Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/658171
70 Beverage Dynamics • March/April 2016 www.beveragedynamics.com mate is similar to that of Washington's Columbia Valley, with an aptitude for everything from Riesling to Syrah. "The elevation, the volcanic soil, the proximity to the Snake River and its warm, sunny days and cool nights provide us with some of the best conditions for growing premium wine grapes, as well as outstanding ice wines when conditions are just right in late fall," says winemaker Maurine Johnson of Ste. Chapelle Winery, who also serves as matriarch of sorts to Idaho's uncom- monly female-skewing community of winemakers. Idaho's modern wine era was kickstarted in 1975 with the founding of Ste. Chapelle in what is now the Snake River Val- ley AVA. After being snapped up by a number of large players like Constellation and Ascentia, it was acquired by Precept Wines in 2011. As owners of the nearby Sawtooth Winery and extensive Idaho vineyard holdings, this move made Precept Idaho's largest producer and the Northwest's largest private- ly-held wine company. BRITISH COLUMBIA Visiting British Columbia's Okanagan Valley may require a pass- port, but this gorgeous locale is a natural northern extension of Washington's wine country and a must-see destination for wine lovers. Bruce Schoenfeld nailed it in 2009 when he wrote in Travel & Leisure, "imagine Lake Tahoe as a backdrop for the Napa Valley." Stylistically, British Columbia wines are split roughly 50/50 between whites and reds, but the region's climate more reli- ably produces distinctive whites - particularly Chardonnay and Riesling. Pinot Noirs show promise in cooler northern zones, while red Bordeaux varieties perform better further south. The current cur- rency imbalance has caused a surge in Amer- ican visitors, introducing them to BC's wines and creating demand back home. "Tourism from the US is up dramatically," says Ingo Grady, director of wine education for Mission Hill Family Estate. "They're not just skiing and shop- ping here, but snapping up real estate too." Macro-economic factors make it much easier for Canadian producers to sell their wines domestically. For example, Constel- lation Brands is Canada's largest producer, with BC brands like Black Sage and Nk'Mip, but Constellation exports little wine to the U.S. However, a few quality leaders like Mission Hill recog- nize that the path to wine world legitimacy leads south of the border. "Exporting wine means sacrifi cing about a considerable portion our margin," Grady says, "but we choose to do it any- way. Proving ourselves in the world's largest wine market (right next door) is the right thing to do for our long term future." BD Ste. Chapelle Winery Okanagan Lake near Kelowna Riesling. Pinot Noirs show promise in cooler northern zones, while red Bordeaux varieties perform better further south. The current cur- rency imbalance has caused a surge in Amer- ican visitors, introducing them to BC's wines