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Red Wine

HomeRed Wine (Page 35)

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Good wine shouldn’t have to be expensive. Unfortunately that is not always true in Turkey. Someone asked me recently to recommend a wine under 25 TL (about $6). And I really couldn’t do it. Double that price and we can talk. There are very few wines here priced under 40 TL ($9) that I will drink. It’s not that I’m a snob (well really I am but that’s a different topic). I just prefer to drink wine that a) tastes nice and b) won’t kill me. For every rule there exists and exception. While I still refuse most wines that live at the 25 TL mark there are a

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

  My love affair with Ayda Winery began last fall in my local bottle shop. I’m in this shop a lot. Like, a lot a lot. So when there’s a new bottle somewhere I zero in on it pretty quickly. With the Ayda Winery VinAida collection it wasn’t difficult at all since they were sitting right there on check out counter. Actually I think they might all have been samples for the store owner. There was only the one set and the shop doesn’t carry them*. They let me buy a couple bottles anyway. I think they get a kick out of the odd foreigner who gets so excited about

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Karnas Vinyards is a boutique, family run winery and farm which main goal is to farm “respectful of nature”. Engineering the First Turkish Zinfandel [caption id="attachment_11659" align="alignleft" width="301"] Me at Karnas[/caption] Selva Ismen, the elegant force behind Karnas Vineyards started life as a civil engineer. One of the very first graduates from the prestigious Istanbul Technical University, Selva Hanım lived a life of clinical maths and calculations. Until, that is, she lived in the US for a number of years where she learned to love not only wine, but specifically Zinfandel. After she retired she began experimenting with winemaking at the family home in Yeniköy in Turkish Thrace. Selva Hanım bought grapes from friend

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Urlice Vineyards is one of Turkey’s special boutique wineries. The husband/wife team Reha and Bilge Benisü Öğünlü oversee everything from vineyards to cellar on their own. The Making of a Dream Bilge and Reha lived in the US for over 15 years. While there they developed a love for wine and gastronomy.  Her parents had a small vineyard where they learned the ropes a bit during visits. Between those visits and their wine tours in the US their love of wine grew prompting them to start their own vineyard when they returned to Turkey. Since beginning planting in 2002, Bilge and Reha have built a beautiful winery and make wines every bit as

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Previously I have reviewed the Vino Dessera 190 2014 vintage. So it seems I’m moving backwards now with the 190 2013! Making Walnuts into Wine Vino Dessera was established in 2012, but to understand the full story of these fields we need to jump a little further back. When the owner’s first grandchild was born, abiding by a very thoughtful Anatolian tradition, he planted approximately 600 walnut trees along the green slopes of Thrace. And, as it turns out, he never stopped. Motivated partially by self-competition, when his second grandchild was born, he planted wine grapes in 2000. And, so too Vino Dessera was born. Today, the vineyard is a family-run operation growing both

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Kuzeybağ remains one of those semi mysterious wineries. I’ve had their wine a few times, seen them a different events in Istanbul, and even met them. Despite all that I do not yet know their story. What I do know is that the winery makes a killer Öküzgözü. Anatolia makes up the bulk of Turkey. Simplified (perhaps slightly too much) if it’s not the European side of the country (including part of Istanbul, Thrace, and the Marmara) it’s Anatolia. For wine purposes, Anatolia is then further divided into Eastern, Central, and Southeast districts. Kuzeybağ’s home is Eastern Anatolia in an area called Elazığ (El-AH-zih). Elazığ in turn is the home of the

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Even if you live in Turkey and/or are an aficionado of Turkish wine you can be forgiven for not knowing about Vinolus. Those in the know will tell you that Vinolus wines are well worth the hunt. I first encountered this maker at Solera, my favorite Istanbul wine bar. I’m always attracted to different and interesting labels. So when I saw a Turkish wine decorated by a haloed angel I had to try it. A Journey Towards Authenticity This little gem of a winery is tucked away in the wilds of Kayseri (near the famous Cappadocia region). The brainchild of owner Oluş Molu, Vinolus (vin + Oluş = Vinolus), the winery

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Yedi Bilgeler (also known as 7Bilgeler) is one of my absolute favorite Turkish wineries. Due in large part to this wine, the Pythagoras. I previously reviewed the 2013 and now it’s time for the 2014. But before we get to the wine, the winery! The Seven Sages I recently had the great fortune to visit Yedi Bilgeler with my good friend and writing partner, Istanbites. We were privileged enough to spend time there with founder and owner Bilge Yamen. Bilge bey became interested in wine while at university. He was interested in history and philosophy and how wine played such a huge role in both. He believes that history, philosophy, and jazz are like wine:

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Together with Corvus, Amadeus, and Çamlıbağ; Talay is one of Turkey’s Aegean region wineries located on the island of Bozcaada. In 1948, the Talay brothers Necati, Hayati, and Sebati established their family-run winery. During the early years they focused their attention on local varieties Çavuş, Vasilaki, Karalahna, Karasakız (Kuntra). In 1999 they planted European grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Shiraz, and Tempranillo; as well as adding to their indigenous grape roster with Kalecik Karası, Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, and Narince. While the latter four Turkish grapes are fairly familiar Çavuş, Vasilaki, Karalahna, and Karasakız may not be. But these varieties have grown on Bozcaada for centuries. The Island of

By 0Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  Some time ago a friend of mine threw a dinner party. In addition to her amazing food she also had wines from one of my favorite Turkish producers, Suvla, on hand. Including the Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Quality at every level Suvla is a family owned wine producer established by Pınar Ellialtı and Selim Zafer Ellialtı in 2003. The vineyards are nestled in the historical Peninsula of Gallipoli, between the North Aegean coast and the Sea of Marmara where they cultivate a wide variety of grapes. The whites include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, Petit Verdot, and Pinot Noir.