (best of class, double gold) and the Veer Wine Project 2021 Mataro, an expression of the red Rhône grape Mourvèdre that judges determined was worthy of a double gold.
Joining the Koenig Vineyards “sticky” in the sweepstakes was Jed Glavin’s Split Rail 2022 White Noise Pétillant Naturel Sparkling White Wine. In 2016, Glavin narrowly missed out on his GSM program winning best of show, falling shy of a 2014 late harvest Riesling by Koenig made in the style of a German trockenbeerenauslese.
The Williamson Vineyards 2020 Sangiovese emerged as the Best Red of this year’s competition, another example of the continued synergy with Nederend — who continues to make the wines for the Williamson family, an agreement that began with Greg Koenig.
“I remember when we brought that Sangiovese in,” Nederend said. “Just tasting that wine, you could have bottled it a month after harvest and it would have been a great wine. It ended up being two years in barrel. They have a beautiful spot for their Sangiovese — up on the hill above Ste. Chapelle.
“In Idaho, Sangiovese is an easy wine to make but a challenge to grow because of its thinner skins,” he continued. “We use very little oak. You just want to let the vineyard show itself.”
Nederend and his team repeatedly proved their mettle. Their recently bottled 2022 Dry Riesling stood out as the Best Riesling. (The Koenig ice wine was judged in a separate category.) The Best Oaked Chardonnay was the Koenig Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay. And the Koenig Vineyards 2020 Three Vineyard Cuvée Syrah picked up a gold medal.
For the Nederends family’s initial brand — SCORIA Vineyards — there was a gold medal for the 2020 Malbec. When including the three brands they are most closely connected to, James Nederend had his hands in six wines that finished with a gold medal or better.
Smith piles up 5 golds for Ste. Chapelle, Sawtooth
Boise native Meredith Smith, who heads up Idaho winemaking for Seattle-based Precept Wine, received a fistful of gold medals at this year’s state competition.
Under the Sawtooth Winery brand, there were a trio of the judging’s top wines — a best-of-class and double gold for the 2022 Classic Fly Series Chenin Blanc, a gold for the 2022 Classic Fly Series Dry Riesling and gold for the 2020 Trout Series Petit Verdot. For Ste. Chapelle — the state’s largest brand — her 2022 Open Air Muscat Blanc was best of class and a double gold. There was another gold for the Ste. Chapelle 2020 Panoramic Petite Sirah.
James and Caitlin Holesinsky, the chemists/winemakers behind Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery in the Hagerman Valley, were awarded a trio of gold medals, led by a double gold for their 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Three times Cinder winemaker Melanie Krause has won best of show at the Idaho Wine Competition, and her 2021 Syrah contended for Best Red after receiving double gold and earning best of class. Her young Verdejo program from Emerald Slope Vineyard across the Snake River in Adrian, Ore., returned a gold medal less than a month after receiving high praise at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards near Dallas.
Huston Vineyards, the reigning Idaho Winery of the Year for Great Northwest Wine, earned gold medals for its 2021 Malbec and 2020 Private Reserve Red.
Indian Creek in Kuna, another star at this year’s Cascadia International, emerged with two best-of-class titles — the 2022 Viognier and 2021 Tempranillo, the latter receiving a double gold medal.
C.J. Northrup, the Boise State University professor who has used the U of I’s Chicago Street facility, followed his impressive showing at the Cascadia International in Washington state with a double gold and best of class designation for his Petit Verdot-dominant 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Vineyard Blend.
Leslie Preston scored with the two wines she might be most identified with under her Coiled Wines brand — the Petit Verdot-powered 2021 Black Mamba Red Wine and 2021 Rizza Sparkling Wine under crown cap and featuring Riesling.
Great Northwest Wine’s 2023 Idaho Winery to Watch came through with a pair of gold medals at the state competition — the Rolling Hills Vineyard 2021 Moscato and 2020 Reserve Tempranillo.
Attracting the attention of judges and showcasing the diversity of his picturesque Arena Valley Vineyard site, Scott DeSeelhorst turned his Snake River Winery 2020 Estate Montepulciano into a double gold medal.
Out-of-town judges tour Snake River Valley
Each year, judges are led on a tour of the region by the Idaho Wine Commission during the day after the Idaho Wine and Cider Competition. This time, a number of the judges saw the new vines planted at SCORIA Vineyards and stood on the lawn that will be removed to make room for SCORIA’s new tasting gallery.
Also in support of the Idaho Wine & Cider Competition, the commission curates special lots featuring gold medal winners and offers them at a discount as part of its “Taste Idaho Gold” program. A portion of those sales are earmarked for the Idaho Wine Scholarship Fund, which assists members of the Idaho wine industry with education and development. And a percentage of the Idaho Wine & Cider Competition entry fees also seed the scholarship fund.
2023 Idaho Wine & Cider Competition results
Best Cider / double gold medal
Highpoint Cider Alpenglow Cellar Series No. 4. Raspberry, Mint, Lime, $4.25
Gold medal
Meriwether Cider Co. Foothills Semi-Dry Hard Cider $6.00
Highpoint Cider Tram-Line – Mosaic Dry Hopped Cider $3.50
Highpoint Cider Transplant – New England Style Cider $3.50
Highpoint Cider Spur Semi-Dry Ginger Session Cider $3.50
Silver medal
High Country Cider, Summertime Upside Down Event Cider $3.80
Highpoint Cider Nomad – Unfiltered and Dry $3.50
Highpoint Cider Prairie Punch
Highpoint Cider Sweater Weather – Blood Orange, Lemon, Vietnamese Cinnamon, Madagascar Vanilla, Ginger $4.25
Meriwether Cider Co. Wild Abandon Apple Cider $5.00
Best of show / Best Sweet Wine / gold medal
Koenig Vineyards NV Riesling Ice Wine, Snake River Valley $30
Best Red Wine / gold medal
Williamson Vineyards 2020 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $34
Best White / Best Chardonnay / double gold medal
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $23
Best Sparkling / double gold medal
Split Rail Winery 2022 White Noise Pétillant Naturel Sparkling White Wine, Snake River Valley $29
Best Cabernet Sauvignon / double gold medal
Vale Wine Co. 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $32
Best Syrah / double gold medal
Cinder Wines 2021 Syrah, Snake River Valley $37
Best Riesling / gold medal
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $18
Best Tempranillo / double gold medal
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $27
Best Malbec / double gold medal
Hat Ranch Winery 2020 Malbec, Snake River Valley $33
Best Cabernet Franc/ double gold medal
Kerry Hill Winery 2019 Vixen Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $35
Best of class / double gold medal
Coiled Wines 2021 Black Mamba Red Wine, Snake River Valley $34
Famici Wine Co. 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Vineyard Blend Red Wine, Snake River Valley $68
Ste. Chapelle 2022 Open Air White Blend, Snake River Valley $23
Best Other White / double gold medal
Sawtooth Winery 2022 Classic Fly Chenin Blanc, Snake River Valley $35
Best Oaked Chardonnay / gold medal
Koenig Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $22
Best Viognier / gold medal
Indian Creek Winery 2022 Viognier, Snake River Valley $20
Double gold medal
Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery 2020 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $65
Snake River Winery 2020 Estate Montepulciano, Snake River Valley $17
Veer Wine Project 2021 Mataro, Snake River Valley $34
Gold medal
3100 Cellars 2018 Whitewater Sparkling Wine, Snake River Valley $38
Cinder Wines 2022 Emerald Slope Vineyard Verdejo, Snake River Valley $28
Coiled Wines 2021 Rizza Sparkling Wine, Washington State $32
Domaine Holesinsky 2022 Estate Stainless Steel Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $18
Dude DeWalt Cellars 2019 Malbec, Snake River Valley $34
Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery 2021 40% Viognier 40% Sémillon 20% Muscat White Wine, Snake River Valley $22
Huston Vineyards 2021 Malbec, Snake River Valley $32
Huston Vineyards 2020 Private Reserve Red Wine, Snake River Valley $65
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Legacy Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $39
Koenig Vineyards 2020 Three Vineyard Cuvée Syrah, Snake River Valley $34
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Estate Cabernet Franc, Lewis-Clark Valley $28
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2021 Moscato, Snake River Valley $21
Rolling Hills Vineyard 2020 Reserve Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $40
Sawtooth Winery 2020 Trout Series Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $35
Sawtooth Winery 2022 Classic Fly Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $16
SCORIA Vineyards 2020 Malbec, Snake River Valley $32
Ste. Chapelle Winery 2020 Panoramic Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley $21
Vizcaya Winery 2018 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $33
Silver medal
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2020 Estate Chardonnay, Eagle Foothills $28
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2019 Estate Beau Beste, Eagle Foothills $49
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2020 Estate Vivacious White Table Wine, Eagle Foothills $28
Cabin View Winery 2020 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Washington $38
Cabin View Winery 2020 Sugarloaf Vineyard Malbec, Washington $38
Cabin View Winery 2020 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Red Wine Blend, Washington $38
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Louis Delsol Heritage Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewis-Clark Valley $36
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Phinny Hill Vineyard Carménère, Washington State $32
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Phinny Hill Vineyard Coco’s Reserve Spice Market, Washington State $38
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Umiker Vineyard Estate Reserve, Lewis-Clark Valley $42
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2021 Teammate Red Wine, Washington State $36
Coiled Wines 2021 Merlot, Snake River Valley $38
Coiled Wines 2021 Sidewinder Red Wine, Snake River Valley $32
Hat Ranch Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $35
Hat Ranch Winery 2020 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $35
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Hat Trick Rosé, Snake River Valley $135
Hat Ranch Winery 2020 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $33
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $24
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Stowe Vineyard Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $23
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Merlot, Snake River Valley $28
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Star Garnet Red Blend, Snake River Valley $20
Indian Creek Winery 2022 Indian Paintbrush Off-Dry Red Wine, Snake River Valley $25
Indian Creek Winery 2021 Stowe Vineyard Estate Reserve Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $32
Kindred Vineyards 2021 Moonlit Cello Idaho Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $35
Kindred Vineyards 2022 Glasswing Butterfly Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $22
Kindred Vineyards 2021 Papa’s Idaho Malbec, Snake River Valley $36
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Gypsy Soul Red Wine Blend, Snake River Valley $36
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Eleven Sails Red Wine Blend 50% Tempranillo 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $37
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Summer Silhouette Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $41
Koenig Vineyards 2020 Lanae Ridge Vineyard Nebbiolo, Snake River Valley $32
Koenig Vineyards 2019 Snake River Valley Cuvée, Snake River Valley $32
Koenig Vineyards 2020 Lanae Ridge Vineyard Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $32
Koenig Vineyards 2022 Viognier, Snake River Valley $20
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Estate Chardonnay, Lewis-Clark Valley $20
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Winemakers Blend, Columbia Valley $28
Lost Sage Family Estate 2020 Aged Merlot, Snake River Valley $24
Lost Sage Vineyard Winery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $34
Owyhee Vista Vineyard 2022 Coalesce White Wine Blend, Snake River Valley $23
Parma Ridge Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $38
Parma Ridge Winery 2020 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley $40
Parma Ridge Winery 2019 Joshua Storm Red Blend, Snake River Valley $38
Parma Ridge Winery 2022 Avielle Rosé of Big Reds, Snake River Valley $25
SCORIA Vineyards 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $32
SCORIA Vineyards 2019 Merlot, Snake River Valley $32
SCORIA Vineyards 2022 Grüner Veltliner, Snake River Valley $18
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $20
Snake River Winery 2018 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $39
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $17
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley $20
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Pinot Meunier, Snake River Valley $16
Snake River Winery 2022 Estate Verdejo, Snake River Valley $16
Snake River Winery 2018 Estate Henry’s Fork Reserve Red Wine, Snake River Valley $39
Snake River Winery 2020 Estate GSM, Snake River Valley $21
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Sangiovese, Snake River Valley $20
Snake River Winery 2021 Estate Tempranillo, Snake River Valley $20
Ste. Chapelle 2022 Open Air Muscat Blanc, Snake River Valley $36
Vale Wine Co. 2020 Syrah, Snake River Valley $33
Veer Wine Project 2021 Venture Red Wine, Snake River Valley $34
Williamson Vineyards 2020 Windmill Red, Snake River Valley $34
Williamson Vineyards 2022 Dry Riesling, Snake River Valley $19
Y Knot Winery 2022 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $25
Y Knot Winery 2020 Blue Noir Red Table Wine, Snake River Valley $29
Y Knot Winery 2020 Meritage Red Table Wine, Snake River Valley $29
Y Knot Winery 2022 Riesling, Snake River Valley $24
Zhoo Zhoo Wine 2021 Brunette Red Table Wine, Snake River Valley $18
Zhoo Zhoo Wine 2021 Snow Bunny B21 Red Wine, Snake River Valley $24
Bronze medal
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2019 Estate Syrah 80%/Mourvèdre 20%, Eagle Foothills $45
Cabin View Winery 2020 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Merlot, Washington $38
Hat Ranch Winery 2022 Estate Pinot Grigio, Snake River Valley $25
Hat Ranch Winery 2020 Hat Trick Red, Snake River Valley $29
Kindred Vineyards 2022 A Souvenir Idaho Viognier, Snake River Valley $22
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2022 Glasswing Butterfly French Oak Chardonnay, Snake River Valley $24
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Mama’s Idaho Merlot, Snake River Valley $36
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2021 Homestead Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley $36
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2022 Love Letter Malbec Rosé, Snake River Valley $24
Kindred Vineyards & Winery 2022 Birgers Blush Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, Snake River Valley $24
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2018 Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills $28
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2021 Merlot, Washington $28
Lindsay Creek Vineyards 2022 Estate Sémillon, Lewis-Clark Valley $20
Owyhee Vista Vineyard NV Estate Cuvée Red Wine Blend, Snake River Valley $24
Parma Ridge Winery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley $42
Parma Ridge Winery 2019 Carménère, Snake River Valley $38
Parma Ridge Winery 2021 Viognier, Snake River Valley $23
Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2018 Reserve Malbec, Washington $35
Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2021 Riesling, Lewis-Clark Valley $19
Vale Wine Co. 2020 Merlot, Snake River Valley $29
Y Knot Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley $28
Y Knot Winery 2022 Blue Rosé, Snake River Valley $23
