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March 2026

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By 0European Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews

  While most of my focus is in Turkish wines, it's nice to sometimes walk in the vineyards of our neighbors. Metaphorically speaking of course. I've yet to visit Romania at all let alone its vineyards. But that's one of the great things about wine. Opening a bottle is like opening a magic door through which you can step and discover new worlds. Maybe you've never been to that region, or even that country, but wine lets you taste what you cannot see.  For me, one of those recent journeys too me to Romania and to the discovery of one of the country's native grapes, Fetească Neagră. Fetească Neagră [caption id="attachment_22440" align="alignright" width="350"]

By 9Articles, Red Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine

  With the up and down weather this winter, there's no way to predict if spring will come in like a lamb or a lion. Regardless which animal the season decides to imitate, personally, I just hope it sticks to the one personality. They say spring is not for the faint-hearted, so we need to gird our loins, grab a good bottle, and prepare for the battle.   What does this month have in store for each of us? Read on to find out! If you're not somewhere with easy access to Turkish wine, don't hesitate to reach out (to me, the universe doesn't always respond to email) for alternative recommendations. Aries (March

By 1Rest of the World, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  While there are plenty of Shiraz notes from both Turkey and Australia waiting to be written up, I wanted to shake things up a bit. Australia has been gaining a reputation for Viognier over the years while it's still largely unknown in Turkey. Despite its rarity in Turkey, we have some excellent examples here. Since I just happened to have a bottle of Viognier from Australia, why not pit them against one another? Viognier Viognier it seems is a bit of a struggle to work with. Not in a Pinot Noir prima donna way, but it is not disposed to producing healthy or bountiful grapes and is prone to coulure (uneven

By 0European Wines, Greek Wine, Red Wine, Wine Reviews

  We've had some rather chilly days lately in Istanbul. I should be neither surprised nor resentful. It is, after all, winter. Just because we've had ridiculously warm winters for the last several years and I've largely managed to avoid turning on my heat doesn't mean things will always be so. While I don't love it, the cold weather does encourage me to reach for one of the many, many red wines languishing in my wine room.  If you want to wrap yourself in a cozy red wine, perfect for cold winter weather and drinking by the fireplace, look for a bottle from the Goumenissa PDO.  Goumenissa PDO (ΠΟΠ Γουμένισσα) The what

By 2Red Wine, Rose Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  My adventures with Turkish wine importer, Fine Turkish Wine, continue! Well at least the writing of them does, the adventures themselves ended in November. And it's taking ever so much longer to write about these visits than it took to make them! After two days in Trakya (aka Thrace), visiting first Arcadia, then Arda and Gürbüz Winery we headed for the Aegean. In this region, our first stop was Kuzubağ, and then we were on to Heraki. And buckle up, this post turned out much longer than I anticipated! [caption id="attachment_22367" align="alignright" width="500"] Çal vineyards by Rob İçsezen[/caption] Heraki Heraki Wines is, at its heart, a love story. First between its founders,

By 8Articles, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Sweet Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine

  Well, we've made it one month into the new year. Hopefully we all made it through relatively unbruised. Now, as we head into the darkest of winter (or the hellish depths of summer depending on where you are!) we more than ever need some good news and good wine to cheers us, warm (or cool!) us, and give us the courage to soldier on.  So, what does this month have in store for each of us? Read on to find out! Aries (March 21 - April 19) February asks you to slow your roll just enough to aim better. You’re still driven, but this month is about strategy over speed. A

By 2Red Wine, Rose Wine, Sweet Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  My adventures with Turkish wine importer, Fine Turkish Wine, continue! Well at least the writing of them does, the adventures themselves ended in November. And it's taking ever so much longer to write about these visits than it took to make them! After two days in Trakya (aka Thrace), visiting first Arcadia, then Arda and Gürbüz Winery we headed for the Aegean.  First stop, Kuzubağ! Kuzubağ  Kuzubağ Şaraphane is one of the new generation wineries working to raise the profile of the Çal region. More than just a member of the Çal Bağ Yolu, Kuzubağ is (in my considerable opinion), the best of them. A family-run affair, the Kuzu family

By 2Amber Wine, Orange Wine, Red Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  My adventures with Turkish wine importer, Fine Turkish Wine, continue! Well at least the writing of them does, the adventures themselves ended in November. We spent two days in Trakya (aka Thrace), visiting first Arcadia, then Arda before venturing onto Gürbüz Winery. A visit to Gürbüz Winery is never short! Akın's enthusiasm and energy hold you captive as wine after wine (especially when you're with an importer) get opened and tanks and barrels are tapped to try new vintages.  Gürbüz Winery Akın Gürbüz grew up among grape vines. His family owned five hectares of vineyards planted to Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Yapıncak, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They did not make wine but sold the

By 2Red Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  In a strange twist, I knew Acıkara almost before I knew Likya. Or it is perhaps more accurate to say, that I knew the grape/wine before I knew Likya well. I don't remember how exactly I found it or even knew then how special it was, this was closer to the beginning of my Turkish wine journey. But in many ways, it was my gateway into not only this winery, but the realm of rare, Turkish grapes. [caption id="attachment_22238" align="alignleft" width="275"] Göknur Gündogan PhD introducing the Likya Arkeo Project[/caption] I was invited to a recent event, Likya Antique Grapes Masterclass, hosted by Göknur Gündogan PhD and Burak Özkan. The event invited