Get to Know the Grape: Öküzgözü
Meet, Öküzgözü (oh-cooz-goe-zue), the most commonly planted black Turkish grape variety.
This tongue-twisting grape meaning “bull’s eye” takes its name from its large, round shape and nearly black color. Originally grown in the red clay and sandy/limestone soils of Mid-Eastern Anatolia (Elazığ); Öküzgözü has spread across Turkey. Plantings now flourish in Mid-Southern Anatolia (Nevşehir / Cappadocia), Mid-Northern Anatolia (Ankara, Uşak), and Thrace (Kırklareli).
While Elazığ is home to Öküzgözü, relatively few wineries make their home here. Many wineries either have vineyards there but wineries elsewhere. Or, more commonly, contract with independent growers for their grapes. With three exceptions: Kayra, Eskibağlar, and Kuzeybağ. Kayra, one of Turkey’s wine giants, uses its winery here for all the company’s Öküzgözü and Boğazkere-based wines. Family-run ventures Eskibağlar and Kuzeybağ produce smaller amounts of wine that focus almost entirely on this one grape.
The aroma profile of Öküzgözü wines often include: raspberry, dark cherry, mint, chocolate, eucalyptus, sour cherry, pomegranate, ripe plums, cherry marmalade, clove, and cardamom. Öküzgözü grapes usually produce wines that are medium opaque, garnet-colored and medium bodied, with round, fruity flavors, some tannins, and rather lively acidity. An acidity that makes it a great grape for rosé wines. If Boğazkere with its in your face tannins, is Turkey’s answer to Cabernet Sauvignon, then Öküzgözü is its Merlot and the two are often found blended together.
Food pairing
Öküzgözü goes well with a variety of fish and meats. It does especially well with grilled foods if you want to fire up the barbeque. Think mushrooms, eggplant, tomato, root vegetables, pumpkin, and squash when cooking vegetable-based dishes. For flavoring your food, experiment with lemon, lemon grass, lemon balm, parsley, garlic, rosemary, coriander seeds, nutmeg, basil, mint, black pepper, fenugreek, truffle, and walnut.
Producers to check out
If you’re interested in trying Öküzgözü wine, you’ll have no lack of opportunity! The vast majority of wineries in Turkey produce a varietal Öküzgözü wine. Several of which even get exported in limited amounts.
Diren, Turasan, Kuzeybağ, Kayra, Eskibağlar, Bodrum Winery, Doluca, Garova, Gürbüz Winery, Saranta, Kavaklidere, Küp, Kocabağ, Öküzgözü Şarapçılık, Pamukkale, Suvla, Vinkara, Vino Dessera, Yazgan, and Sevilen all make varietal (and some blends) with Öküzgözü.
Büyülübağ, Datca, Ezel, Firuze, Gülor, Melen, Prodom, Shiluh, Kutman, and Suvla offer Öküzgözü-Boğazkere blends. Kayra also stands out with its Madre wine, one of the country’s few fortified wines made with Öküzgözü and Boğazkere.
And if you like Öküzgözü, try also: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Mencia, Sangiovese, Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro, St. Laurant, Blaufränkisch/Kékfrankos, Ojaleshi, Shavkapito, Mavrodaphne, Agiorgitiko, Bastardo, Zinfandel, Malbec, Bonarda, Pinotage, Barburi, Karaoğlan, Karasakız, Kösetevek, Karalahna, Patkara
Click to see my reviews of Öküzgözü wines.