– Place –
What is Sunnyslope?
Sunnyslope is where Gem 73 begins.
A stretch of land shaped by long days, cool nights, and a rhythm you don’t rush.
High altitude vineyards with sandy, chalky soil,
Quiet roads, rivers, mountains and a sky that feels like it goes on forever.
It’s not just where the wine is grown.
It’s where people gather, slow down, and stay a little longer than planned.
HOW GEM 73 BEGAN
It didn’t start as a plan.
It started with time spent at Lanae Ridge Vineyard.
Friends sitting on the back deck. Glasses in hand.
Looking out over the valley and not feeling rushed to be anywhere else.
We talked about what mattered most.
Easy conversations. Open doors.
Wine that felt more meaningful because of who you were sharing it with.
The views were incredible, but what stayed with us was something else. The feeling of the place. A place to connect.
Gem 73 is our way of sharing it all with you.
– People –
HOW WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER
Many of us at Gem 73 come from farming communities.
Places where people show up without being asked.
If someone gets sick during harvest, you step in.
You work their land. You help finish the job.
That’s how we were raised.
And it’s something we’ve carried with us.
It shows up here in simple ways.
Everyone who walks through our doors is family.
A seat is open. A bottle is shared.
No rush. No pressure.
Just time, space, and people who show up for each other.
JOEL & TERESA POPPEN
Longtime wine lovers turned founders.
The thinking, building, and steady force behind Gem 73.
GREG KOENIG
Winemaker and architect of what we’re building.
Helping shape the wines and the spaces.
JAY & SHELLY HAWKINS
Caretakers of the vineyard.
What stands today started with their hands — planting, shaping, and working the land long before the first bottle.
Still out there daily, guiding what each season becomes.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe in creating space for genuine human connection.
Not the performative kind. Not the scheduled kind. The kind that happens when time slows, chairs pull closer, and conversations stretch longer than expected.
Wine is not the destination. It is the catalyst.
Every bottle, every table, every pour is an invitation to gather, to linger, and to remember that the best parts of life are shared.
– Values –
WHO WE ARE.
Years from now, we imagine this place full.
A place where world-class winemaking and human experience hold equal importance.
A winery that’s less about tasting notes, more about time well spent.
Less about exclusivity, more about belonging.
A rare place. Open to all.
WORK WITH US
We’re not looking for experts.
We’re looking for people who get people.
The kind who ask better questions than they answer.
Who can turn a table of strangers into something more.
If that sounds like you, reach out.
What else?
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What is Gem 73?
Gem 73 is a wine project built around connection.
We make wine slowly and with care, not as an end in itself, but as a reason to gather, linger, and share time with other people.
The wine matters.
What it creates matters more.
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Where is Gem 73 made?
Gem 73 is rooted at Lanae Ridge in Sunnyslope, Idaho — a place shaped by seasons, patience, and physical work.
The land sets the rhythm.
Everything else follows.
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What makes Gem 73 different from other wineries?
We stay close to every step.
From farming our own land, to sourcing barrels from French oak makers, to tasting constantly throughout the process — nothing here is handed off or rushed.
It takes longer than it should.
That’s the point.
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Do I need to “know wine” to enjoy Gem 73?
Not at all.
Gem 73 isn’t about expertise or status.
It’s about pouring a glass, being present, and sharing it with people you care about.If it tastes good and brings people together, that’s enough.
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When should I open a bottle of Gem 73?
When the moment feels right.
A long dinner.
A quiet night in.
A table that runs late.There’s no wrong occasion — just don’t rush it.
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Who is Gem 73 for?
For people who miss slowing down.
For those who value well-made things.
For anyone who believes good conversations are worth staying up for.No gatekeeping. No pretense.
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What’s coming next for Gem 73?
We’re building more places for connection.
A welcoming space and a wine experience in Sunnyslope Idaho, among the vines, meant for both small moments and shared celebrations.
This is just the beginning.
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How can I stay connected?
You can join our mailing list for new releases, gatherings, and updates as the story unfolds.
We won’t crowd your inbox.
Only reach out when there’s something worth sharing. -
Can I visit Lanae Ridge?
Soon.
We’re working toward opening the land for intentional, small-scale experiences. When it’s ready, you’ll hear about it.
Good things take time.
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Why the name Gem 73?
Before words traveled at light speed, “73” was a shorthand used by radio operators — a simple sign-off meaning all the best.
A quiet wish sent across distance.
Connection, encoded.Once tapped across wires.
Now shared across a table.
Drop us a line
or a whole paragraph
TABLE THOUGHTS
Something to share? Write it down.
A story, a thought, a moment worth keeping.
We’d love to hear it.