The first vineyards in the Pacific Northwest were planted in Lewiston in the 1860s and, although Idaho viticulture has had its ups and downs, the region is pumping out loads of delicious wine. All people have to do is get out and give some a try.

Taking a tour of the Idaho wine country can be done in a variety of ways. People could spend a day or more visiting local wineries and some are even located in Garden City making a tour of Idaho wines possible for anyone who wants to try some out. All of the wineries have ample space for social distancing, are mostly run by Idaho families, and many allow dogs and kids.

Telaya Winery
Located in Garden City, Telaya Winery is a name derived from The Tetons and la playa, the Spanish term for “beach,” because these are the owner’s, Earl and Carrie Sullivan’s, favorite places. They wanted to start a business where they would feel intellectually stimulated and be able to spend more time with their family.

“As an urban winery our benefit is more accessibility,” said Earl. “We’re right on the Greenbelt, we have our production space here and people can tour the facility. We focus on high-end product and hospitality.”
Telaya has a lot to offer an urban wine enthusiast (“oenophile”). The winery has tastings and tours called the “Telaya Experience,” where people can try wines with a guide. Due to COVID-19, Telaya is now hosting “micro-events,” small events with wine and food pairings that teach people about wine and incorporate another business in the community.
The winery currently sells around 13 wines with some only available to club members. Earl and Carrie take a scientific approach to wine, and Earl said it’s all about chemistry. They blend the best grapes they can find in Idaho, and as their operation has grown, even designating plots in other vineyards for their winery.
During the shutdown, the winery also expanded its conference room to allow for business events, and has found a way to offer the “Telaya Experience” virtually. For this, the winery bottles up mini versions of the wine people can pick up or have delivered, and set up the tasting virtually through Zoom.
“We want to make wine accessible and approachable,” said Earl. “It’s not a white collar thing; there’s a wine and a price point for everyone on earth, and Idaho wines can stand up to the rest of the world.”

GARDEN CITY, Idaho — Idaho’s $200 million wine industry is struggling during COVID-19, and local wineries are finding innovative ways to keep sales going.
The Idaho Press reports that with changes to farmers markets, weddings and other outdoor spring and summer events, wineries are relying on individual sales and wine club memberships to get by during the outbreak.

Telaya Wine Company in Garden City typically uses the spring and summer months to hosts several big events and event series. Those have been canceled.
“That is $20,000 to $30,000 a month in events that we can’t do now,” said Earl Sullivan, owner and winemaker at Telaya Wine Company.

When I shared that Riley and I were heading out of town to visit Idaho for a long weekend, nearly every single person (there were about 5-6, give or take) said something along the lines of, ‘Idaho? What’s in Idaho?’  It turns out a lot, actually.

Maybe it’s just the fact that I am from the Midwest and ‘west’ to me only equals Seattle or California – but I just have to start this guide by saying Idaho is downright incredible. Fun fact – it is home to over 130 soak-able hot springs (eat your heart out, Iceland!) PLUS wide open spaces… and oh yeah, mountains too. Whether you’re in the mood for some outdoor recreation, tasting the best of the region through unique chef’s preparations or catching up on some culture, wine tasting and nightlife in Boise, you should visit Idaho and consider it a hidden gem for a weekend getaway.

Husband and wife duo Earl and Carrie Sullivan named Telaya Winery for their two favorite places – the Tetons and the beaches of Mexico (playa(s)). Both coming from the medical/science fields (Carrie has her masters in molecular genetics and doctorate in veterinary medicine and Earl used to be the COO of a global pharmaceutical company and is a biochemist, no big deal), the two have found joy in the intellectual stimulation of wine. They wanted something that would teach work ethics and something they could do together.

They specialize in predominantly red (also some white) European styles of wine – wine that is intended to be aged – and bring in grapes from 5 vineyards in Idaho and 3 in Washington. And they use exclusively French Oak barrels for aging (which FYI, is very expensive and very precise, compared to the more cost-effective steel tanks). Out of all the wineries I’ve ever been to, I have never learned so much about the barrel making (cooperage), storing or aging process as I did at Telaya Winery. It was FASCINATING. And yes, you can join the wine club and get wine shipped to you (depending on where you live)

I stroll to Telaya Wine Co. (240 E. 32nd St., Garden City, 208-557-9463, telayawine.com), a woodsy tasting room on the banks of the Boise River. Before embarking on their wine journey, owners and winemakers Earl and Carrie Sullivan had intense careers – he was COO of a pharmaceutical company, she was a veterinarian for exotic animals – and wanted to spend more time with their two sons. Now the whole family works at the winery, which specializes in single varietals and less common grapes, like Counoise and Grenache Blanc (I buy both).

“We get to expose people to different wines on a regular basis and show them that it isn’t just Cabernet and Chardonnay,” Earl Sullivan says. “[We] take that mystery out of it and make it much more approachable.” It’s working: Telaya’s 2016 Turas, a Syrah-based blend, won Best Red in the 2018 Idaho Wine Competition.

In Boise, half the fun is discovering unexpected cosmopolitan delights in a relatively small town. With a population not quite a third the size of San Francisco’s, the capital of Idaho manages to offer big-city draws such as farm-to-table dining and a multi­cultural atmosphere while exuding a friendly, easygoing charm. Winter is an ideal time to explore this blossoming metropolis, which features prime skiing less than 20 miles from downtown, plus nearby hot springs, cozy restaurants, and urban wineries.
Given all these draws, it’s no surprise that Boise ranked number one on Forbes’s 2018 list of America’s fastest-growing cities. And with more and more people transplanting there (and direct flights available from Oakland), now is the time to plan a visit—before the secret gets out.

Full Article HERE. 

"Relaxing afternoons and tasty beverages come easy at this family-owned Garden City, Idaho, winery. The dog-friendly patio at Telaya tasting room is ideal for a picnic along the Boise River. Try a reasonably priced flight of three selections or sip Telaya's award-winning flagship blend, Turas, by the glass. Be sure to arrive early on warm days as tables are offered on a first-come, first-served basis." (pg.18)

“I love the skepticism surrounding Idaho wines. And no, we do not make our wines out of potatoes,” added Sullivan of Telaya.
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Check out what Carrie & other women winemakers had to say about Idaho wine in the Napa Valley Register.