CALDWELL, Idaho – A longtime Nampa winery – and one of Idaho’s largest producers – made the top wine at the 2011 Idaho Wine Competition.
Sawtooth Winery’s 2010 Estate Gewürztraminer won best in show at the competition, held Monday at Ste. Chapelle in Caldwell. Woodriver Cellars in Eagle won best red wine for its 2008 Cabernet Franc.
Ste. Chapelle’s 2008 Late Harvest Riesling was deemed the best dessert wine, and Williamson Vineyards in Caldwell won best rosé for its 2010 Blossom Rosé of Sangiovese.
Eight professional judges considered 170 wines from Idaho during the competition, conducted by Wine Press Northwest, a quarterly consumer magazine based in Washington state. The competition was organized by the Idaho Wine Commission.
The judges were: Leil Cardoza of Boise Co-op; Ilene Dudunake of A New Vintage Wine Shop in Meridian; Kathryn House, a Master of Wine candidate from Boise; Dixie Huey, a wine consultant in Vancouver, Wash.; Winnie Alberg, a wine judge in Ellensburg, Wash.; Mike Rader, a financial consultant in Kennewick, Wash.; Ken Robertson, a wine writer in Kennewick, Wash.; Dave Seaver, a wine judge in Richland, Wash.
Panel moderators were Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor; Jon Bauer, Wine Press Northwest editor-at-large; and Andy Perdue, Wine Press Northwest editor in chief..
Here are the complete results:
Best in show/Best white/Gold
Sawtooth Winery 2010 Estate Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley, $9
Best red/gold
Woodriver Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc, Snake River Valley, $25
Best dessert/gold
Ste. Chapelle 2008 Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $20
Best rosé/gold
Williamson Vineyards 2010 Blossom Rosé of Sangiovese, Snake River Valley, $12
Double gold
Snake River Winery 2009 Arena Valley Vineyard Syrah, Snake River Valley, $17
Koenig Vineyards 2009 Riesling Ice Wine, Snake River Valley, $20
Gold
Cold Springs Winery 2006 Astrol-ogy Merlot, Snake River Valley, $12
Cinder Wines 2009 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $27
Koenig Vineyards 2008 Alden Cuvée Private Reserve, Snake River Valley, $50
Camas Prairie Winery 2011 Raspberry Mead, Idaho, $14
Snake River Winery 2010 Arena Valley Vineyard Riesling, Snake River Valley, $10
Cinder Wines 2010 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $18
Silver
Ste. Chapelle NV Sparkling Riesling, Idaho, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Muscat Canelli, Snake River Valley, $12
Snake River Winery 2009 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Sangiovese, Snake River Valley, $20
Huston Vineyards 2009 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $27
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Merlot American, $25
Colter’s Creek Winery 2009 Syrah Columbia Valley, $12
Coiled Wines 2009 Sidewinder Syrah, Snake River Valley, $25
Koenig Vineyards 2008 Amelia Cuvée Reserve Syrah, Snake River Valley, $50
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Malbec, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2007 Freepons Vineyard Malbec Washington, $28
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Malbec Washington, $25
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Cabernet Franc, Idaho, $28
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $15
Ste. Chapelle 2008 Winemakers Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $11
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $24
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $26
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $25
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $28
Woodriver Cellars 2008 Cal-Malbec, Snake River Valley, $25
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Merlot/Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $22
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Couloir Cuvée, Snake River Valley, $17
Colter’s Creek Winery 2009 Koos•Koos•Kia Red, Snake River Valley, $16
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Syrah/Mourvèdre, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2008 Bistro Rouge Washington, $12
Woodriver Cellars 2007 Red Meritage, Snake River Valley, $18
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Petit Verdot, Snake River Valley, $24
Fujishin Family Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $20
Fraser Vineyards 2009 Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $24
Cinder Wines 2009 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $28
Fujishin Family Cellars 2008 Mourvèdre, Snake River Valley, $20
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $18
Indian Creek Winery 2010 White Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $12
Cinder Wines 2010 Dry Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Sawtooth Winery 2010 Estate Pinot Gris, Snake River Valley, $13
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Mountain Syringa, Snake River Valley, $12
Colter’s Creek Winery 2010 Riesling, Idaho, $10
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Reserve Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Indian Creek Winery 2010 White Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Sawtooth Winery 2010 Estate Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Williamson Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Huston Vineyards 2010 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $24
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Winemakers Series Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $11
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $9
Indian Creek Winery 2010 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $10
Bronze
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Winemaker Series Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley, $9
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Estate Roussanne, Snake River Valley, $15
Indian Creek Winery 2009 Pinot Noir, Snake River Valley, $16
Williamson Vineyards 2009 Sangiovese, Snake River Valley, $18
Vale Wine Co. 2009 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $20
Woodriver Cellars 2008 Merlot, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2008 Reserve Merlot, Snake River Valley, $22
Frenchman’s Gulch 2007 Syrah Washington, $25
Ste. Chapelle 2009 Winemakers Series Syrah, Snake River Valley, $11
Vale Wine Co. 2009 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $22
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2009 Reserve Syrah Washington, $30
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2008 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $15
Zhoo Zhoo 2006 Model Y06 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $19
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2007 Wood River Vineyard Malbec, Snake River Valley, $28
Colter’s Creek Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc, Idaho, $28
Camas Prairie Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $18
Indian Creek Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $25
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2008 Meyer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Washington, $35
Snyder Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $11
Koenig Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Hells Canyon Winery 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $30
Cold Springs Winery 2008 Chronology Merlot Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20
Cinder Wines 2010 Laissez Faire, Snake River Valley, $17
Zhoo Zhoo NV Brunette, Snake River Valley, $10
Snyder Winery 2007 Midnight Train to Ketchum, Snake River Valley, $11
Cinder Wines 2009 Cabernet Merlot, Snake River Valley, $27
Williamson Vineyards 2007 Homestead Red, Snake River Valley, $18
Lost West Winery NV Old Shed Red, Snake River Valley, $10
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2009 Heidi’s Blend Red, Snake River Valley, $25
Huston Vineyards 2009 Chicken Dinner Red, Snake River Valley, $18
Bitner Vineyards 2008 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $27
Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2009 Renaissance Red, Snake River Valley, $23
Snyder Winery 2008 Ruby LaRue Soft Red, Snake River Valley, $11
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2003 Melange, Snake River Valley, $22
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Carménère, Snake River Valley, $25
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Blauer Zweigelt, Snake River Valley, $15
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Estate Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $18
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Barbera, Snake River Valley, $18
Snake River Winery 2008 Arena Valley Vineyard Grenache, Snake River Valley, $18
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Petite Sirah, Snake River Valley, $25
Ste. Chapelle 2010 Special Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $9
Colter’s Creek Winery 2009 Late Harvest Riesling, Idaho, $12
Sawtooth Winery 2007 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Snake River Valley
Indian Creek Winery NV White Port, Snake River Valley
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2010 Reserve Rosé, Snake River Valley, $15
Cinder Wines 2010 Rosé, Snake River Valley, $14
Ste. Chapelle 2009 Winemakers Series Gewürztraminer, Snake River Valley, $9
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2007 Estate Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $16
Parma Ridge Vineyards 2009 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $13
Williamson Vineyards 2009 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $15
Fujishin Family Cellars 2010 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $15
Fraser Vineyards 2010 Willamson Vineyards Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17
Lost West Winery NV Old Shed White, Snake River Valley, $10
Huston Vineyards 2010 Chicken Dinner White, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Coyotes High Desert White, Snake River Valley, $12
3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2010 Reserve Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Blue Pine 2009 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $1
Bitner Vineyards 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Riesling, Snake River Valley, $14
Snake River Winery 2009 Cobble Hill Block Estate Arena Valley Vineyard Riesling, Snake River Valley, $13
Cold Springs Winery 2009 Phren-ology Riesling, Snake River Valley, $10
Colter’s Creek Winery 2009 Chardonnay, Idaho, $12
Snake River Winery 2010 Arena Valley Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $12
Vale Wine Co. 2010 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $16
Bitner Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $16
Pend d’Oreille Winery 2009 Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $20
Sawtooth Winery 2009 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Snake River Valley, $15
