There’s something special about October in North Idaho that makes slowing down feel special. October is a great time to explore Coeur d’Alene’s growing collection of wineries, breweries, tasting rooms and craft distilleries. From locally made beer and Idaho wines to unique spirits, there are plenty of places to discover both in town and just a short drive away.
Discover Idaho Wine
You don’t have to travel far to begin exploring Idaho wine. Coeur d’Alene Cellars has been part of the local wine scene for years, offering tastings and a range of wines right here in town. Founder Kimber Travis drew inspiration for the winery from time spent in France’s Burgundy region, and art is also woven into the winery’s identity – making it an especially fitting stop in a community with such a strong appreciation for both food and the arts.
A newer downtown option brings another Idaho wine region directly to Sherman Avenue. Rivaura Estate Vineyard & Winery operates its Coeur d’Alene tasting room at 505 E. Sherman Avenue, where guests can sample wines produced from the winery’s estate vineyards along the Clearwater River near Juliaetta. The vineyards are part of the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, a federally recognized wine-growing region spanning portions of Idaho and Washington along the Snake and Clearwater rivers.
The downtown tasting room offers an easy introduction to Rivaura’s wines without leaving Coeur d’Alene, but wine lovers can turn it into a future road trip, too. Rivaura’s flagship tasting room sits alongside its estate vineyard overlooking the Clearwater River, offering a completely different way to experience the wines where the grapes are actually grown.
For a casual glass closer to home, Coeur d’Alene also has several wine-focused gathering spots. Wine House CDA combines a rotating, curated wine list with shareable plates and regular events. Its selections stretch well beyond the Northwest, with wines from Washington and Oregon alongside bottles from California, France, Spain, Portugal, and other regions. Stylus Wine & Vinyl Bar offers its own spin on a night out, pairing wine with vinyl and a music-centered atmosphere, while Lola Wine Lounge gives wine lovers another option for settling in over a glass.
Take A Fall Wine Drive
If a crisp October afternoon has you in the mood for a drive, the greater Inland Northwest opens up even more possibilities.
Across the state line, Latah Creek Wine Cellars has been part of Spokane’s wine community for decades, while Liberty Lake Wine Cellars offers another Washington wine destination between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
Take a drive and explore the beautiful setting with views high above Spokane. The fall colors during October make it even more appealing. Enjoy wine tasting daily from 12-5 and don’t miss Oktoberfest on October 3-4.
And then there’s Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, where the setting is as much a part of the experience as what’s poured into the glass. The historic Cliff House Estate sits high above Spokane with expansive grounds and views that make it particularly appealing during fall. The estate hosts events throughout the year, and this October brings an especially seasonal one: Oktoberfest on October 3 and 4, featuring Square Wheel Brewery beers, Arbor Crest wines, an Oktoberfest menu, stein holding competitions, a keg toss and lawn games. It’s a good reminder that exploring the region’s wine scene doesn’t necessarily require a formal tasting itinerary. Pick a destination, enjoy the drive and let the fall scenery become part of the experience.
Find Your Favorite Local Brew
Wine isn’t the only craft beverage with a strong local following. Coeur d’Alene’s brewery scene offers everything from traditional European-inspired styles to Northwest IPAs, along with plenty of patios, food and spaces designed for gathering. Vantage Point Brewing Company is an easy place to spend a leisurely fall afternoon. Its nearly 10,000-square-foot brewery was designed as an open, social space, and its beer program puts a particular emphasis on lighter traditional styles, including American, Mexican and German lagers as well as English, Belgian, and French styles.
At Daft Badger Brewing, the neighborhood brewpub atmosphere is part of the appeal. The 10-barrel brewery produces its beer on site and leans into Northwest styles, while its full food menu makes it just as easy to stop for lunch or dinner as it is to sample a flight.
There are plenty of other stops to build into your own brewery tour. Chalice Brewing and Trails End Brewery & Brick Oven Pizza add to the local mix, while Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company has a Coeur d’Alene taproom at Fourth Street and Montana Avenue. Its lineup includes everything from a crisp Blonde Ale and Vanilla Porter – the latter sounding particularly well suited to sweater weather.
And there’s a newer downtown option worth knowing about. Post Falls Brewing Company, long established at its original location overlooking the Spokane River in Post Falls, now has a second taproom at 1327 E. Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. That makes it easy to add a locally brewed beer to an afternoon spent exploring downtown.
Something A Little Stronger
The region’s craft beverage story goes beyond grapes and hops. In nearby Post Falls, Up North Distillery takes a distinctly North Idaho approach to spirits. The small-batch distillery uses locally sourced ingredients and is one of only six distilleries nationwide that makes spirits using 100 percent honey in the mash. Its lineup includes honey spirits, single-malt whiskey and apple brandy, and visitors can arrange tours and guided tastings at the distillery. For fall, the possibilities get especially interesting. Up North even shares recipes for seasonal cocktails such as an Autumn Old Fashioned made with barrel-aged apple brandy and an Apple Pie Mimosa featuring its Big Kid Cider.
Back in Coeur d’Alene, Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery combines a full restaurant with house-distilled spirits. Bardenay describes itself as the nation’s first restaurant and distillery, and its Coeur d’Alene location offers Northwest-inspired food alongside cocktails incorporating spirits produced by the company.
Travel a little farther south and you’ll find Rainfire Distillery in Worley. The working distillery includes a rackhouse filled with aging whiskey and other spirits, and produces bourbon, gin and private-label spirits on site using locally sourced grains. Tours are also available for those interested in seeing more of the process behind the bottle.
A Taste Of The Inland Northwest
What makes the local craft beverage scene interesting isn’t any one winery, brewery, or distillery. It’s the variety.
You can taste wine grown along the Clearwater River without leaving downtown Coeur d’Alene, discover beer brewed just a few blocks away, learn how Idaho honey becomes a distilled spirit or make a day of exploring wineries across the state line.
And October may be one of the best times to do it. There’s no need to rush from stop to stop or check off every place on the list. Choose somewhere you haven’t tried, bring a friend and leave a little extra time to linger.
After all, fall in North Idaho never seems to last quite long enough – and that might be the best reason of all to raise a glass and enjoy it while it’s here.