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My Favorite Turkish Wines of 2022

Every year – well every year that I remember – I like to do a quick review of the wines I posted about during the year that I most enjoyed, that most surprised me, etc. So with no further ado, let’s jump into my favorite Turkish wines of 2022!

My Favorite Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wines are always going to be at the tippy top of my list! Not many new sparkling wines were released this year but, even if it were the only one, the Arcadia Pét-Nat Sauvignon Gris would still sit at the top of the tippy top. 

Yaşasın is not new but it still makes my list. This year, I posted about a vertical tasting of Yaşasın that I was able to put together. It was amazing. A couple of the older vintages showed beautiful ageing. Their potential is remarkable which is why the wine is making my list (again) this year. If you see any older vintages on the shelves BUY THEM. 

My Favorite White Wines

Over the last few years, I have developed into much more of a white wine drinker than anything else. Such a shame for me living in Turkey which seems to think of itself as a red wine country. Certainly more of my posts this last year covered white wines though anyway. My favorites (in no particular order) include:

    ♦ Sobran Bağları Emir which, cultivated in the Aegean breaks all the rules about Emir but I quite enjoyed it anyway. 

    ♦ All the white wines from new winery Kuzubağ, including the Sauvignon Blanc, Narince-Chardonnay, and Chardonnay all make my list! The attention to detail in the winemaking and the quality to price ration make them all worth a mention. 

    ♦ Not a new winery but a new wine from Kayra makes my list with the Kayra Buzbağ Rezerv Emir Narince. It’s not an overly common blend and, in my opinion, not usually done very well but Kayra nailed it. 

  ♦ Similar to Kayra was the new release from Shiluh of a monocepaj Mazrona. It’s not especially easy to hunt down (but you can get it directly from them) it was an interesting wine. If you do track it down, I suggest you let it sit for 15-20 minutes or so to warm up a tad. It’s better drunk closer to room temperature than to straight out of the fridge temp. 

    ♦ Arcadia Finesse Sauvignon Blanc Narince isn’t a new wine, nor was this the first year I’ve had. Apparently I hadn’t ever before posted about it though! Kind of like the Shiluh, this isn’t easy to find for reasons beyond my understanding. On the occasion, Mensis Mahzen will have a bottle of it but you can always get it straight from Arcadia. 

    ♦ A favorite new discovery of this year was the Tasheli Göküzüm Aküzüm. A blend of grapes we don’t hear a lot about (the Mersin grapes are slowly making their presence known!) there’s so much flavor packed into this wine. It’s utterly delightful.  

    ♦ Yes, I hate myself a little for how much I like the Kavaklidere Cotes d’Avanos Emir the winery finally decided to make. They’ve been in Cappadocia for more than a little while and make that not so awful but overpriced sparkling wine with Emir, so why not a still? Finally. 

  ♦ Another fantastic Sauvignon Blanc Narince blend on my list is Ayda Bağları’s VinAida Derin (2). These two grapes really compliment one another. And, in case you’re wondering if you should bother trying two different wines that are the same blend, the answer is “absolutely yes”. For one thing, the grapes are from entirely different regions. For another, winemaker influence plays a big role. The VinAida Derin, like all of Ayda’s wines, both fermented and aged briefly in oak barrels giving it a wholly different personality (which I promise is not an oaky one) than the Arcadia.

My Favorite Rosé Wines

    ♦ Another with from Kuzubağ to make my list is the Çal Karası- Kalecik Karası rosé blend. Bright, crisp, dry, it’s super quaffable and just what I want in a summer rosé. 

    ♦ While she’s called it a “white” wine, the Gordias Kalecik Karası “Beyazı“ is pink and therefore going in this category. More aromatic than I usually find Turkish rosés, bone dry, tart and herbal…absolutely no notes on this. Love. 

    ♦ Another wine from Tasheli makes my list with the Tasheli Patkara – Kalecik Karası. If I recall correctly, they sent me this by mistake, meaning to send me a red blend. Very fortuitous! I might not have otherwise tried this. It was so unusual and texturally not something I ever expect from a rosé. Between this and Selefkia’s Patkara-Gök rosé, I’m convinced that Patkara wants to be pink. 

My Favorite Red Wines

    ♦ While I rather liked their Kalecik Karası as well, it’s the Kuzubağ Çal Karası that makes my list this year. Am I biased because this is currently my favorite grape and I’m happy to see another winery taking it seriously? Probably.

    ♦ I’ve had this wine any number of times over the last couple years, but this year I not only posted about but also used it in several wine tastings. The Gürbüz Caro Vino Kalecik Karası combines grapes brought in from Kalecik with Akın Gürbüz’s talent. It’s ageable (the 2018s are still going strong), rich, and a more powerful expression of this grape than we usually see. 

    ♦ What list of mine would be complete without a Paşaeli?! This year, it’s the 6N Karasakız – the varietal one, not the blend. Is it because I love an under dog that many of my favorite Turkish grapes are the oft overlooked ones? Much like Çalkarası, Karasakız doesn’t get a lot of love. Suvla makes a wide swath of wines out of it and Paşaeli has been making its 6N Karasakız – Merlot for some time. But now there’s the varietal Karasakız made from old vines. It’s not the easiest to find but if you do, buy two. Because I suspect this is going to age nicely. 

    ♦ The first of two non native wines to make my red list is the Likya Pinot Noir. I have three favorite Turkish Pinots and this is one of them. The cool climate in Likya’s high elevation vineyards creates a Pinot with fantastic varietal fruity-earthy characteristics and all the palate silkiness you could want. 

    ♦ Also in the non native category is another wine from Akın Gürbüz, the Hieron Oros, specifically the 2019. The blend has changed for the 2020 vintage but if you can find any 2019s laying around anywhere GRAB THEM. Akın Gürbüz is a very talented winemaker but, in my opinion, his talent really shines through in his red wines and this Bordeaux-style blend was … just wow. 

    ♦ My pick this year from Chateau Nuzun takes a sharp left turn from her usual international grapes with a Çatal Karası – Selvi Karası blend. Never heard of these? Not surprising. Only Nazan is using them so you have to get this bottle if you want to try! Do not expect one of her full-bodied wines with this though. These grapes lean medium-bodied with tart fruits and high acidity. 

    ♦ Last but most certainly not least – Ma’Adra Öküzgözü! I’m not talking the rosé that we’ve enjoyed for years now but a relatively new, carbonic maceration, red wine that Ma’Adra released late last year. Love love love.