Snake River Valley
Location:
The Snake River Valley AVA spans southwest Idaho and significant parts of Baker and Malheur counties in eastern Oregon. Collectively, the area is a massive 8,263 square miles or 5.27 million acres (that¹s nearly as large as New Jersey). Its boundaries make up the now dry, 4 million-year-old Lake Idaho, which extends 149 miles northwest to southeast, from the Oregon-Idaho state line to just west of Twin Falls, Idaho. The major Oregon cities include Ontario and Baker City.
The Numbers:
46 Vineyards
22 Wineries
1,107 Vineyard Acres
There is one planted vineyard on the Oregon side of the Snake River Valley AVA. There is heightened interest in this area and Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon, is developing a viticulture and winemaking curriculum to be offered in the near future. Please check back for updates.
Wine History:
Pre-prohibition wine history of the Snake River Valley dates back to the late 1860s when French and German immigrants grew and produced fine wine. It was during this time that Idaho enjoyed a nationally renowned reputation for its wine industry, winning awards as far away as Buffalo, New York. In 1919, however, prohibition shut down the wineries. It wasn’t until 1970 that wine grapes were planted again in Snake River Valley. Today, just 1,107 of the appellation's 5.27 million acres are planted with vinifera vineyards, which means there is a tremendous amount of growth potential. The Snake River Valley became Idaho’s first (and only to date) and Oregon's sixteenth official winegrowing region on April 9, 2007.
Climate:
Located inland, and in the rain shadows of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada and Owyhee mountain ranges, the Snake River Valley receives just 10 to 12 inches of annual rainfall, most of which occurs in winter. This allows vintners to perfectly manage the plants through irrigation during the region’s relatively short (142 days on average) growing season.  This area is also characterized by hot days and cool nights in summer. This drastic diurnal temperature variation helps balance natural acids and sugars, making the grapes ideal for premium winemaking.
Soils:
There are a great variety of soil types in the Snake River Valley, predominantly sand, mud silts, loess and volcanic detritus on top of sedimentary rock. The soil types of the Snake River Valley are so diverse that soil is not a distinguishing factor in this appellation.
Topography:
The Snake River Valley AVA encompasses the now dry, 4 million-year-old Lake Idaho. With relatively low elevation (between 2,165 and 3,412 feet), this basin area appears sunken compared to the surrounding, high-elevation mountains, which exceed 7,000 feet.  Multiple mountain ranges provide a barrier from Pacific Northwest marine influences, which limits the amount of rainfall the Snake River Valley receives.  Vineyard elevations go as high as 3,000 feet ‹that’s higher than any other winegrowing regions in the Northwest). Though, most of the vineyards in Snake River Valley are at elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 feet.
Predominant Varieties:
Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer and Merlot
While You're Here:
The Snake River Valley offers an ideal combination of wine exploration and outdoors adventure. Here you’ll find Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which stretches into Oregon and Idaho, offering white water rafting, jet boating, fishing, and hiking trails. Nearby is the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, which protects one of the world’s densest concentrations of nesting birds of prey. Bring your binoculars and there's a great chance you'll spy falcons, eagles, hawks and owls of all different varieties.

You’re within close driving distances to the Oregon cities of Baker City and Ontario. Baker City is nestled in the valley between the Wallowa Mountains to the east and the Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue Mountains to the west. The city is rich with pioneer and gold rush history and heritage. The city’s magnificently resorted Geiser Grand Hotel, an opulent Victorian style landmark built with gold mine money in 1889, is worth a stop for the night, or for a wine-friendly dinner. And, if you want to mix things up there is an award-winning brewery named Barley Brown’s just down the street.

Ontario, the largest city in Malheur County, has a culturally rich (American Indian, Basque, European, Japanese) history that can be explored at the Four Rivers Cultural Center.  It’s also close to the Leslie Gulch-Succor Creek National Back Country Byway, which winds through beautifully rugged countryside. And if you’re looking for a little pioneer history, you can visit the spot where the Oregon Trail crosses the Snake River into what is today known as Oregon.
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