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White Wine

HomeWhite Wine (Page 2)

  Even if you're not a wine geek, you've heard about ageing wine. I get the question from time to time; people asking if they should age this or that bottle of Turkish wine. Oe expects to age bottles from many established wine regions, like Barolo, Brunello, Mosel, Bordeaux, Champagne, Rioja, etc. We also know that grapes like Riesling, Assyrtiko, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo and so forth generally do better with a couple years under their belt. But ageing Turkish wine? Grey area.  For why? you might ask. Doesn't Turkey have a wine industry essentially as old as grapes? Indeed it does. For 8000 plus years various peoples have made wine

  If I feel like I have a hard time selling the concept of Turkish wine, how must the Baltic countries feel? This question came up recently when Goda, owner of Vines & Pearls, shared with me a bottle of Geri Metai rowan wine.  I knew a number of northern countries made wine, so I was not overly surprised when Goda offered to share a bottle of wine from her home country. Up until the early 20th century, Lithuania was more of a beer and mead producing kind of country. Many of us would hear that and think, well yes obviously. As far north as it sits, Lithuania enjoys neither

  My little brother (by which I mean younger in that he stands something like 6'6" or 6'7") and I have a tradition going back to when I lived in DC. He's always the one to pick me up from the airport when I visit. Then we go to Wendy's, then Meijer (a MI/regional superstore). It's changed a little over the years. Now he picks me up in Chicago instead of Grand Rapids and rather than Meijer (which I hit later for major shopping) we go to Siciliano's. It may sound like an Italian restaurant, but it is in fact a gourmet drinks shop. I first encountered it back in

  Summer is in full swing and it's just begun. It's hot, tempers are rising with the temperatures! We all need something to cool us down. This time of year, most people want to reach for white or rosé because they're cold, they're refreshing. But, don't forget, you don't have to give up red wine during the hot summer months! Check out these chillable reds to start. And, even if your tastes run to heavier, full-bodied reds, don't be afraid to chill them for a little bit before drinking, especially given how hot our current "room temperatures" are.  So, let's get to it! What are we all drinking this month?

  Kuzubağ, part of the Çal Bağ Yolu, is located in the Çal district of Denizli in Turkey's inner Aegean. The winery’s vineyards sit at an elevation of 850 meters in clay-loam and calcareous soil. Given the elevation, there’s a great difference between day and night temperatures allowing grapes to ripen over a longer period while retaining their freshness. Here they grow a range of native and international grapes, including of course the local Çal Karası. [easy-image-collage id=20320]   Recently, I had the pleasure of finally visiting Kuzubağ! I can say without a doubt that it is one of the most beautiful wineries in the country. No surprise they've won several architectural

  Of the hundreds and thousands of grapes the world has, my three favorite are white varieties. One of which is Assyrtiko. I am lucky enough to be in the position that I can visit Greece often. And, thanks to my writing work, have even been to Santorini. For several years, I spent those trips drinking mostly Assyrtiko. And almost exclusively Santorini Assyrtiko. I didn't like mainland Assyrtiko, felt almost offended by its softness compared the acid powerhouses offered by the Cycladic Islands. A quick note about those powerhouses. I recently learned, during a lecture by Dr. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos from Gai'a winery how different the mineral levels are in

  I write about Bornova Misketi a lot; about 25 times so far, in fact! And yet, I realized some time ago, that I somehow had neglected posting about my very favorite one. So, here is my rectifying that! Misket, the Turkish name for Muscat, not only makes some of best sweet wines in Turkey but is increasingly known for quality dry wines. Most likely a child of Muscat Blanc á Petit Grains, Bornova Misketi has its own genetic characteristics and is a Turkish grape. Although more common as a practice for black grapes, like many Turkish grapes it takes its name from its place of origin. Bornova Misketi, which means "muscat of

  Summer has unmistakably arrived! While it is spring that often gets the lamb or lion heraldic, it's really summer that needs one. Be it climate change or otherwise, the last several years has seen spring limp in weakly. Not meekly like a cute Easter lamb, but like one ravaged by angry wolves that managed to escape and keep going. In Istanbul, I feel like we need a new word to describe how winter and spring seem to be melding into one, indistinguishable season. There is no mistaking summer though which roars in like an angry lion, throwing temperatures into the upper 20s before June has even arrived.  I don't

  Several years ago, I went on my first wine tour in Hungary. I've been a Hungarian wine lover for years, but before this tour, had never heard of Somló. One short visit (which you can read about here!) and I was an enthusiastic convert to this exciting region.  Somló and Kolonics Pincészet  Hungary is a smallish country so, one logically expects that its wine regions would also be small in size (if not production or quality!). However, the miniscule size of the Somló region still takes one by surprise. It is a single, free-standing (as in not part of a series or foothills etc) hill. You can see the entirety if