Julie and Stephen Meyer. Photo by David Marx

Stroll down Cedar Street in downtown Sandpoint and you’ll find everything from the world-famous Coldwater Creek to fine dining to eclectic shopping. And now, you’ll also find the home of Idaho’s Winery of the Year – Pend d’Oreille Winery – as named by Wine Press Northwest. Owned by Stephen and Julie Meyer, the winery moved in 2002 to its downtown location at 220 Cedar, where it offers a showpiece tasting room, wine shop and wine bar – believed to be the first wine bar in a winery in Idaho.

“Over the years, we have consistently had our wines rated among the best in the Northwest, so the editors have had an eye on us for quite some time,” Stephen said. “When we moved our winery to downtown, it showed a creative effort that brought our wines to the public eye in a town not known particularly for winemaking, but rather excellent restaurants and the arts.”

Visitors can watch wine being pressed and bottled while sampling some of the winery’s prize winners: a gold medal 1995 Merlot, the winery’s first vintage; the bronze-medal winners, 1999 Pinot Gris, 1996 L’Oeuvre-Reserve Red and 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon; the silver medal 1997 Cabernet Franc; and the gold medal 1998 Cab-Merlot Bistro Rouge. The winery’s claret receives critical acclaim every year, yet is affordable for common folk at $10.50 a bottle. The new space will allow more wine to flow; case production went from 3,000 up to 5,000. Pend d’Oreille Winery is open daily year-round, offering tours upon request. Call (208) 265-8545 or visit www.powine.com.

– Trish Gannon