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September 2022

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  This month, Cam from Culinary Adventures with Cam has invited the #Winophiles group to explore French Grapes that Crossed Continents. You can read her invitation here. Often I cannot participate in the winophiles events because I don't have access to most of the French wine. But French grapes in Turkey we have in spades! [caption id="attachment_18233" align="alignleft" width="299"] Arcadia PetNat w/rendang & chili corn[/caption] Whether you've written a post for the theme or not, join the #Winophiles conversation on Saturday, September 17 at 11 am EST by following the hashtag on Twitter. French influences on Turkish wine When the modern Turkish wine industry got started in the late 30s and early 40s,

  Back in the day when we were researching my book, E and I were invited to stay at Argos in Cappadocia. This fascinating hotel's story began in 1996 when Gökşin Ilıcalı bought some land in Uçhisar on which to build his own house. However, while digging to set the building's foundations, he unearthed the remains of an ancient neighborhood (mahalle). From that moment, his plans changed. Under the supervision of expert architects, historians, and the cultural and natural heritage preservation board, he spent years excavating and restoring the neighborhood. Now the hotel occupies 13,500 square meters with expertly restored and decorated rooms, event halls, restaurant, and a wine cellar. And if

  My last wine bar review released a maelstrom of comments and conversations about the lack of extensive (or really even good) by the glass options. What a marvelous coincidence then that antidote this problem emailed me days later. Enter Cenap Kuzuoğlu. The man behind the late, lamented BEPPE* has opened a new place in Moda where BEPPE was: Wayana.  With COVID-related shutdowns and, frankly, being exhausted by the extensive pizza menu, Kuzuoğlu decided to create a new brand that focuses on wine. He began, much like many of us poor saps, as a wine drinker, a wine lover, but not he says, as a wine enthusiast. All that changed

  With school bells tolling the end of summer, Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles has invited the #winepw group to a "back to school" themed Twitter chat on Saturday, September 10. You can read her invitation here and, even if you haven't written a post, follow along with what promises to be several interesting conversations at 11 am EST / 8 am PST by following the hashtag. Everyone in the group this month essentially gets to set their own topic with this theme!  Our challenge, per Robin, is to "put together a fun educational piece to expand your wine knowledge!" Eeek! The pressure! But no, really, the fun! Given the history

  If you love Kalecik Karası then you may know the name Prof. Dr. Sabit Ağaoğlu. If you don't know his name, I'm willing to bet you know Tomurcukbağ. While preparing his agriculture PhD thesis, Prof. Dr. Ağaoğlu literally brought back to life what is now the second most popular black grape.   When his research finished he had both a PhD and a vineyard. He and his wife decided they may as well use it and the Tomurcukbağ Trajan label was born. While he dabbles in Boğazkere, Kalecik Karası is the winery's star. But we're not talking about Kalecik Karası today, but the Trajan Narince. When I say that he dabbles

  Summer is over; even if no one told the weather forecast that it's supposed to be! Those who had the summer off are back to work. School is starting (or has already!). Harvest is in full swing! Even if September isn't the beginning of the calendar year, it is the beginning of the "regular" year. So, what will this "new year" hold for you? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests! Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) This September is all about looking to the future with hope and calming any unnecessary worries. If you're in that happy minority with your finances set, let yourself sit back and relax. You don't

  In May at Gusto Bar's CMC, I connected with Erdem Yılmaz from Tasheli. Then, after drinking the winery's Göküzüm Aküzüm, I reached out to him with some questions about the wine. And to order more! During our conversation, he very kindly offered to send me a few bottles from the rest of their selection. He sent me a Patkara-Kalecik Karası rosé, the new vintage of their orange Göküzüm, and the Patkara-Cabernet-Shiraz red blend. Reviews for the other two will be upcoming but, as I've been having a surprising yen lately for rosé (I know, who am I?!?!) I'm starting there! Tasheli and Patkara  Located in the Çömelek village in the Mut

  It's been ages since I posted a wine bar review. Sorry about that. Especially to all you on the Asian side whom I've accidentally been ignoring! Now, finally, a wine bar review on your side of things: Bordo Şaraphane. My last visit here was actually an embarrassingly long time ago. But while there I completely forgot to take any pictures, thus delaying this review so terribly! I enjoyed my visit but was glad to meet a friend there so we could split a bottle. One of my continued arguments with "wine bars" in Istanbul is the maddeningly small selection of by the glass wines. While Bordo's overall list was