Oliver M.
Yelp
Telaya is awesome!
Some of you grouchy-pants need hugs. Giving Telaya a negative review for customer service is HILARIOUSLY misguided and inaccurate. More on that later in the review...
This review has nothing to do with the way their wines taste. For what it's worth, I really enjoy their wines. But wine enjoyment is so subjective, and I am not qualified or sophisticated enough to tell you why I like their wines. I just do....
My wife and I have been going to Telaya since we moved to Boise in 2017. From day one, I was impressed. Their staff was super friendly, knowledgeable, and FUN. Their building is clean, temperature-controlled, inviting, and comfortable. The property is right on the greenbelt, and there is an amazing outdoor area -- great for people-watching, nature-watching, and relaxing while enjoying a glass or two of wine. One of my favorite aspects of Telaya is how pet and kid-friendly it is. Usually there is a collection of happy dogs and happy families enjoying the outdoor area.
I couldn't speak more highly of the staff (which includes the owners). Everyone involved in this business is so friendly and accommodating. Watching them hustle around the property taking care of the various patrons makes me smile. They have been so good to my wife and I over the years. They are engaging, efficient, and (again) fun! We always walk away from Telaya with a smile.
Unless you have been living under a rock, we are all aware that the world of customer service has been tricky to navigate over the past year. I couldn't be more proud of the Telaya team (from the top-down) on how they navigated what amounts to the toughest retail restrictions that I can recall in my lifetime (I'm 42). During the past year, we went to Telaya often. I am so thankful that the ownership and staff provided a safe and comfortable place to enjoy ourselves in a world that felt unsafe and uncomfortable.
Looking over some of these negative reviews, I am so confused as to why a very vocal minority are taking issue with Telaya's handling of Covid. Your writings indicate that you think that the Telaya team enjoyed having to put restrictions on how people experience their winery/tasting room. I can assure you that they didn't. Telaya is a family-friendly environment. The staff interacts with one another like a family. They treat their patrons like family. They have spent the past year operating their business in the best way they can manage in order to protect their "family." I highly doubt that this was political for them. They followed the guidelines given them to protect their staff and patrons. They took extra care to ensure that they could continue to operate and provide the best environment possible. They were kind, respectful, and thoughtful.
I can't tell you how many times at Telaya over the past year, I got out of my seat without my mask on -- I am forgetful and thoughtless sometimes (often). The staff was so kind in the way that they reminded me to please put my mask on (trust me, their reminders to me were much kinder than my wife's). I highly doubt they liked having to be the mask police, but they had to ensure that their business stayed open to provide income for their staff and a great place for us to enjoy their wines.
As a member of the Boise community, I am immensely proud of the way that the Telaya team has handled themselves. Their staff should be commended for the grit, grace, and smiles that they brought to a really difficult time in the world. I am proud to be a part of the Telaya "family", and would strongly encourage anybody to wander off the greenbelt, grab a seat, order some wine, and make some friends at Telaya.