Heraki Expands Its Portfolio with Three New Wines
Disclaimer: This post includes wines received as a sample. All opinions are my own.
Just when you thought Heraki winery couldn’t get any better… they’ve dropped new wines that’ll make your taste buds dance. Alternately bold, unexpected, and impossibly smooth — these bottles are the next chapter in your wine love story. Are you ready to uncork something unforgettable?
And yes, these aren’t exactly “new” anymore. But we all know that my writing usually lags a bit behind my drinking!
Heraki
Heraki’s story could easily be told as a love letter to Turkey. Founded in 2019 by Fulya Akinci and José Hernandez-Gonzalez —whose names combine to form “Heraki”—the winery is a tribute to their belief in the potential of Turkey’s native grape varieties to produce exceptional wines.
The two met while studying oenology in Bordeaux—Fulya, a food engineer, and José, an agricultural engineer. Their shared passion for wine took them across the globe, working in wineries throughout Europe, South America, and even China. Despite often crossing paths professionally, they always worked as independent consultants, never as a team. It wasn’t until Fulya was based in Argentina and José in China that they realized they wanted a home—a place to build something together. That realization brought them to Turkey in 2013.
Since then, they’ve worked with a variety of wineries across the Aegean and Central Anatolia. Fulya lent her expertise to Karnas and Sobran Bağları, while José contributed to Vinolus, Hus, Yaban Kolektif, and Kayıbağ. But eventually, the desire to create something entirely their own—to craft wine on their own terms and with their own vision—led to the birth of Heraki.
Heraki Gök, 2023
Gök is a lovely and somewhat overlooked grape. Native to the Mediterranean, specifically the Taurus Mountains in the Mersin district, the main winery working with it is Tasheli.
While their wines gave us an aromatic introduction to the grape, Heraki shows us a different side.
Fulya and José source their grapes for this wine from Gök vineyards that cling to the slopes of the Taurus Mountains, 3,675 feet above Turkey’s Mediterranean coast 28 m from the sea. With roots dug deep into the clay and limestone soils, these goblet vines, averaging 60 years of age, are own-rooted and dry-farmed.
After 19 days maceration, the must fermented in stainless tanks before being transferred to 300 liter, 3rd use French oak barrels where the wine spent four months on its lees before being bottled with limited filtration. Fairly high alcohol at 14%, but utterly unnoticeable making this quite a dangerous wine. Rather reminiscent of some Italian wines I’ve had, maybe Pecorino?
Heraki Rosé, 2023
Very exciting is Heraki’s first rosé! A blend of 40% Karasakız, 30% Çal Karası, and 20% Patkara.
Their Karasakız they from the grape’s homeland of Bayramiç, Çanakkale. The 36 year-old goblet vines are dry-farmed in Çanakkale’s Mediterranean climate and sandy loam soils at 820 ft above sea level.
The Çal Karası grapes they use come from a little closer to their winery in Denizli. The village where the vineyard grows, Kabağlar, sits at 2,789 ft above sea level, has a hot Mediterranean climate, and clay and schist soils. Different grapes and different places, but they share age (Çal Karası being about 35-years-old), dry-farming, and head-training.
The Patkara we’ll discuss below!
A pretty Provençal color that belies the powerhouse this wine really is. A savory wine with red fruits like cornelian cherry and rhubarb and aromatic herbs of thyme and tarragon wrapped around an acidic backbones. Dry with green tea tannins and surprisingly big alcohol at 14.5%.
Your new summer rosé right here! And while it would be lovely for summer sipping, this is a serious wine that will hold up well against food.
Heraki Patkara, 2023
Like the Gök, Patkara comes from the slopes of the Taurus Mountains in the Mediterranean district, Mersin. These 60-year-old, own-rooted bush vines perch at 3,773 feet above sea level. Think of the view! Actually, I’ve seen the view. It’s gorgeous. 
After 19 days maceration, the must fermented in open containers before being transferred to 300 liter, four-year-old French oak barrels for five months where it rested on its less before being bottled with limited filtration
A deeply-colored wine exploding with fruits and spice. Ripe tannins and medium acidity usher in flavors of mulberry, red plum, and berry preserve flavors touched with black olive and brown spices, all wrapped in a delicate thread of sweet vanilla. Medium-bodied with ripe tannins, moderate alcohol (13.5%), and gentle acidity.
Want more Heraki goodness? Check out all my reviews on Heraki wines.
While Heraki wines are becoming more and more popular (deservedly so!) one of the best places in Istanbul to get the wines is Kadıköy’s La Commune. Full selection and best prices! However, if you happen to be in the US in the Texas area, you can also pick up a few of their wines now from Fine Turkish Wines!
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