On a sultry day in early June, the front lawn of the Hells Canyon and Zhoo Zhoo winery feels like a tiny slice of Tuscany transported to Caldwell, Idaho. But the winery has an open secret: Both the wine and ambiance are made possible by solar power.

For many women like wine educator Kathryn McClaskey, innovating in food and agricultural fields where leadership and prestige tend to skew male has meant finding a voice and using it to make a path for themselves and others where few examples existed before. 

From farming to fine dining and coffee roasting to winemaking, female entrepreneurs and creatives have been part of Idaho’s thriving food scene from the beginning and are leading the way as it grows. 

When Nicole and Conor Hammons bought a historic building on the up-and-coming end of Coeur d’Alene’s East Sherman Avenue in 2019, it seemed like a great opportunity to start a business.

The couple faced construction woes, opening setbacks and impending closures due to the pandemic – but it turns out the challenge was worth it. The Hammons opened Wine House in July 2020, and the wine bar has become a neighborhood hot spot.