A quiet walk along a Boise, Idaho river led writer Elizabeth Rose to the pleasant discovery of a welcome respite and a fine glass of wine.

The Telaya Winery, a welcome sight.

The arrow points the way to Telaya’s welcoming tasting room.

I was in Boise, Idaho discovering the walkability of this beautiful city when I decided to walk along the Boise River Greenbelt. The 25-mile Boise River Greenbelt is a tree-lined biking and walking path that follows the river through the heart of the city and provides scenic views, wildlife habitat and pedestrian access to many riverside parks. But what intrigued me that day was a sign that read “Tasting.” The Telaya Wine Company patio, with a raised fire pit blazing, was welcoming so I opted for a relaxing stop on my walking journey.

Telaya Tasting Room
The beautifully landscaped patio is what walkers and bikers see first. Conversation flows as does the wine. It’s a laid back type of place where you can relax with your biking gear on or sit next to your leashed furry friend.

Telaya, I found out, planned it this way. They found the site, along the Boise River and the Greenbelt and next-door to the Riverside Hotel, to be an ideal place to attract the outdoorsy set of Boise and visitors alike to come in and savor their old world-style wines.

Inside, I found an industrial-chic tasting room, with beautiful wood highlights. Vibrant paintings of outdoor scenes by a local artist added color and interest to the walls. I was fortunate enough to be meeting with co-owner and wine-maker, Carrie Sullivan.

Telaya’s tasting room is decorated with the work of local artists.

Carrie Sullivan leads Telaya along with her husband, Earl.

The Telaya Journey
Carrie, a veterinarian by profession, shares ownership of Telaya with her husband, Earl, a biochemist. Both had successful careers in their respective professions, but something was missing. They found it difficult to prioritize family where it should stand, at the forefront of their lives. Their two sons arrived in 2004 and 2007 and the couple agreed that their lives were out of balance.

Carrie explained to me that sometimes you have to get away to gain perspective on your life. It was on a vacation in Cabo San Lucas that Earl and Carrie made the decision to create a place where their love of family and travel could merge. They had become wine aficionados and so walking along the beaches of Cabo, they considered all the ways that wine could merge their two career paths and allow them to both be fully present for their boys’ childhoods. They also had a love affair with the Tetons and, ultimately, their venture was named “Telaya,” the “te” from Tetons and the “laya” from Spanish for beach, or playa.

Developing Old World-Style Wines
Telaya’s carefully selected fruit comes from Idaho and Washington vineyards. They began with producing 50 cases in 2008 and have grown in their full production facility adjacent to the tasting room. For the 2016 vintage (that’s when they opened the facility) they made wine from 40 tons of Idaho grapes and 20 tons of Washington grapes.   In 2016 Telaya was named Idaho Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest. Guests can enjoy the outdoor fire pit and river view with glass in hand or head inside to the warm and inviting tasting room.

Their offerings run from hearty reds to balanced and refreshing whites. Tastings are $5 per glass. If you purchase a bottle, the $5 is refunded. You can taste flights and purchase wine by the glass and take a bottle home with you. They welcome people bringing their own picnic lunches to pair with a Telaya wine. The tasting room is open daily from noon to 6pm. And, of course, there are special events for wine club members.

I’m a fan of reds and so Carrie led me through a tasting which included a Mourvedre (excellent) and Syrah with grapes from the Snake River Valley. After the tasting she showed me the production facility. It was crush time and so I watched an employee hard at work with crates of grapes and the slowly turning crusher squeezing out a delicious looking dark red juice.

The Telaya patio is dog-friendly and includes an above-ground fire pit, a popular gathering place.

Giving Back to the Community
It’s not a surprise that Telaya gives to animal charities given Carrie’s past profession and that the tasting room is very dog-friendly. In addition, they have a commitment to giving back to the greater community.

Telaya also has public space to rent for special events. I toured the expansive upstairs area of the winery. Telaya has three separate spaces accommodating events of 10-150 guests.

— Photos by Elizabeth Rose

If you go:
Telaya Wine Company  
240 E. 32nd. St.
Garden City, Idaho
208-557-9463
There is ample free parking
The tasting room is open 7 days a week noon-6pm.

Click here for more information on visiting Boise.

For more Real Food Traveler articles on Idaho, go here.