Wine Tasting Along Idaho’s Sunnyslope Wine Trail: Day Trip from Boise

Sunnyslope Wine Trail – Where is it?

The Sunnyslope Wine Trail is located west of Boise in the Snake River Valley, with most wineries residing in the city limits of Caldwell. By car, reaching the wineries should take approximately 35 – 40 minutes from the Downtown Boise area, depending on traffic. Since it is such a short distance from Boise, it makes for a great day trip destination!

If you don’t have a designated driver for the day, you can always book a tour with one of the region’s trusted partners, such as Snake River Wine Tours or one of the other companies listed here.

Lunch at The Orchard House

Most of the wineries on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail don’t open until noon, which gives you plenty of time to grab a late breakfast or early lunch before hitting the trail. As I always recommend, filling up on a little food before indulging in wine is always a good idea!

The Orchard House is one of the only restaurants in the immediate area if you want to grab a bite close to the wineries. Since it was so close to our winery stops for the day, we decided to give The Orchard House a go!

Another close by option I would consider in the future is Peaceful Belly, which has an amazing farm café menu.

We filled up on a hearty lunch, indulging in a French Dip Sandwich with Onion Rings and a Meatloaf Sandwich with Sidewinder Fries. I also ordered a delicious cranberry mimosa to kick off our day (channeling that true YOLO energy)!

The meatloaf sandwich was delicious, especially when I poured heaps of jalapeno ketchup all over it! The sidewinder fries are also not to be missed – a visually appealing cut of French fry with amazing flavor. When in Idaho, you’ve got to try all the potatoes right?

The Orchard House also has a ton of fresh pies! We took a couple of pieces of the lemon truffle pie and strawberry rhubarb pie to go. Let me tell you, this was hands down the best strawberry rhubarb pie we’ve ever had. Slices of pie are the perfect snack to go along with some great wine.

Even if you aren’t looking for a full meal, I recommend stopping by The Orchard House and getting yourself a few pieces of pie to enjoy while on the trail!

Wine Stop 1: Koenig Vineyards

Our first winery stop of the day was Koenig Vineyards. Koenig is an elegant winery with a spacious and modern tasting room with great views! While I enjoyed all of the wines at Koenig, I was smitten with their reds. We ended up with a bottle each of their Sangiovese and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

We also sipped on their Riesling ice wine. Believe it or not, it was my first time trying ice wine! Ice wines are sweet and dessert-like, and Koenig’s were as thick as syrup. Our host suggested pouring it over some poached pears, and I think it would also complement a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream.

All in all, Koenig was a great first stop on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail!

Favorite Wines: Sangiovese & Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Fee: $8.00 (non-refundable)

Wine Stop 2: Fujishin Cellars

Our second winery stop of the day was Fujishin Family Cellars, located just a few minutes down the road from Koenig. Fujishin is a casual, unassuming winery located in an old fruit market! It was really quiet when we visited on a Wednesday afternoon. We were the only customers there and had a very relaxing tasting experience!

Fujishin’s wines are both affordable and tasty, and would make a great addition to your Wine Wednesday collection or great for sharing with friends!

Favorite Wines: Tempranillo & Chardonnay
Tasting Fee: $8.00 (non-refundable)

Notes for Visiting Sunnyslope

Here are some extra notes and tips to consider if you plan on doing some wine tasting on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail:

• Seasons/Weather: Sunnyslope wineries are open year round and though the area does get a bit of snow in the winter, the climate is generally pretty mild and is easy accessible. We visited during the fall season with mild temperatures, but I’d love to visit at any time of year in the future!
• Reservations: Reservations are recommended for most wineries, but if you happen to visit on a weekday afternoon like us, you’ll likely have the place all to yourselves and can walk right in! Be sure to check each winery’s website for their policies.
• A Unique Stay: If you’re looking for a unique place to stay when visiting the wineries, check out the glamping tents on the Sawtooth Winery property’s Vino Camp!
• Flying with Wine: If you’re flying out of Boise via Alaska Airlines, you can check a case of wine for free as a mileage program member! Learn more here.