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Wineries / Breweries

Wineries / Breweries

Featured: Wineries

• Clearwater Canyon Cellars
• Colter's Creek Winery, Inc
• Riverport Brewing
• Merry Cellars
• Basalt Cellars
• Camas Prairie Winery

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Country Concerts, Chamber Music and Championship Racing in North Central Idaho

Posted by: LisaDJenkins -- (Jan 19, 2012 )

Winter is in full swing.  The snow is falling across North Central Idaho today and winter trails are open for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiin...

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2012 World Jet Boat Racing Championships In Idaho!

Posted by: LisaDJenkins -- (Jan 5, 2012 )

March may come in like a lion and out like a lamb but here in North Central Idaho it’s April that is bringing the roar - the roar of jet boats ...

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Upcoming Events

• Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

22 February 20:00 to 25 February 23:45more >>

• 11th Annual Sacred Salmon Ceremony & Friendship Feast

May 1more >>

• 64th Annual Riggins Rodeo & Parade

5 May 00:00 to 06 May 23:59more >>

• Big Water Blowout River Festival

June 2more >>

• Border Days Parade & Rodeo

2 July 00:00 to 04 July 23:59more >>

Click any NCITA Member Winery and Brewery logo to visit their website; non-member vendor logos do not include links to individual websites.  Get Google Map and plan your Wine Tasting & Brew Hopping Tour today!

Did you know.......

Five award-winning wineries located on the Palouse (Moscow, ID and Pullman, WA) and in the Lewis-Clark Valley (Lewiston, ID, and Clarkston, WA) have been making regional, national, and international news, creating a huge fan base along the way?  Few people, even residents, realize this area was a prime grape growing and wine producing region over 100 years ago.

The first grapes were brought into the Lewis-Clark Valley by French born Louis Delsol, who is thought to have passed through Lewiston in the late 1860’s, on his way to the nearby gold fields. He returned a few years later, purchased a plot of land and, in 1872 imported the first grape cuttings to established his vineyard.

Delsol was followed by Robert Schleicher, also a Frenchman, who arrived at Lewiston in 1872 after mustering out of the US Army at age 21.  In 1883, he acquired land on the south side of the Clearwater River, about 3 miles east of Lewiston, and planted his vineyard.  It is estimated that by 1900, Schleicher may have owned as many as 80 acres in grapes.

At the age of 26, German born Jacob Schaefer arrived in Lewiston in 1903, after working his way across the country from New York.  Schaefer acquired 160 acres of land near Lenore, ID, for his vineyard and an additional 20 acres in Clarkston, WA, where he established his winery.

These three men, producing quality wines in the early 1900’s, shaped the region’s early wine industry.  An article in the Lewiston Tribune dated Oct. 28, 1908 states that “…40 varieties of grapes are grown in Lewiston … Wine made from these took 18th prize among 800 of the world’s competitors. These grapes have taken the first prize over California in the last three great world’s fairs.”  Additional articles from the era attest to the continued production of award winning wines from the area.

What happened to stall the growth of the area's promising wine industry?  Prohibition.  By 1909, various Idaho counties were voting themselves dry and 1916 brought the arrival of statewide Prohibition and the demise of a promising wine industry.

For a more complete history of the region’s wine industry, contact the Nez Perce County Historical Society Museum for a copy of "History of Wine in Lewiston" by Robert Wing.

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