Woodriver Cellars

Owner Dave Buich must know a thing or two about having fun. Where else can you go to play bocce while juggling a glass of chardonnay? Some folks see wine as an end in itself, but others view wine as a complement to the good things in life — be it food, music, or bocce. Clearly, the spacious grounds of Woodriver Cellars are all about enjoying life’s pleasures — with wine in hand, of course. As the winery itself explains in its bio on Twitter.com, “Woodriver Cellars combines award-winning wine, fun events, live music, stunning art, and beautiful grounds to develop the total sensory experience.” Bingo.

All that’s true, but it’s also clear that the centerpiece of Woodriver Cellars is its wine.

Located in Eagle, Idaho, Woodriver Cellars’ renovated 800-square-foot tasting room provides a bistro-like setting for tasting wine (often accompanied by live music). Using grapes from Woodriver Vineyards, located at an elevation of 2,200 feet in the Snake River AVA, Neil Glancey creates premium small-lot wines. It’s a manageable assortment to sample and includes delectable riesling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, a crisp rosé, Bordeaux reds, and a surprising port-style dessert wine. I say surprising because this delightful drink gave me the urge to retire to the study, don a smoking jacket and light up a cigar.

Once fortified with Woodriver Cellars wine, make a point of walking the spacious grounds to check out the facilities. Included on your tour (depending upon the season) are gardens fragrant with wisteria and roses, four bocce courts, and a 6,000-square-foot tent for hosting weddings, corporate events, or swanky art shows. Time permitting, peek into the generously sized bridal room for prenuptial preparations; those floor-to-ceiling mirrors are always a hit. For the guys, I suspect that the groom’s party may find solace in the spacious Barrel Room, where they might have toasted the lucky couple (or gotten toasted) the night before at the rehearsal dinner.

At this point in your visit, you should have some appreciation for Woodriver’s slogan, “There’s always something happening at Woodriver Cellars.” If not, I recommend that you go back to the tasting room and order a glass of its reserve Bordeaux blend. With its rich cherry and black pepper flavors, long finish, and perfectly balanced tannins, it might just inspire you to lob a few bocce balls.