Private Idaho Winery Tours

12/09/2021

This is a bittersweet post to make, and I wasn’t really quite sure how I was going to announce this so I thought it was best to just start with the SWEET…

I have accepted a position with the Idaho Department of Agriculture, program, acting in the capacity of Marketing and Commerce Analyst. In this role, I will be a marketing conduit for local farmers, ranchers, crafters and other artisans to get their message out to consumers and citizens.

I look forward to working with many of you with whom I have already developed relationships, and I look forward to building new connections throughout the State of Idaho going forward!

The BITTER part is that accepting this position means I will have to step back from operating my winery tour business, as it creates a conflict of interest for the work I am very excited to do. I feel very much like the business was just starting to take off, and yet I am tucking her away and putting her to sleep. Trust me, this was not an easy decision to make, but what did help is knowing the relationships I have made on this journey as a local winery tour operator are genuine, and they will only continue to grow stronger as I step into my new role.

I’ll add that it is SWEET because I feel a strong connection to this land, my home state, and know that the work I have been doing to market my winery tour business has led to this opportunity, which will help me achieve some long term personal goals.

Because I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to living local, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity -- and my new role means I can share my love and joy for all things Idaho--from wine and produce to winery tours and vineyard education, to cheesemaking, beekeeping, farmer’s markets, agventures, etc etc etc...!

I will no longer be posting to this account, but I will leave it up as a testament to the fun and sheer joy my guests of Private Idaho Winery Tours has given me this year!

THANK YOU to EVERYONE -- my guests, my associates, my colleagues, the winemakers, the tasting room staff, my friends and family for a truly great run!

CHEERS!

12/08/2021

The sweet caramelized onions of this rustic onion tart would pair beautifully with a rosé or a buttery chardonnay, but don't overlook a juicy Pinot Noir.

I enjoyed Into the Mystic Oregon Pinot Noir (2018) with this meal. OMG so good. Sign up for the newsletter to get the recipe! (Link in bio)

Cheers!

12/06/2021

Nice to see that three Idaho Wineries made this list...Cinder, Telaya and Sawtooth. Who's ready to book a tasting tour?

Our list of the Top 20 Northwest wines of 2021 is led by a marvelous malbec from the Royal Slope of Washington’s Columbia Basin. Lawrence Vineyards' malbec is a marvelous expression of the red grape that's native to the Bordeaux...

12/03/2021

Not only are we the top-rated TripAdvisor tour company in the area, but we are now -- EAR WORMS!

Welcome to the Private Idaho Winery Tours Podcast!
https://anchor.fm/piwinerytours

12/02/2021

Revisting the “What’s on my nightstand?” trend… i read cookbooks like some people read novels. lol 📚😍🍷

Actually, i’ve had The “Wine Lovers Cookbook” for over a decade and it still keeps on giving! And with holiday season 🎄🎅🏽now in full force, i’m certain it will pull through for me again! 🧀🍷🍇
Want to play along? Post a pic of the books on your bedside table, then tag three people and ask, “what’s on your nightstand?”

11/28/2021

Barrel tasting weekend photo dump! Once again, another spectacular day capped off with a stunning Idaho sunset!
HUGE thanks to the Alger’s for their grace and to the folks at Kindred for feeding us the best pizza in the entire Treasure Valley!

11/27/2021

Made an impromptu stop at the new during today’s wine tasting tour… very impressed! Wine and whiskey flights FTW!

11/26/2021

Did y’all wake up early for Black Friday deals? NOT ME! Heck no! I slept in til 7:30 am, still dreaming about yesterday’s delicious charcuterie spread and that awesome chardonnay! But now it’s time to get going and hit the trail! My guests are going to love the barrel tastings today! Woot woot!!

11/25/2021

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s been a fantastic year and i am so grateful to have been able to host such awesome guests — many of whom have become friends! I hope everyone is relishing in the spirit of today — family, friends, food and love! I pray for those who are hurting right now and hope the day brings comfort and surrounds you with love. With deep appreciation, love you guys to the harvest moon and back!!

11/24/2021

"The Snake River Valley winemaking community is young, but vintners make up for their lack of years with ambition and energy. You won’t find a lot of pretension or stuffiness. You will find a lot of downright delicious wine. Here’s your guide to everywhere you should drink, eat, and stay in the nation’s buzziest new wine region."

Offering everything from basque chorizo to huckleberry ice cream to some of the most exciting wine trails in the country, here’s everything to know about wining and dining in the region

11/24/2021

Grace. Grit(s). Gratitude. My grateful heart approves! One last tour before the Thanksgiving festivities begin!! See you on the Wine Trail!

11/24/2021

Sometimes you have to allow your dream to show you what it needs before it can take root. I started the winery tour business earlier this year, after a decade+ of dreaming about it. You see, in 2008, i had an opportunity to purchase an old school bus, which i intended to convert into a wine tour bus. I could so vividly see us caravanning around Idaho’s newly-minted Snake River Valley AVA, hopping from one winery to the next in “vintage” style. Yet, before that dream could get off the ground, the world took a nose dive off the Economic Cliff. Instead of bootstrapping a new business venture, my partner at the time and I decided to take a more conservative approach. After all, we had a family to feed and a home to build and the wine tour business would just have to wait…

But in the subsequent years, as we slowly dug our way out of the financial slump (both globally and personally) we were presented with the opportunity to travel. First we explored more locally, and then ventured out to visit family abroad.

Touring through Washington state, Ireland, Spain…connecting with family and new friends and exploring new (to me) lands that would enhance my life experience as well as my palate…i see now how the derailing of our original plans led to real opportunity, despite my previous intentions, despite my hopeful back-burner dreams. it was the opportunity to get a real world education before venturing into such a risky business. to explore, experience and …come back and appreciate my hometown and the bounty it affords.

Well, long story short… I am currently looking at all the opportunities before me and feeling so grateful and blessed to know that no matter what, Life always has a funny way of working out. Especially when you TRUST it.

Why is it, though, that Tea Tag Wisdom always seems to synchronize with my current contemplations?

Lol…cheers!