Food & Drink
Southwest Idaho is a destination for food and beverage writers — especially those with an interest in local food communities, family-run farms and hand-crafted beverages.
The Southwest corner lives up to Idaho’s agriculture acclaim, with an abundant water supply from the Snake River, ancient volcanic soil, semi-arid climate and position along the 45th parallel. Our region has ideal conditions for growing grapes, hops, barley, apples and more.
FOOD
Farm-to-fork, incredible ethnic cuisine, year-round adventures – dining well is part of being in Southwest Idaho. In Boise, visit the Basque Block, stroll down 8th Street or taste it all on an Indulge Boise Food Tour. In Caldwell, visit Amano and the local eateries around Indian Creek Plaza. In McCall, Salmon River Brewing, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take a snowcat to dinner at The Bear’s Den at Brundage Mountain Resort.
WINE
Two of Idaho’s three American Viticulture Areas (AVA) are in Southwest Idaho the Snake River AVA and the Eagle Foothills AVA. Visit some of the state’s most renowned wineries and winemakers on the Sunnyslope Wine Trail just outside of Caldwell. Take an urban wine tour through tasting rooms in Garden City and downtown Boise. Visit in June to celebrate Idaho Wine Month and taste wine from around the state during Savor Idaho.
CRAFT BEER & HOPS
Nearly 75% of Idaho’s hops are grown in Southwest Idaho, and it’s home to Mill 95, Idaho’s only hops processing facility. Dozens of breweries have emerged around the region Around here, brewers are quite literally neighbors with the farmers they source ingredients from. Visit in April for Idaho Craft Beer Month or in late summer when hop harvest is underway.
CIDER & SPIRITS
Proximity to the highest quality fruit has spurred a small but growing number of cideries and distilleries. Visit Bardenay on the Basque Block in downtown Boise for a cocktail with house-made vodka, rum or gin – it’s the nation’s first restaurant distillery. In Caldwell, Koenig Distillery combines Old World traditions with locally-sourced fruit to make award-winning eau-de-vie fruit brandies, vodka and whiskey. Southwest Idaho’s only cidery, Meriwether Cider, is family-owned and operated.
