Coeur d’Alene Offers Best of Idaho Wineries

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is a beautiful lakefront town that welcomes year-round visitors. Take time while there to sample wines from Idaho wineries.

Boating, shopping, relaxing, and dining, oh my! To partake in such merry pastimes is to enjoy just another day in the picturesque city of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Year-round, the city offers locals and visitors the opportunity to spend a day on the lake and an evening downtown. Cruise the waters at Christmas or admire the summertime street art at your leisure. However, leave time to stop in and sample delicious wines from some incredible Idaho wineries.

As for dining? Coeur d’Alene hosts many restaurants, bars, and clubs serving up dish after dish of exceptional, unique fare. From the ahi tuna appetizer at Crafted, whimsically called Rainbows and Tunacorns, to the Spaghetti Pomodoro entrée on the menu at Tito’s, the city is more than qualified to feed your appetite. Alongside such fantastic food and charming atmosphere, a third item at the table is featured prominently in the hospitality experience. That item is wine. By the glass, by the bottle, by yourself, there is never a moment that doesn’t call for at least a taste of that enological elixir, especially within view of such breathtaking vistas and in the company of people as excited to be there as you.

Fortunately, wine is about as easy to find in Coeur d’Alene as a good time. With that said, pour yourself a glass and take note. I’m here to let you in on a few of my favorite places to enjoy wine in Coeur d’Alene; these are sure to make your first or next visit anything but your last.

Idaho Wineries—Castaway Cellars

Located inside the miniature mall known as the Shops across from the Coeur d’Alene Resort, is Castaway Cellars. The tactfully positioned tasting room is ready to receive guests passing through the mall on their way to and from the resort. Drawing attention with a bold rustic style and a regionally relevant fly-fishing theme, the tasting room is hard not to notice. Taking my seat at the bar, I had a choice to make. I could start with a flight of three or go for a flight of six. With a full day of tasting still ahead of me, I opted for the flight of three. I selected to taste the 2021 Rosé of Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Ripple Red Cuvee, and the 2017 Hook Red Blend.

All three bottles look fantastic on my wine rack, by the way. I paired the wine with my standard charcuterie board, particularly enjoying the cherry and chocolate notes of the 2017 Hook with the crumbly texture and subtle, salty taste of the English cheddar.

Enjoying rosé all day at Castaway. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

LiveforBlu Gallery and Wine Bar

Art and wine are natural allies, like a bold cabernet sauvignon and a tender tomahawk steak. As the name more than suggests, LiveforBlu seizes this opportunity. The tasting room functions as both an art gallery and a wine bar. The art featured and for sale is eclectic in terms of theme. It showcased vistas of the Northwest and views of the ocean and cityscapes from around the world. Simultaneously taking in the gallery and a flight of five red wines, I was particularly impressed by a piece featuring Mount Spokane and a 2019 Juggernaut Cabernet Sauvignon. The cabernet was resplendent with aromas of blackberry and anise. I had visions of a dark chocolate cake paired with the wine dancing in my head, and I couldn’t leave the bottle behind.

Selecting a flight at LiveforBlu. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Studio 107

Just next door, Studio 107 dabbles in a similar trade, offering art, custom jewelry, and, you guessed it, wine! I opted for a window seat and a glass of the 2021 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy as the day started to wind down. Citrus starred as the defining aroma of the wine, while tropical fruit, particularly pineapple, dominated in the flavor category. Naturally, I needed a cheese board to taste alongside my sauvignon blanc. The almonds and Gruyere cheese complemented the wine. The combination donated flavors of earth and cream to the gentle floral and fruit flavors of the wine. This pairing made for a sensory match of both aroma and taste.

Waiting on a glass of wine at Studio 107. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Stylus Wine and Vinyl Bar

Taking a moment to step away from the city’s downtown scene, I ventured north to Stylus Wine and Vinyl Bar. A Coeur d’Alene wine scene icon, Stylus specializes in showcasing the icons of the music scene, from Billy Joel to ABBA to Amy Winehouse. If the album covers and fan art plastered around the quirky tasting room weren’t enough to convince me of this joint’s penchant for pop, the collection of vinyl organized behind the bar sold it for me.

The featured flight of the weekend was a three-part act. It began with a 2021 Sonder Roussanne, moved into a Field Recordings ‘Skins’ Orange Wine, and finished with a Field Recordings ‘Freddo’ Sangiovese. My order of smoked gouda and spiced nuts paired exceptionally well with the orange wine, a glass bursting with aromas of flower blossoms and apricots.

Perusing the vinyl and wine collection at Stylus. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Coeur d’Alene Cellars Winery, One of the Top Idaho Wineries

Next, I hopped, skipped, and jumped westward to visit Coeur d’Alene Cellars Winery. An elegant space, it is decorated to reflect the nature that surrounds the city. The tasting room features most notably paintings and photos of the area. The winery’s labels even depict shots of animals native to the region and nature scenes, including rivers, mountains, and forests. The tasting room is prepared to entertain tourists and locals, hosting events from live music to golf tournaments and wine tastings!

As this third stop was my prime objective, I opted to taste three wines from the selection offered. The queue consisted of the 2021 ‘Vio’ Viognier, the 2019 ‘Mo’ Mourvedre, and the 2018 Riverbend. I enjoyed a plate of pita chips with a feta hummus dip as an edible accompaniment. The appetizer was defined by salt and pepper, flavors that proved the perfect complement to those of the viognier, accentuating the floral and orange notes of the wine.

Pulling up a chair at Coeur d’Alene Cellars. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Possibilities

Arguably the premier wine shop of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Possibilities should be called ‘Probabilities.’ You’re more likely than not to find exactly the thing you’re looking for when you step inside. Having occasion to visit as the evening’s guest sommelier, I was immediately taken in by the extensive selection. The shop not only offers wine but also food and merchandise. One of my favorite bottles the shop sells, and one of the wines I was most excited to share with the tasters that evening, is the 2018 Skull and Chain Cabernet Sauvignon from Browne Family Vineyards. Shamelessly flaunting heavy fruit aromas of black cherry and sharp flavors of blackberry, the Skull and Chain was served as the finale of the tasting that evening. In my opinion, I saved the best for last.

Shopping for wine at Possibilities. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Beverly’s, an Incredible Restaurant and Another Top Idaho Winery 

Beverly’s overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene from the seventh floor of the Coeur d’Alene Resort. A chic combination of restaurant, lounge, and, yes, wine cellar, the place is a wine enthusiast’s dream. First, I was treated to an impromptu tour of the wine library kept beneath the restaurant, thanks to the incredible hospitality of one of Beverly’s fabulous sommeliers. That evening I came the closest I ever had to a $10,000 bottle of wine, a relic of World War II. I enjoyed a couple of glasses of the Les Allees Du Vignoble Petit Chablis in the lounge. Soft aromas of flower blossoms and crisp flavors of pear and green apple paired seamlessly with incredibly herb-driven and tangy parmesan truffle fries. The appetizer may or may not have been repeatedly ordered throughout the evening.

Posing beside a $10,000 bottle in Beverly’s wine library. Photo by Meghan Fitzgerald

Articles related to Coeur d’Alene and Fabulous Idaho Wineries

Get into a Coeur d’Alene State of Mind with a Taste, Glass, or Bottle of Wine!

To visit Coeur d’Alene is to experience a cultural collision of everything from food to art to music to libations. I had only to step inside any one of the city’s many tasting rooms and wine shops to enjoy most, if not all, of these epicurean treats.

That’s not even to mention the merchandise you almost feel obligated to peruse and purchase if only to take a piece of the whirlwind wine adventure home. I have several trophy bottles by which to remember my weekend in Coeur d’Alene.

The bottles are always my favorite souvenirs to take home after a day of tasting because, while wine can be aged, wine is not ageless. There will come a day when the bottle comes up empty, which is usually the same day to begin planning a return trip. After all, if a visit to Coeur d’Alene leaves you with anything, it’s a reason to go back. So when planning your next trip to visit great Idaho wineries or wine tasting elsewhere in the US, let Wander with Wonder be your guide.

Coeur d’Alene Boasts Wines From Top-Notch Idaho Wineries