The Best Wineries in Lewis-Clark Valley
The Lewis-Clark Valley AVA is one of America’s newest wine regions, established in 2016 across the Idaho-Washington border where the Snake and Clearwater Rivers converge. With its long growing season, ancient soils shaped by the Missoula Floods, and winemakers who got into the business because they love it, you’ll find genuine people with real passion behind their labels. The region has the potential to match its western peers in quality, so get there now before everyone else does.
View of the valley from Rivaura's guest house. Courtesy of Lauren Mowery.
Clearwater Canyon Cellars
Best for: Serious reds from a decorated winemaker
Location: Walla Walla
Price: $$–$$$
North Stars:
Winemaker Coco Umiker holds a doctorate in wine microbiology; her husband Karl, a master’s in soil science. The two scientists bootstrapped Clearwater Canyon Cellars from four barrels in a garage into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most decorated wineries. Built on her family’s Idaho Century Farm, the winery has been in Coco’s family since 1916. She has earned the title “Queen of the Platinum” with 41 platinum awards to her name. The lineup of reds is the draw; if the Selway blend is available, don’t leave without it.
Winemaker Coco Umiker at Clearwater Canyon. Courtesy of Lauren Mowery.
Rivaura Winery
Best for: Red wines with a view
Location: Juliaetta, 25 miles southeast of Lewiston
Price: $$–$$$
North Stars:
Named for the river and the aura of its setting, Rivaura was founded in 2014 by Ron Hewett Sr. and his sons, whose family has farmed, ranched, and built along the Clearwater River for more than 100 years. That combination of an ag and building background made establishing estate vineyards a natural extension of the family business. Three generations of Hewetts now produce some of the AVA’s most compelling reds, including Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Sauvignon Blanc. The tasting room and terrace get busy on weekends. Plan ahead.
Estate Vineyards at Rivaura Winery. Courtesy of Lauren Mowery.
Basalt Cellars
Best for: Elegant reds from the Lewis-Clark AVA
Location: Clarkston, WA
Price: $–$$
North Stars:
When founder Rick Wasem passed away in February 2025, the winery he built passed to the two women who knew it best. Leisha Evangelho and Holly Bonnalie, employees of nearly two decades, took ownership and renovated the cellar into an expansive tasting space that now accommodates both barrels and large groups. The reds show a softer, more elegant style than their AVA counterparts, favoring finesse over power.
Basalt Cellars. Courtesy of Lauren Mowery.
Twisted Vine Wine Tours
Best for: Guided wine tours of the Lewis-Clark AVA
Location: Lewiston area
Price: $$–$$$
North Stars:
Clint Hoiland spent 15 years as a parole officer before winemaker Coco Umiker of Clearwater Canyon Cellars convinced him his real calling was introducing people to the Lewis-Clark Valley’s wines. She was right. Deeply knowledgeable about the AVA, its soils, geology, and history, Clint runs private, unhurried tours in a luxury EV — tasting fees, gratuities, and snacks included. He knows every winemaker personally and lets them speak on their own turf though if you ask him anything, he’s got an answer.
