Food notes: Idaho wineries get accolades at prestigious wine summit
Five Idaho wineries won gold medals at the Pacific Northwest Wine Summit on May 4-6 in Oregon. It's the largest wine competition in the region.
Idaho wines won the highest percentage of medals for their entries, said Parks Redwine, who founded this competition in 1996. With 63 entries, Idaho wines took 47 medals. A few awards are still to be announced. These are final:
® Cinder Winery's Melanie Krause won gold and Best Rose for her 2008 Cinder Rose ($14.99).
® Winemaker Greg Koenig was a big winner, taking a total of nine medals, including gold for his Koenig Cuvee Amelia Reserve Syrah ($50) and for the Bitner Vineyard Riesling ($12) he also makes.
® John Danielson of Vale Wine Co. made a splash by winning a gold for his first vintage 2008 Riesling ($14).
® Sawtooth winemaker Bill Murray won gold for his Reserve Cabernet ($24.99).
Other winning Idaho wineries: 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, Davis Creek Cellars, Indian Creek Winery, Miceli Vineyards and Winery, Parma Ridge Vineyards and Snake River Winery in the Snake River Valley; Pend d'Oreille Winery in Sandpoint; Frenchman's Gulch in Ketchum; and St. Rule Fermenting in Weiser.
Find a complete list of awards at IdahoStatesman.com.
NEW COFFEE SPOT
Shamrock Coffee, at 9050 W. Overland Road, Boise, has new owners who are excitedly changing the formula. Randy and Lori Welker and their daughter Kristin, who is the manager, opened Shamrock on May 5. They sell their own brand of coffee and Stasero syrups. And they have invented several Irish-named specialty drinks, including the Blarney Stone (Irish cream and chocolate) and the Dublin (warm honey and vanilla).
Randy and Lori Welker, who grew up in Boise, moved back from California to open their own business. They are teaming with chef Bill Green of Focaccia's for sandwiches, wraps, cookies and some pastries.
Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Information: 322-0730.
JENNY AT THE LINEN MARKET
David Hale's new Sunday market at the Linen Building in Boise will add Jenny's Lunch Line and Metro Gourmet Catering to the menu. The popular Downtown eatery will serve specialities from its menu, along with beer, wine and mimosas.
The market takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the third Sunday of each month at the Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St., Boise, and features an eclectic mix of artisan and food vendors The next installment is Sunday, May 17.
SUN VALLEY WINE AUCTION
The event is the only annual fundraiser for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and consistently ranks as one of the top 10 charity wine auctions nationally.
The festival runs Thursday, July 23, through Saturday, July 25, with intimate wine dinners, public wine tastings, a picnic and a glittering gala, all in and around Ketchum.
Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, May 18.
Individual tickets can be purchased online at www.sunvalleycenter.org: $40 for the public tasting; $80 for the picnic and concert; $125 for the wine symposium; $500 for the gala dinner and auction; and $600 per person for each of the vintner dinners. Grand Cru full access passes are $2,000; Premier Cru passes are $1,000 and can be purchased by calling (208) 726-9491.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR?
We're sure we missed a few in our roundup of happy hours that ran April 10 in Scene. Submit your own happy hour suggestions to pcarson@idahostatesman.com. We'll update the online list later this month.