The Gordias Kalecik Karası Beyazı was one of the standout wine surprises I found this spring. I think it's been around for a while but Canan's wines aren't always easy to find. The first time I tried it was this past May's CMC event and it was love at first sip. She's billing the wine as "Beyazı" (white) but it's really a very very pale rosé. Kayra also makes a similar wine, the Allure Kalecik Karası Beyaz. White, pink, purple, blue
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Do you love sparkling wine? I do. I'm always happy to try any of them (and generally even happier to drink them). Finding new sparkling wine to drink is one of the many fun things about learning about wine regions. On a semi-recent trip to Athens, I discovered a new bottle of bubbles thanks to one of my favorite wine shops (Alpha Sigma in Syntagma): Theopetra Estate Edenia Rosé. We don't hear a lot about Limniona but I have really enjoyed the few I've had. So when I saw this Limniona sparkling wine, I couldn't not buy it. The grape comes from Thessaly in north-central Greece. It's undergoing something
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Summer isn't over quite yet! We're having some cooler days (which I quite appreciate!) but also still seeing spikes into the 30s. On those days, a nice rosé liked the Uçmakdere Cinsault Roze helps chase a way the heat! Uçmakdere winery sits right at the edge of the Sea of Marmara in the same-named village in Şarköy. It's one of a few remaining wineries from 19th century that opened onto the water to allow the easy loading of wine onto ships for transport. A family-owned winery where daughter Işıl Bulutsuz makes the wines. At the moment they're heavily focused on international varieties. However, last year Işıl teased that we
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Last fall when I visited Likya, they told me about a new rosé they were trying to release: Fox. Made from a new (for us) grape called Tilki Kuyruğu, which means "fox tail" the winery wanted to call their wine Likya Fox. This simple action sparked a lawsuit. But before that story, the grape. Rather than the bog standard "black from somewhere" (i.e. all the grapes here that are something kara), Tilki Kuyruğu has a fun name. It means, as I mentioned above, fox tail. Named because the bunches are quite large with several cascading lobes that thin out at the bottom creating a fox tail-looking bunch. Elsewhere in
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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
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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
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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
Read MoreAkberg Büyük Bağ I learned about last autumn at the Gustobar Sommelier Selection and was then happy to see them back in the spring at CMC (Istanbul's two big wine events). We know how much I love a new winery so I was excited at both events to try their wines. Even after I learned where the winery is based. Akberg winery has its base in Şirince, Izmir. Something that makes most of us in Turkey instinctually wince. Why you might ask? Should you come to Turkey and do a tour of Ephesus, the famous Greco-Roman ruins south of Izmir along the Aegean, your tour inevitably includes a trip
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We are well and truly in the depths of summer now. Whether you're hiding inside with the AC or toughing it out, hoping for a good breeze, a nice chilled glass of wine comes as a welcome relief. While I think it's unfair to limit rosé to just spring and summer, there's no denying how many posts there are nowadays about rosé and rosé season. I haven't written much about rosé lately. But I thought it would be a good time to revisit the Buradan Şirin; especially as Buradan was kind enough to send me some wine! Buradan - Wine "from here" Located in the Aegean district Çeşme, Buradan distinguishes itself
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Summer is definitely in full swing and we have the hot temperatures to prove it! Are you absolutely melting or hiding inside with your AC? Most of the year, I complain about having to walk up all the stairs to my flat but around now I start appreciate being higher up and being able to catch the breeze. Since it is so hot, I'm drinking a lot of white and rosé. I'm eyeing some of my lighter reds as well though, remember that so many of those can be chilled! What will you be drinking in August? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests! Aquarius (January 20 -
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