As an Idaho native, it’s been so exciting to see Idaho’s wine scene grow. Idaho now has a thriving wine industry with fun wineries in Boise and quite a few within a quick drive away. Did you know there are actually over 50 wineries in Idaho? It’s kind of hard to believe—even for an Idahoan like me!
Idaho’s natural landscape contributes to the production of grapes with intense and concentrated flavors. The climate is surprisingly perfect for making unique wines! You may never have expected it, but many of Idaho’s wineries are award-winning, making Idaho’s wine country a must-visit.
Going on a wine tasting tour with a reputable company will give you the chance to visit the best wineries in the area and allow you to truly experience this little wine region of Idaho—making your trip to Idaho that much more memorable.
This post is dedicated to my experience wine tasting with Snake River Wine Tours and what you can expect when using them as your tour guides around the Idaho wine region, also known as the Sunnyslope Wine Trail.
And while you’re at it, let’s be friends on Instagram @travelingspud and Tiktok!
Wine Tours Boise: My Day Wine Tasting With Snake River Wine Tours
Snake River Wine Tours was hands-down one of the best tours I’ve had in Idaho. It’s owned by a local couple, Corbin and Samantha Maxey who reside in the Sunnyslope Wine Region. Here I am with one of the owners, Samantha!
Both of them are extremely passionate about Idaho wines. So much so that their company, Snake River Wine Tours, was voted “Top 10 Wine Tours in the Country” by USA Today.
The name, Snake River Wine Tours, comes from the fact that all of the wineries they’ll take you to reside in the Snake River Valley around 45 mins drive from Boise.
Not only do they have incredible service, but they also have Mercedes sprinter vans stocked with water and snacks perfect for the afternoon. One of my favorite things about their wine tours is that all tastings are included with their fee. You don’t have to pay for tastings after already paying for your tour which I’ve seen with a few other tours.
For lunch, they will either provide a wonderful charcuterie tray add-on or you can bring your own lunch to picnic-style at any of the wineries! Although they will take requests for wineries, at the moment they will book the wineries that have availability at the time of your tasting. You will stop at 4 different wineries in the afternoon.
Here are some of the wineries we went to!
Snake River Valley Wineries: Kerry Hill Winery
Kerry Hill is one of my all-time favorite Snake River Valley wineries located on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail. The vibe reminds me of my days in San Francisco and Napa Valley and it’s actually one of the newest tasting rooms in the Snake River Valley.
The space is laid-back with great outdoor seating areas and a huge lawn with live music. They also have designed their landscape to attract pollinators (I love this!) and commonly attract owls, bats, and raptors!
Snake River Valley Wineries: Hat Ranch Winery
Hat Ranch Winery was once a family ranch established in 1902 and you can tell because their architecture is inspired by their pioneering heritage. They now focus on small-batch winemaking and have nice outdoor seating that looks over the vineyards.
The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and their red wine is great. Try the Hat Trick Red! A fun quirk about this winery is that people have left hats on different posts in the vineyard so you can go out and see the different kinds!
Address: 15343 Plum Rd, Caldwell, ID 83607
Snake River Valley Wineries: Scoria Vineyards
Scoria Vineyards is a unique tasting room that almost feels like you’re in outer space! I love it because of its uniqueness and modern vibes. They also have a fun and modern tasting room in downtown Boise. Their tasting room in the Snake River Valley offers beautiful views of the Owyhee mountains as well.
Snake River Valley Wineries: Sawtooth Winery
Sawtooth Winery is an award-winning winery located in the Snake River Valley with sweeping views from their tasting room. Plus you can see their sister winery, Ste. Chappelle nearby. They have a nice fire pit outside and a spacious tasting room. This winery produces 10,000 cases of wine each year showcasing Idaho fruit.
Address: 19348 Lowell Rd, Caldwell, ID 83607
Snake River Wine Tours Pricing and Info
At the moment Snake River Wine Tours has two packages. Each of them ranges in price from $115/pp – $140/pp with add-ons for lunch.
Depending on which package you choose you can either join a tour of other wine lovers or do a private party. Each van can hold up to 14 people if you do have a bigger group. You can book with them directly on their site or give them a call. They also have special events listed on their site regularly so be sure to check that.
Where to Stay When Touring the Sunnyslope Wine Trail
I highly recommend staying in downtown Boise and either getting picked up where you are or meeting at a meeting location with Snake River Wine Tours. Then you can come back and end your day at some Boise wineries or some downtown bars.
Here is where I recommend staying:
Airbnb
Here are my top 10 favorite Airbnb’s to rent in Boise and most are downtown or super close!
This is also a super cute barn option that I’ve stayed at in Caldwell. It’s not far from some of the wineries if you want to be out in the country.
Hotels
- Inn at 500 Capitol – This is a super unique hotel and is dog-friendly! Each room has a different fun theme and they even have a wine room perfect for a wine-tasting weekend. See current prices.
- The Grove Hotel – The Grove is right in the center of downtown and has great rooms and a beautiful lobby. See current prices.
- The Modern Hotel – This is an old motel that’s been converted into a hip modern hotel. I love their cocktails and brunch! See current prices.
- Residence Inn by Marriott – I love the location of this hotel. It may be my favorite location of all of the hotels because of its location to BoDo. See current prices.
If you ever need a tour through Idaho’s wine country, be sure to keep in mind Snake River Wine Tours. They are the perfect tour guides if you’re staying for a weekend in Boise or anywhere in the Treasure Valley. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
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