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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182671
Title: Geology and Wine 11. Terroir of the Western Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA

Author
item GILLERMAN, VIRGINIA - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
item WILKENS, DAVID - BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
item Shellie, Krista
item BITNER, RON - BITNER VINEYARDS

Submitted to: GeoScience Canada
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2005
Publication Date: 3/1/2006
Citation: Gillerman, V., Wilkens, D., Shellie, K., Bitner, R. 2006. Geology and Wine 11. Terroir of Idaho's Western Snake River Plain, USA. GeoScience Canada. 33(1):37-48.

Interpretive Summary: This article explores the unique climate, soils, and viticultural practices that shape the terroir of Idaho’s principal wine grape-growing district. Most Idaho wine grape vineyards are located in the Western Snake River Plain (WSRP) rift basin (~43°N, ~114°W). The soils in this area are derived from lake, river, or wind-blown sediments. The WSRP has an interesting geologic history that involves a series of volcanic events interspersed with a series of ancient lakes that occured between 15 and 1 million years ago. The most famous series of ancient lakes is referred to as Lake Idaho. The WSRP has a semi-arid, mid-latitude steppe climate that is distinguished from other American Viticultural Areas in the Western United States by its low annual precipitation, short growing season, and low winter minimum temperature. Wine grapes in this region are European type cultivars grown on their own roots. Wine grape acreage in Idaho has increased during the last 10 years and is currently estimated at about 500 ha with white wine cultivars comprising about 60% of production.

Technical Abstract: This article explores unique factors that shape the terroir of Idaho’s principal wine grape-growing district. Most Idaho wine grape vineyards are located in the Western Snake River Plain (WSRP) rift basin (~43°N, ~114°W) on soils derived from lake, river, or wind-blown sediments, volcanic events, ancient Lake Idaho, and Quaternary stream to flood-related landscapes. The semi-arid, mid-latitude steppe climate of the WSRP is distinguished from representative American Viticultural Areas in the Western United States by its low annual precipitation, short growing season, and low winter minimum temperature. The WSRP is growing European cultivars on their own roots under ‘regulated deficit irrigation’. Wine grape acreage in Idaho is estimated at about 500 ha with white wine cultivars comprising about 60% of production.