Sawtooth Winery

Sawtooth Winery is one of my favorite places to visit, hang out and savor the wine. Without further ado, I present my “Top Ten Reasons to Visit Sawtooth Winery,” David Letterman style:

10. Ample parking – Whether there are tour buses or Memorial Day weekend visitors to contend with, parking is not an issue here. RV owners are welcomed.

9. Well-heeled parent – Seattle-based Corus Estates & Vineyards is the parent company of Sawtooth Winery. Providing more than deep pockets, it also brings a big-picture vision, marketing clout, and a focus on quality.

8. Supersized wine club – Membership has its privileges and this is especially true with Sawtooth Winery’s wine club. Besides Sawtooth Winery’s goodies, club members have discounted access to Alder Ridge, Battle Creek, Zephina, and Six Prong wines.

7. labels – The Sawtooth range provides the perfect imagery for these labels, but so do the other label images of the fly fisherman, trout and lure. They’re quintessential Idaho.

6. Panoramic views – Clearly one of the best winery views in Idaho, hands down. From the hillside, you have acre upon acre of neatly cropped vineyards giving way to the Owyhee Mountains in the distance.

5. Friendly staff – Staff members welcome you with genuine smiles. It’s obvious that they care.

4. Ideal wedding venue – If you desire an outdoor wedding, complete with beautiful gardens, a gazebo for photo ops, and plenty of space for dancing and dining, Sawtooth Winery fits the bill.

3. Varietal smorgasbord – Sawtooth’s Estate Vineyard and sweeping Skyline Vineyard provide the fruit for a dozen different wines – from dry whites to rich Bordeaux-style reds, as well as dessert wines.

2. Great prices – With Sawtooth’s estate cabernet sauvignon going for $16.99 a bottle, WineTrail trekkers will need plenty of space in the trunk for storing a case or two.

1. Winemaker on a mission – California transplant Bill Murray brings new energy and loads of winemaking experience and training for taking Sawtooth Winery to the next level.

Other WineTrail trekkers will discover their own top ten reasons why Idaho’s second-largest winery (at 20,000 cases produced annually) continues to charm even the most jaded wine tourist. Sawtooth has hit upon the perfect formula for creating a truly memorable and uniquely Idahoan winery experience.