Williamson Orchards & Vineyards

“I’m the wine grower,” remarked 60-something Roger Williamson. Sporting a neatly cropped beard and winning smile, Roger knows his place in the family business. Everyone seems to have a unique role at Williamson Orchards & Vineyards, where Roger and his brother John oversee the 700-acre farm, which produces row crops and fruit, including premium wine grapes. Roger’s daughter Beverly smiled and agreed that each family member has an integral part in the operation. She is in charge of sales and marketing. Roger’s son Michael manages the vineyard. “Even my nephew Patrick is going to Walla Walla Community College to get a degree in enology to learn about winemaking,” noted Roger.

Growing premium grapes is one thing, but you need an experienced winemaker to turn grapes into wine. Fortunately for the Williamsons, their nearby neighbor happens to be one of the most sought-after winemakers in Idaho: Greg Koenig. The relationship is symbiotic. Greg gets much of his fruit from Williamson vineyards, and the Williamsons get about 1,000 cases of award-winning wines in return. As a testament to just how good the Williamsons’ fruit is, it is used to make Koenig Distillery & Winery’s most expensive bottle of wine, which also happens to be the most expensive bottle of Idaho wine on the market. At a mere $50 a bottle, you can be the first kid on the block to own a 2005 Cuvee Amelia Reserve.

Although the Williamsons grow more than just wine grapes, the popularity of those grapes with a number of local wineries (each of which secured long-term contracts for the fruit) led Roger and John to branch out and produce their own wine. You can bet that, from the 38 acres under grape production, the Williamsons reserve the best grapes for their own label. At the Williamson tasting room, WineTrail trekkers can taste riesling, viognier, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and dessert-style wines, all made from estate grapes.

The Williamson fruit stand and tasting room are open June through December. It’s one of the few places where you can find cherries, pears, nectarines and apples alongside cabernet sauvignon. However, product availability varies week to week, and it’s a good idea to call ahead to find out what’s being offered. As the Williamsons say on their website, “Keep in mind, Mother Nature is the one in charge, and we pick by her schedule.”