Bitner Vineyards

Came here for my second time and I was underwhelmed. I had remembered this as one of my favorite little wineries, but I didn’t like a single wine enough to even buy a glass. Although the man that works the counter is very friendly and likable, he needs another person back there with him because this was the slowest service we received all day from our winery hopping tour. The pours are very small, and the $ 5 tasting fee does not get waived with a bottle purchase like the other wineries offer. I would return again, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.

Very modest and cute. Adorable dog to greet you, along with adorable people. Great homey feel, great view, great wines.

This winery is a great place to go and sample fine wines. There’s a monster patio with lots of seating and covered umbrellas. It’s a great place to bring food and sample wines, with an amazing view of the valley and a very friendly staff.

Great vineyard to visit! Great prices! $ 5 to taste 4 whites and 5 reds. Only 30 minutes away from Meridian. Our tasting host was also great! He’s a character. The view outside was beautiful. Would be so nice to visit during summer. Wine bottles range from 15 to 28. But it’s worth it though! Bought 2 bottles a few minutes ago. Can’t wait to come back! Definitely worth it.

I have been out to Bitner Winery three times now and every time it has been sensational! Great views, wonderful service and great local wine! Perfect for picnicking and relaxation. A true gem just 30 min away from Boise. We celebrated my friends Birthday and shared a few bottles of Chardonnay which was perfect on a warm day.
Not only are the views, wine, and staff amazing — but the also had a massage therapist out offering chair massages for $ 1.00 a minute. such a great idea! Absolutely loved my experiences there.

Any discussion of Bitner Winery has to start with mention that they have the very best view of the Snake River Valley of any winery in the area. The patio cantilevers over the canyon, with vineyards growing right below.
From the splendor of the view, one moves on to the wine, service and atmosphere: all superior.
Take in Bitner on a warm summer evening when the breeze is working its way up and out of the valley.

Awesome winery with a patio that has a gorgeous view overlooking the vineyard. Wines are great and Mr. Bitner himself is willing to talk about the wines with you. Introduced to this winery by my parents, who spent 2 nights at the Bitner Bed and Breakfast for their anniversary. If there is one vacation they talk about it is the great hospitality they received at Bitner Vineyards!

Menopause Merlot. Laugh. I dare you. In the midst of a number of women of a certain age who were inquiring about that wine at the tasting room when we visited. That Dr Ron Bitner, an entomologist with special interest in bees, and his wife Mary don’t take themselves too seriously is communicated in the name Mary assigned their Merlot. That they are serious about winemaking comes through in the quality of what is in the bottle for each of their wines. Although not all wines were in a style that is our preference, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Bitner Vineyards tasting room and recommend it.
BACKSTORY
The winery was established thirty years ago with a focus on planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. (Syrah in the States, but Ron spent a good amount of time working in Australia and hence the Aussie name for that varietal.) They now use the grapes to make their own wines and also sell them to other local vintners.
TASTING ROOM & DRILL
Located on the site of the winery, the tasting room has a welcome vibe and a lovely deck out back where you can take in the views. Tasting fee is only $ 5 and waived with purchase. Tastes are provided in good quality stemware. Wine is also for sale by the glass (@$ 6) if you want to sit and sip.
GRACIOUS HOSTS
We arrived at the tasting room on the first day of a Passport Weekend for Sunnyslope wineries for which participants purchased a Passport and subsequently had tasting fees waived. We knew nothing of that event until we entered this tasting room, but it drew out a large group that we bumped into first here and then elsewhere who had folks among them whose goal it was to get wine in their glasses as fast as possible to guzzle to get to the next. Mistaking wine tasting for bar hopping, a few in this group were inexcusably rude to the tasting room host when he wasn’t pouring fast enough for the temporarily two deep crowd at the tasting bar to suit them. The host remained a gentleman in every sense. Finally Ron Bitner joined in to help and he too was gracious beyond measure with the overly assertive guests. A class act all around for the winery folks. Very nice.
WINES
We tasted four or five wines. Ron also poured my husband and me a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon that had been opened earlier to share with a visiting wine journalist. That library Cab was remarkable and luscious, although not for sale. We also enjoyed and purchased a 2008 Cabernet /​Shiraz blend (⁶⁰⁄₄₀). We thought the NV Menopause Merlot was good too. We weren’t as much fans of the Bitner Vineyard white wines. A sign at the tasting bar shared that their 2011 Snake River Riesling scored 90 points in Wine and Spirits and made their list of 22 picks for year’s best domestic Riesling and was the only one from ID (others from NY but for one from CA.) Riesling is my husband’s and my favorite white varietal and based on quite a lot of it consumed, both domestic and imported over thirty years, we can’t honestly say that the Riesling poured in the tasting room that day was our preferred style. The same was true or the other whites we tasted, which is simply a matter of different palates favoring different flavors and no flaw of the wine.
THIS N THAT
1) ACCESSIBILITY: Accessible parking near the door. A few feet of gravel covered parking lot before accessing solid pathway leading to the door. Level in tasting room and throughout. Level out to patio. With a little work to navigate the gravel, winos, ummm… oenophiles, with disabilities can get in the tasting room door to taste and buy wine.
2) TRUFFLES: I hear the Bitners have planted trees infused with black truffle spores so they might harvest black truffles in the future. Wish I knew that before I visited the tasting room so I could ask if they had plans to sell truffles. Now you can ask if you go!
3) EVENTS: The winery seems to be the site of a number of wine events and dinners. On the day of our visit an Idaho winemakers dinner was being moved from deck to covered tent off the gravel parking lot due to windy weather. Had a chance to see the dinner menu which looked like a delicious and intriguing pairing with the wines. Had we known in advance that Bitner hosted these events, we might have reserved two seats. Now you know. Check the events schedule before you go.