Kerry Hill Winery

Kerry Hill Winery in Wilder, Idaho, pairs estate-grown wines with a farm setting in the Sunny Slope region of the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). Its 30-acre vineyard supplies most of the fruit, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. The black-and-white Kerry Hill sheep raised on the property give the winery its name; views stretch toward the Owyhee Mountains.

Winemakers Tim Harless, co-founder of Idaho’s Hat Ranch Winery, and Isabelle Dutartre bring different backgrounds to the cellar. Dutartre’s experience includes Burgundy’s Joseph Drouhin and Oregon’s De Ponte Cellars; her work here covers reserve Bordeaux varieties and Pinot Noir made from Oregon’s Willamette Valley grapes. Beyond the vines, a wildlife habitat supports bees, owls, bats and raptors. Kerry Hill holds Salmon Safe and LIVE certifications, along with Certified Wildlife Habitat status through the National Wildlife Federation.

This is a place for an afternoon picnic rather than a hurried tasting-room stop. Set wine flights are available without reservations Thursday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Guests can bring outside food, folding chairs and blankets for the lawn, and live music is a regular feature. Supervised children are welcome, while leashed dogs stay outdoors. Heaters, blankets and a fire pit extend the outdoor season into cooler weather.