F. Heather Hayes

Wine Ambassador

Though from Boise and a Boise State graduate, Heather became fully emerged in the wine industry in Virginia at the Lazy Days Winery. As Lazy Days’s general manager (and the only paid employee in its first year!), Heather supported all sides of the winery, from working in the vineyard to running wine festivals–including one that was named Central Virginia’s wine festival of the year. This position allowed her to live on family property, in a house she had always dreamed of boarding in.

After over three years at Lazy Days, Heather boomeranged back home. She is drawn to being in constant proximity of the “Idahoan personality,” and credits her success back east to being naturally hospitable, friendly, and open to meeting new people. She brings this spirit to her work in Telaya’s tasting room, where she personally loves connecting with visitors through wine. Her tipping point in deciding to join Telaya was tasting the 2011 Turas–she knew she could stand behind its quality. (That wine ended up being our first 90-point wine.)