GARDEN CITY, Idaho — The founders of Cinder Winery have launched a new venture in Garden City with the opening of a wine pub dedicated to their Laissez Faire label, aiming to create an approachable and community-centered wine experience.
Melanie Krause, head winemaker and co-owner of Cinder Winery, and her husband, Joe Schnerr, who leads sales and marketing, officially opened the Laissez Faire Wine Co. in the Boardwalk development on 41st Street. The complex, located along the Boise River Greenbelt, blends residential and commercial spaces and serves as a gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.
Krause and Schnerr introduced the Cinder label in 2006 and expanded their offerings with the Laissez Faire line in 2012. The new wine pub, which opened May 7, marks a significant evolution for the Laissez Faire brand, positioning it as the centerpiece of a new consumer experience.
“We have loved the concept of the Laissez Faire wines since we first created the label — affordable, gorgeous everyday wines,” said Schnerr in a statement. “Now we are able to open a location dedicated to these principles.”
The pub’s offerings include a curated selection of Laissez Faire wines, many of which are exclusive to the new location. The menu also features rotating tapas, local beers on tap, wine-based and non-alcoholic cocktails, and a retail section stocked with picnic-friendly items such as meats and cheeses. A walk-up window facing the open-air plaza allows for convenient ordering.
Krause emphasized the creative potential the new venue unlocks for her winemaking team. “We will continue to source from our local vineyard partners here in the Snake River Valley, but now we have the ability to explore and create more, and bring it directly to our community,” she said.
The wine pub is intended to offer a casual, welcoming setting for guests to socialize. “It’s exactly as I want it, having spent 25 years selling wine, making wine, and experiencing wine all over the world,” Krause said in an interview.
The move also allows the Laissez Faire label to step out from under the shadow of Cinder’s main facility and tasting room, which remains open a few blocks away. While Cinder wines reflect a more traditional American winemaking approach — focused on richness, aging potential, and high-touch service — the Laissez Faire wines emphasize a fresher, more spontaneous character, with a philosophy rooted in minimal intervention.
According to the Idaho Wine Commission, the Laissez Faire Wine Co. concept aligns with a broader trend in the state’s wine industry: appealing to younger consumers and newcomers to Idaho, many of whom are unaware of the region’s growing reputation for quality winemaking.
“This is also part of promoting Idaho’s wine community as welcoming, casual and friendly, and taking advantage of the state’s beautiful outdoor settings,” said Nollie Haws, a spokesperson for the commission.
The Laissez Faire line currently includes four red wines, four white wines, and a sparkling option, all crafted with the intention of accessibility and ease — both in taste and experience.
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