Photo by Guy Hand
Agricultural weekly The Capital Press says “Grape lovers in [Idaho's] Treasure Valley no longer have to travel outside the area to attend viticulture classes.”
According to the paper, an introductory course involving both classroom and vineyard work began this fall at the Treasure Valley Community College just across the border in Ontario, Oregon.
“Some of the interest has undoubtedly been driven by recent growth in the Idaho wine industry,” says the Capital Press. ”There are 40 wineries in the state now, up from 38 in 2008. Grape plantings continue to rise. The state has about 1,600 vineyard acres, not all of them yet in production.”
That growth is no doubt why writer Steve Roberts thought he had enough material to publish “WineTrails of Idaho” this fall as well.
“One huge advantage to wine-trekking through Idaho” Roberts tells the Capital Press “is that you don’t have to battle the hordes of other wine tourists you would encounter in Napa or on a Thanksgiving weekend in the Willamette Valley. Along Idaho’s uncrowded byways, you might be the only visitor to a winery during your tasting stop.”
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Guy Hand is a writer, public radio producer and photographer specializing in food and agriculture. |
