The Wine Knows

The Winery at Eagle Knoll in Eagle, Idaho, has been purchased by a local businessman and developer.

The Winery at Eagle Knoll was Wine Press Northwest's 2004 Idaho Winery to Watch because of the high-quality wines it produced in its first couple of vintages.

When the Wine Press Northwest crew toured Southern Idaho later that year, our entire group was taken aback by the beauty of the facility and grounds at Eagle Knoll. This, obviously, was a winery setting itself up for success - not only with wines, but also with tourism and events. It had a stage and seating area for concerts, as well as a lovely tasting room.

Dave Buich, the new owner, has hired Steve Guerber as the winery's general manager. Guerber is a current city councilman and former mayor of Eagle, which bodes well for the region's attitude toward wine tourism.

This spring, Eagle Knoll winemaker Vernon Kindred was a judge at the annual Northwest Wine Summit, and I got to spend a bit of time getting to know him during meals and breaks. He brought some of his wines, including a stellar Riesling.

If you find an opportunity to tour the emerging Snake River Valley wine region, be sure to put The Winery at Eagle Knoll on your itinerary.