The Journey

Building Telaya

The Importance of Family

As you lean back in your chair on our riverfront porch, you might notice two boys darting across the lawn with a five-gallon bucket in tow, ready to pull weeds along the Greenbelt. The presence of kids in the background of a winery may not be something you’ve seen before, but without them, Telaya probably wouldn’t exist today.

Family creates a magnetic force, an almost palpable energy. Earl and Carrie, Telaya’s owners and winemakers, can attest to the capacity of family to create its own space in the world. Prior to our first blend in 2008, they were embarking on independent careers.

It was in Cabo San Lucas that Earl and Carrie made the decision to create a shared space where their love of family and travel could merge. Walking along the beaches of Cabo, they considered all the ways that wine could converge their two career paths and allow them to both be fully present for their boys’ childhoods.

“Through Telaya—a blend of their two favorite places, the Tetons and la playa—they could establish a home base from which they could take others on a journey.”

Establishing a Winery

Establishing a winery would allow them to grow and research together while also modeling the values of hard work, perseverance, integrity, and accountability to their boys. Through Telaya–a blend of their two favorite places, the Tetons and la playa–they could establish a home base from which they could take others on a journey.

This concept remains fundamental to our wines at Telaya: when we are traveling, wine can take us home, and when we are home, wine transports us on a comforting escape. For Telaya, wine is both a journey and a meeting place, which is why we named our flagship blend Turas–Irish for “journey.”
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In the beginning, we proudly sourced the fruits from our neighbors in Washington, due to our familiarity with Columbia Valley wines and vineyards there. We began with just 50 cases, a testament to our emphasis on hand-crafted wines. After establishing deep-rooted relationships with Idaho vineyards, we pulled fruit from Idaho for the very first time in 2012.

By the fall of 2011, as our wine library expanded and production increased, our initial facility could no longer physically contain our brand. Like Earl and Carrie’s critical juncture on the beach of Cabo, it was time for a change–so our search began for a new space.

Telaya Ribbon Cutting

Finding a New Home

We hoped to locate a building perfect for production purposes, tasting room experiences and event execution. When it became evident that no such building existed, we set out to create it ourselves. In 2015 we started construction on our current facility on 32nd St, and in February of 2016, we celebrated the grand opening of our new home. Telaya serves as a hub for our new and returning guests, who can enjoy the Boise River from the patio or book the building for meetings and social gatherings. Our wine club levels are fittingly named “Friends,” “Family” and “Teton” because we consider their complete and utter satisfaction a cornerstone of Telaya’s success.

Telaya’s history is full of moments in which family came first, from the inception of its name to the tailoring of its culture. Earl and Carrie’s fundamental focus on tending to family has translated into a brand that is naturally hospitable–in staying attentive to our guests and honoring its potential, we build a community that is organically positioned to grow and develop. We take great pride in the minute details that led us to where we are today, and invite you to join us for a glass of exceptional wine, a beautiful view, and great company.

Meet Telaya Owners & Winemakers, Earl and Carrie Sullivan