September 8, 2017
CapitalPress.com
9
Holesinsky Winery
grows in Magic Valley
By HEATHER SMITH THOMAS
For the Capital Press
Located 4 miles north of
Buhl, Idaho, on the Snake
River canyon rim, this win-
ery was founded by James
Holesinsky.
His father was a chem-
ist and wanted James to
be a chemist, but the son
says he found his passion
in a different sort of effort:
winemaking. In 2001 James
went to University of Cali-
fornia-Davis and complet-
ed the wine program, then
came back and planted 7
acres of grapes at his fam-
ily’s farm.
That was the beginning
of the Holesinsky Vineyard
and Winery.
The first planting of
1,000 Chardonnay grape-
vines was in 2001. In 2002
the vineyard grew with the
addition of 3,000 Syrah
vines, 2,000 Merlot, and
200 Port (Sauzao, Tiuta
Cao, Touragia).
Growth continued in
2006 with 1,000 Cabernet
Sauvignon and 1,000 Ries-
ling vines.
Muscat was added in
2007.
With love for his prod-
uct, dedication to his family
and comprehension of wine
quality, chemistry and farm-
ing, James Holesinsky be-
came a winemaker.
“When someone buys my
wine I want them to taste it
and know that this is what
wine is supposed to taste
like,” said Holesinsky.
Eric Smallwood came
to the winery in January,
focusing on growing their
wine market.
“We just released our
2016 wine,” said Small-
wood. “We have a new
Riesling and a new Rose
(Cabernet franc) that have
been a big hit.”
This year, at Savor Ida-
ho — an annual fundrais-
er in Boise for the Idaho
Wine Commission at the
Idaho Botanical Gardens —
Holesinsky Vineyard and
Winery was among 32 win-
eries offering their wares.
The Idaho Grape Grow-
ers and Wine Producers
Commission hosted the
wine and food event on June
11, featuring many Idaho
wineries and restaurants.
Savor Idaho gives con-
sumers a unique opportunity
to savor the best Idaho has
to offer in wine and food.
“Tickets are $100 per
person. Everyone gets a
tasting glass so they can try
all the wines and report their
tastings. Each winery can
bring up to three wines, and
we were pleased because
our new Rose made a big
splash,” said Smallwood.
“People kept coming to our
booth saying they’d heard
other people talking about it
and wanted to try it.”
The winery utilizes di-
rect marketing.
“We self-distribute,” he
said. “I am the marketing
guy, sales guy, events guy,
et cetera, focusing on south
central Idaho. We are the
farthest-east winery in Ida-
ho, and the closest to Twin
Falls, becoming established
as the local winery for the
Magic Valley.”
Holesinsky wines are in
many stores and restaurants
in the Magic Valley and
Boise.
“We participate in as
many events as we can.
Many people find us on
Facebook,” he said.
The tasting room at the
winery is open by appoint-
ment only.
“We try to get groups of
four or more and find a time
that works for everyone.
People enjoy the scenic set-
ting and view from the can-
yon rim,” said Smallwood.
“We are planting more
grapes, including some at a
golf course in Filer, Idaho.
We also have grapes at Ha-
german; those vineyards are
growing grapes for us.”
They also released a
unique bottle of wine —
called Blackout — for this
summer’s solar eclipse.
“These bottles are screen
printed at Boise,” he said.
They sold the wine along
the path of the total eclipse.
“It will be a souvenir for
people to take home with
them,” said Smallwood.
He became interested
in winemaking many years
ago.
“James and I grew up
together and went to high
school together. I moved
back to Idaho after a decade
gone, and James thought I’d
be a good fit for the win-
ery,” he said. “He’s still the
winemaker but I am current-
ly learning to be the wine-
maker, while taking care of
many other things that need
to be done.
“We are kicking butt and
taking names, gearing up
for future business,” Small-
wood said.
The Idaho wine industry
has boomed in recent years;
there are now 58 wineries in
the state.
“Many grapes are grown
here now, and thankful-
ly our grapes survived the
winter,” he said.
“Wineries in the Nam-
pa-Sunnyslope area really
got hammered,” he said.
“We were lucky and all our
grapes came through it, so
we are counting our bless-
ings.
“This winter put them to
the test.”
Heather Thomas/For the Capital Press
From left, James Holesinsky, Caitlin Holesinsky and Eric Smallwood. Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery
is in Buhl, Idaho.
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