Grape harvest yields ‘high quality’ fruit in Idaho AVAs

Winegrapes can be quite finicky. Changes in temperature, too much rain, not enough rain and various other factors can greatly affect the quality and size of a harvest.

Despite the myriad of seasonal quirks, Idaho’s grape growers from all three of the state’s American Viticultural Areas are reporting “high quality fruit yields.”

According to the Idaho Wine Commission, the growing season and budbreak started later than usual in the Treasure Valley region due to frost in spring. The harvest took place in mid-October because of warm weather stretching further into fall.

The better quality yields have growers predicting the 2024 vintage will be a good one.

“Across the state, our Idaho wineries are reporting outstanding grape quality and predicting an excellent 2024 vintage,” said Moya Dolsby, executive director of the Idaho Wine Commission.

Growers at first anticipated an early harvest until the extended warmer weather hit.

“It looked like an early harvest until a cool couple of weeks in September stalled everything just before harvest began,” said Mike McClure at Indian Creek Winery in Kuna. “Then we saw one of the warmest harvest periods I’ve experienced in 20 years. We picked our entire 15-acre vineyard in just four days, while other years this is spread over three weeks.”

McClure added that some of the lots came in lighter because of the spring frost but overall the harvest yields were about average. “Our estate Chardonnay was some of the most pristine, beautiful, textbook fruit I have ever worked with.”

Melanie Krause, the winemaker with Cinder Wines in Garden City echoed McClure’s sentiments.

“That was record fast. Five and a half weeks of harvesting grapes is the fastest I’ve experienced in my career,” she said. “Mother Nature delivered high-quality fruit, and we look forward to big, juicy reds and elegant whites from this vintage.”

Trae Buchert of Dude DeWalt Cellars with vineyards in the foothills around Eagle said he was happy with the harvest’s outcome, stating that they winery was excited about the Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo vintages for the year.

South Central Idaho, the Idaho Wine Commission reported, did not have an early spring frost. Hagerman Valley vineyards in that region stated it had a 30% increase in both reds and whites. In Buhl, Holesinsky Vineyard and Vineyard stated the 2024 vintages would be “outstanding.”

“2024 is going to be an outstanding red wine vintage,” said Caitlin Holesinsky. “The quality is there with plenty of grapes to make amazing Idaho Wine representing our terroir. This year’s stainless steel Chardonnay is going to knock everyone’s socks off.”

In northern Idaho, a January freeze killed some buds, leaving Lewis-Clark Valley AVA with a lesser yield than the other two areas.

“Most of the varieties ripened beautifully and a little early, possibly due to the smaller amount of fruit on the vines compared to earlier years,” said Lane Hewitt with Rivaura Estate Vineyard and Winery. “This is our seventh harvest and the vines continue to mature. We see that in the quality of the fruit and wines and really look forward to the Cabernet Franc this year. It was not harmed from the freeze and tasted amazing coming off the vine.”