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December 2025

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  I recently had the chance to re-visit Arda Bağları in Thrace with US importer, Fine Turkish Wine. If only I had a car, I would certainly be at this winery more often. Arda has long been a favorite winery of mine. Not only because the wine is great (and price conscious!) but because the family behind it is lovely. [caption id="attachment_22197" align="alignright" width="445"] Rob İçsezen of Fine Turkish Wine, Andrea Lemieux, Yavuz Saç[/caption] Arda Bağları & Şarapçılık Located near the historic town of Edirne, a mere stone’s throw from the Turkey-Greece-Bulgaria border, lies Arda Bağları. Founded in 2007 by Ilyas Saç, this winery is a family affair tended to by Saç’s

  Paşaeli, that great pioneer and champion of rare native Turkish grapes has done it again. The winery, never content to rescue a grape and make just one wine before moving onto the next, often does small batch experiments to see what some of these grapes can, and cannot, do.  Years ago, the winery debuted its first wine with Çakal. The grape's character is such that, black grape though it technically is, even extended maceration gives only a dark-ish rosé. Paşaeli made two wines with the grape, one pale, and one dark rosé. Now, the winery that brought pét-nats to the Turkish market, has added one more: the Paşaeli Çakal

  It's been an age since I've done one of these! Weirdly, I have a bunch of Turkish candidates for various wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Merlot, and more) but can't source the international versions. Thanks to a recent visit to the US and a gift from my cousin, Ginger, I am finally able to pair up a Turkish Zinfandel! Zinfandel If Shakespeare was right about "

  I recently had the chance to re-visit Arcadia Bağları in Thrace with US importer, Fine Turkish Wine. Not that I don't always enjoy visiting Arcadia (or any other winery), but when you're with a buyer, wow does the carpet get rolled out for you! After breakfast, we did a marathon tasting with Arcadia founder Zeynep who generously opened so many wines for us to try. I'll post reviews for everything eventually (especially the new Mahiada wines!), but first, lets dive into the Arcadia Odrysia line.  Arcadia Bağları  Arcadia Vineyards is a father–daughter dream brought to life in Lüleburgaz, once known as Arcadiapolis—an apt setting for their “earthly paradise.” Inspired by