Founded on Bozcaada in 1948 by brothers Necati and Hayati Talay, Talay Winery holds a distinguished place in the island’s winemaking heritage. Yet its story begins long before its official foundation. The family’s deep-rooted tradition of viticulture is inseparable from the ancient wine culture of Tenedos, an island renowned for its vineyards since antiquity.

Celebrated in ancient sources for its fertile vineyards, Tenedos is among the landscapes immortalised in Homer’s epics. Shaped by the winds of the Aegean and the island’s salty sea breeze, wine here has long been more than a beverage—it has been an integral part of trade, hospitality, and cultural continuity. The Talay family’s winemaking heritage represents one of the living chapters of this enduring story.

In 1955, Talay became the first producer on Bozcaada to bottle its wines, marking a defining milestone in the island’s modern wine history. The transition from bulk wine production to bottled, branded wines reflected a visionary step that helped carry Bozcaada’s wine culture into a new era.

The estate’s wines are rooted in grapes cultivated in the family’s own vineyards, including the indigenous varieties Çavuş, Vasilaki, Karalahna, and Karasakız (Kuntra). Remaining faithful to these local grapes for decades stands as one of the clearest expressions of Talay’s commitment to its heritage. Although the vineyard portfolio expanded in the late 1990s to include selected European varieties, the connection to the island’s roots has never been lost.

Ongoing efforts to recover and propagate rare indigenous varieties such as Mavrella and Kokinelli—rediscovered among the island’s oldest vineyards—reflect a deep commitment to carrying the knowledge of the past into the future. This approach represents not only a philosophy of winemaking, but also a dedication to safeguarding cultural heritage.

For Talay Winery, viticulture is more than a profession; it is a family legacy and a shared responsibility. The return of younger generations, educated in different disciplines yet choosing to come back to the island and continue the family tradition, reflects a profound commitment to preserving this heritage. Guided by the principle of “Clean Grapes, Pure Wine,” the winery expresses respect not only for quality, but also for the land and the people who cultivate it.

Today, even in times when winemaking has become increasingly challenging, Talay remains one of the enduring pillars of Bozcaada’s wine culture, steadfastly preserving its vineyards and traditions. Deeply rooted in the island and its community, its philosophy reflects the very values at the heart of the Troia Wine Route: heritage, continuity, and a profound connection to place.
For Talay, wine is more than a product; it is a living culture that continues to thrive in the memory of the island. Talay için şarap, yalnızca bir ürün değil; adanın hafızasında yaşamaya devam eden bir kültürdür.