Buhl winery winning recognition

By Blair Koch, Ag Weekly correspondent
Friday, September 28, 2007 1:52 PM CDT

James Holesinsky checks on ripening grapes at his organic Holesinsky Winery of Buhl. The winemaker's Riesling, vintage 2006, was recently named as the People's Choice during the Idaho Wine Festival in August. Photo by Blair Koch/AG WEEKLY

BUHL, Idaho — Lightening can strike twice.

After Holesinsky Winery’s Riesling 2005 took double honors as a People’s Choice and silver medal winner at last year’s Idaho Wine Festival, James Holesinsky never expected it would happen again.

However, during this year’s festival, held Aug. 24 in Boise, his wine did just that with the Riesling 2006 again taking home the People’s Choice award.

“I thought, they’re never going to give it to me twice but they did. It was hilarious and almost embarrassing because everyone was happy for me,” Holesinsky said.

At 29, the budding vintner describes himself as a rogue committed to creating exceptional organic wine; Holesinsky Winery is the only certified organic winery in Idaho.

Neil Glancey, winemaker and general manager for Carmella Winery, said the prestigious awards are pretty hard to win.

“Winning these awards, given by a distinguished panel of judges, means they could compete nationally,” Glancey said. “The wines weren’t competing just on a state level but judged using national ratings.”

Winning awards back-to-back shows the industry Holesinsky may be a force to be reckoned with.

“It’s surprising to come so far so fast. I think it is important to point out the consistency in product. His Riesling won the People’s Choice two years in row, that’s something,” Glancey said.

James Holesinsky poses with a bottle of his award winning Riesling. Photo by Blair Koch/AG WEEKLY

Extension courses through the University of California gave Holesinsky the building blocks to creating wine harvested off of the winery’s 12 acres in Buhl and four leased acres in Hagerman.

“About eight years ago, I planted a garden and that started it all. I learned that I liked growing and nurturing plants; and in 2000, we planted our first 10 acres of vinifera,” he said. “I love centuries-old wine, making and taking it back to the basics. I don’t want to do what’s been done before.”

Holesinsky owns and operates the winery with his parents, Frank and Barbara Holesinsky of Buhl. They say their son’s success is merely beginning.

“I think James was really the laughing stock, like ‘Who does this whippersnapper really think he is?’ But he puts his heart and soul into making wine, and he is doing something unique, creating his own style,” Barbara Holesinsky said.

“He won’t release anything until it is absolutely wonderful, and he wants people to be assured that if his name is on the bottle, it is going to be good,” she said. “We would have been proud of him had he not even placed at the festival. I think him winning two years in a row will make people stand up and take notice.”

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