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Marketing works for, er, Snake River Valley wines

The other evening, I was pouring wines at a charity event. It's safe to say that most of the folks there did not know a lot about wine, so part of my job was to make it educational as well as entertaining.

I brought a couple of bottles from Sawtooth Winery near Nampa, Idaho. A woman came up to the table looking for a glass of red.

"How about a Syrah from Idaho?" I asked with enthusiasm.

She scrunched up her face in a way that indicated she had no interest in an Idaho wine. Ever.

I poured her a glass of Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington's Columbia Valley, and off she went.

Perhaps 10 minutes later, she returned, said she liked the Cab but wanted to try something different.

"How about a Tempranillo from the Snake River Valley?" I asked, not letting on that the winery was the same that made the Syrah she'd rejected.

She accepted the pour, took a sip and let out a big "Mmmmm!"

There just might be something to this whole appellation system. I have heard from a few Idaho winemakers that sales have gotten a lot easier in the past year since the Snake River Valley AVA was approved.

By aperdue at Mar 22 2008 - 5:49pm | Idaho | aperdue's blog | 483 reads

Snake River Valley & Evil Knievel

In my mind the Snake River and Evil Knievel will always be linked. Knievel's rocket motorcycle jump attempt was my only childhood reference for the Snake River.

I'm praying that Snake River Valley AVA will change that!

By keithwebb at Sun, 03/23/2008 - 12:58am | login or register to post comments

Sky Cycle

Keith,

I distinctly recall the whole Evel Knievel era, with him jumping buses, etc., on Wide World of Sports. I especially recall the Snake River attempt and how they broke into the normal programming to say he didn't succeed.

After college, my first job was at a newspaper in Twin Falls, Idaho, so I regularly drove across the bridge over the Snake and could see what was left of the Evel Knievel ramp, which was on private land. It's been nearly 20 years since I've been to Twin Falls, however.

By aperdue at Sun, 03/23/2008 - 1:24pm | login or register to post comments

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