Boise Coop Wine Shop

Who We Are and What We’re Drinking

We’re always drinking wine. It’s our job, but more than that it’s our love. We’d like you to get to know a little more about us, and more importantly, about what we’re drinking now.

Barry
I became interested in wine on a trip to Australia in 2007. All the great wines and beautiful wineries there really impressed me. When I returned to Boise from down under I immediately got involved with the Co-op wine department. Since then I have been to Napa Valley, gotten my CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) through the Society of Wine Educators. I’m always trying new things and I’m always interested in learning more about wine.
July Pick:

Danielle
My career leading me into wine started in restaurants seven years ago. As I moved my way up from bistros to finer dining, I recognized my constantly growing appreciation for the world of wine. Eventually I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work at the Co-op Wine Shop. I have been able to learn so much about my new passion for wine, and to continue exploring and learning at the same time as I’m sharing the knowledge I have with our customers.

July Pick: 2008 Clava Sauvignon Blanc, $7.99
Grapefruity, grassy, fresh and clean, DELICIOUS sauvignon blanc! Perfect with fish, salads, or just by itself. I’ll have a bottle of this in my fridge at all times, from now until the end of summer.

Divit Cardoza Artist, Chef, Wine geek.
I was working as an apprentice for Chef Bruce LeFavour in 1975 & 76 when my wine eyes were opened and my wine love began. I had only tasted wines from California at that time so when Bruce got the “good glasses” out for something special I knew I was about to get schooled. He poured the 1966 La Tache into my glass and my nose had barely reached the rim before the aromatic sensations began to control my very soul. The first sip offered waves of flavor that I can still taste today as I think about it. I was caught hook, line and sinker for life.

Needless to say I have spent a lot of time since them chasing the pleasure of wine through California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho in this country as well as through most of Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. My love still lies in Burgundy where ecstasy can be elusive but so great when you find it, but hey, there is a lot of great wine in the world at just about any price so I am never thirsty!

July Pick: 2009 Fredric Magnien Pinot Noir Rose $16.99
One of my favorite young producers in Burgundy has made the perfect summer pinot noir and bottled in with a screw cap no less. 100% press juice (almost no skin contact) makes this pale pink wine more white than red in the body but the hints of rose petal and red cherry tell you this was made from red grapes. Drink this nice and cold with some grilled salmon and you are tasting summer at its best.

Kathy
I always appreciated wine, my usual beverage of choice, but I didn’t get passionate about it until I took over as beverage manager at Cost Plus World Market. I was intrigued with the intricacies and complexity of the winemaking process and the simple enjoyment of wine itself. After 3½ years there I was recruited to work at a distributorship in Boise. I worked at Idaho Distributing for 6 years. I learned a lot, but when I was offered the opportunity to work at the Co-op Wine shop, I jumped at the opportunity to leave the fast-paced world of wholesal and go back to the more intimate one-on-one of retail sales, interacting with customers and enjoying the Co-op’s friendly atmosphere.

July Pick: St. Urbans-Hof  QBA Mosel Riesling, $12.99
The first time I tried this wine I was wowed by the richness and complexity. Drier in style than most in this category, with lovely tropical fruit, minerality, spice, and wonderful acidity in the finish. I would pair this with grilled veggies, fish, or just enjoy it on its own. For $12.99, it’s my patio wine for the summer.

Leil
I got my bachelor’s degree in Theatre, and shortly after graduation I was putting that degree to good use, by waiting tables in New York City. I had gone there to pursue acting and stand-up comedy, but the more I became involved in the food and wine scene, the more I liked it. I spent two years at an all-Italian wine bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, before moving to a wholesaler, where I spent two years broadening my wine knowledge. New York has it’s charm, but it eventually began to wear on me, so when the wine department was moving to it’s new location and there was a position available here for me, I decided to return to Boise.

Most people assume I inherited my interest in wine from my father, and while the passion may be hereditary, my own experiences have shaped my taste and my opinions about wine. I still have a deep love for Italian wines, and I geek out like crazy over cool, obscure Italian wines. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit the wine regions of Oregon, California, and Washington, as well as France. In 2009 I was able to spend 6 weeks in France for a winemaking internship. It was a fantastically informative experience that made me appreciate even more just what it takes to get wine from the vine to the glass.

July Pick: Dry Rosé
If you’ve spoken to me at all recently this pick can’t possibly surprise you. If I were stranded on a desert island and could take only one wine, it would be a dry rosé. We have about two dozen choices in the store, running the gamut in style from extremely light and elegant to the more dark, extracted, fruity, and even a little tannic. I favor the lighter, more elegant style. A few of my favorites are:

Terradora di Paolo Rosaenovae Irpina Aglianico Rosé – $15.99
Corbillieres Touraine Pinot Noir Rosé – $12.99
Fondreche l’Instant Ventoux Rosé – $12.99

Leslie

July Pick: 2009 Domaine des Corbilliere Touraine Sauvignon, $12.99
Ok – it’s no secret that I love Sauvignon Blanc, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to say that one of my favorite wines right now is the 2009 Domaine des Corbillieres. This lovely wine from the Loire Valley is just what you want with your summer menus – clean and racy with notes of fresh herbs and minerality. Sauvignon Blanc from this region in France typically are the quintessential expression of the grape and are considered some of the best white wine for food pairing. The naturally high acidity make this a perfect match for shellfish, grilled pork or poultry, goat cheese and smoked fish.