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Your January 2025 Turkish Wine Horoscope

 

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Happy New Year!! It’s a new year and we have a new look for the horoscope! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas (or are anticipating one for our Orthodox friends!), Hannukah, and New Year! So, who made a resolution? If you did, hopefully it wasn’t to stop drinking wine! Although while all of us in Turkey cower in fear of whatever the new ÖTV increase is, I can certainly understand the temptation to give up alcohol.

On a less depressing note, I’m looking forward to seeing what new wines may get released this year from everyone’s 2023 harvest. A few of those may even appear in someone’s horoscope, so be on the lookout. In the meantime, cheers to an amazing 2025 for all of us!

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Approach 2025 slowly, Aries. Rather than charging into the new year and everything it holds, move with purpose. You’re less likely to burn out or burn bridges if you do. Particularly this month, exercise especial restraint when dealing with loved ones and coworkers. Tempers are bound to flare this month, including yours. So, again, take things slowly and thoughtfully.

Exercising restraint doesn’t mean no fun though! Winter events and cozy gatherings are perfect this month. Consider even hosting on or around the new moon on the 29th, it could be the most talked-about event of the year!

The wine for you …

While people with your driving personality can find moving slowly boring or frustrating, sometimes it can produce pretty amazing things. Like the Slow Food and the subsequent Slow Wine movements that have brought us locally sourced and seasonal ingredients prepared with thought, attention, and care. 7Bilgeler winery is a Friend of Slow Food (which is an actual thing, not just an expression). This month, to match your purposeful movements, open a bottle of  7Bilgeler Vindemia Ruzgar Karasakız . Maybe Bilge bey’s commitment to the Slow Food world will inspire you!

Look for this at places like Rind, İyi Şarap, Santé Wine & More, Casa Botti, Mensis Mahzen, La Commune, Grand Cru, and elsewhere. 

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Make time for fun this month! Your social life will pick up as the year commences. Thanks to your friends and connections, you’ll have opportunities to attend cool events, parties, and possibly even date nights. Travel is also a possibility this January. Be on the lookout for last-minute winter vacations and quick weekend getaways!

The wine for you …

Speaking of beautiful winter travel destinations…have you ever considered Van? Akberg has. Although the winery is less interested in travel destinations than it is locations of interesting vineyards! For the winery’s Büyükbağ line, they hunt down interesting grapes and vineyards across the country like Papazkarası from Trakya, Narince from Tokat, and Erciş Karası from Van. If you’ve been bit by that travel bug this month but can’t actually head out anywhere, travel through your taste buds with the Akberg Büyükbağ Erciş Karası. 

Find it for sure at Solera and Grand Cru.

Gemini (May 20 – June 20)

Do you have any Taurus friends, Gemini? Like Taurus, travel is in the stars for you this month. Grab your passport and let your wanderlust take the wheel! And if you have Taurus friends, you should team up for a friends get away! Don’t get too extravagant with your travel plans though. The majority of January will be about getting your finances straight. Work with a financial advisor or at least strategize a budget for the coming year to help create financial security for yourself.

The wine for you …

Speaking of travel, José Hernandez from Heraki spent years literally driving around Turkey looking for interesting vineyards. His criteria were pretty specific: native grapes and old vines. Of his many successes have been Sultaniye vineyards in Denizli, Çal Karası in Çal, Patkara in Çömlek, and Karasakız in Bayramiç.

This January, take your travel inspiration from José and a bottle of the Heraki Akuarela Karasakız. 

Find Heraki wines at shops like La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Casa Botti, Grand Cru, Santé Wines & More, and Iyi Sarap. Plus! (if you’re reading this in the US!) very soon at Texas-based Fine Turkish Wines! 

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

January is all about asserting yourself, Cancer. Spend this month mastering the art of balancing your needs with the needs of others. While relationships should not be transactional, some people naturally are more givers or more takers. Are you giving more than you’re getting? Have the audacity to ask people in your life for what you need for once!

The wine for you …

One of my favorite stories about winery shenanigans leaning into the audacious realm comes from Urla’s Mozaik and how Ali bey got some of his grapes into Turkey. When you know what you want, you gotta go after it with everything in you! Be more like Ali bey. This January, open a bottle of the Mozaik Mahrem Tannat. We don’t see a lot of this grape in Turkey but Mozaik’s is most certainly the best of what is available. 

Definitely Mensis Mahzen and Rind carry Mozaik wines. Check also Dekante and Casa Botti.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

January will be a productive month for you, Leo. As long as you manage to stay on track! Do whatever you need to do, set calendar reminders, make to-do lists, tweak your daily routine, etc, to ensure you don’t wander off the path.

Be on the lookout for a crisis that could knock you off track and plunge you into overwhelming memories you’d rather forget. If this happens, don’t be proud and try to deal with the emotional fallout on your own, but look to your loved ones for support. Their wise words and mental clarity will be your lifeline when your whirlwind emotions eclipse your judgment.

The wine for you …

This month, enjoy a nice easy wine. Something you can sip while walking the straight line that is your path that’s nice, but not so WOW that you fall off! Get a bottle of Kavaklidere Bornova Misketi. It’s quite a lovely wine really, dry, full of grape character, and very easy to drink. Too easy actually, especially with a 14% ABV. So maybe only sip a glass, otherwise you’ll fall off that track without even trying.

Find this at Carrefour, probably also then Macro Center and larger Migros. 

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Creativity soars this month. Expect an abundance of ideas, from home improvement to new hobbies. Friends will play an important role in helping you achieve some of your creative goals.  Whether you’re attempting to renovate your home or need advice on romantic decisions, they’ll be there for you.

Speaking of friends, connect with your besties this month. There’s a full moon on the 13th, plan a night out with them and howl at the moon!

The wine for you …

Creativity is the name of the game for Paşaeli.  More than most, Paşaeli strives to not only uncover and rescue unknown and little appreciated native grapes, but stretches the imagination to find out what all those grapes can do. For example, it was the first winery to make a quality red wine with Çalkarası, then quality (and not saccharine) rosés with it, then a blanc de noir, then not one but TWO pét-nats! The first in Turkey no less. So this January, pop the crown cap on a bottle of Paşaeli Naif Çalkarası. 

Get it from Mensis Mahzen, Online Mahzen, Grand Cru, Dekante, Casa Botti, probably La Commune, Santé Wine & More, Comedus, etc. 

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Crappy weather and winter blues may be how your month opens, but they won’t keep you down long. Focus on fun to boost your spirits. Rope your friends into joining the fun if they’re available. But don’t wait on anyone to schedule interesting activities, even if you have to fly solo. Don’t worry about other people sharing your interests.

The wine for you …

Open a fun bottle of wine this month to match the mood! What IS a fun wine? That’s actually a good question. For me, it means something tasty and nice to drink that’s not necessarily overly complex. Bonus points for a great label or bubbles. The Likya Fox rosé featuring Tilki Kuyruğu ticks two of those boxes. 

The only places I know for sure where you can get this are Vinus Wine & Spirits and Istanbul Airport Duty Free!

Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)

January opens the door to all sorts of travel for you, Scorpio, especially the beginning of the month. A post-Christmas journey to a warm location will restore your spirits! Possibilities about for quick getaways and spontaneous adventures. As the month waxes though, the shine of wandering will die down a bit and have you ready to cozy up at home. The latter half of the month will have you playing host and inviting over friends for lively conversations, good food and drink, and warm fireside evenings.

The wine for you …

After you’ve come home from all those travels, you’ll be ready for a quieter and cozier period at home. Kayra’s Vintage Boğazkere has depth, round and velvety tannins, and layers of fruit and spice flavors for you to sink into. Absolutely perfect for fireside entertaining and sure to please anyone when you’re hosting!

Pretty widely available, you can find this at places like Carrefour, Macro Center, probably Migros, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Dekante, Comedus, Solera, Grand Cru, etc. 

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)

You’re not historically great at asking for what you need. The impact of that kind of self-neglect is becoming painfully clear. If you’re a resolution person, make one this month that you will take a more active approach to achieving your desires and ensuring your needs are met. Seize control of your life rather than leaving your future for fate to decide. Be an enthusiastic collaborator with the universe.

 The wine for you …

Taking control can look like so many different things. For example, Ardıç Gürsel, founder of Vinkara, wanted to help control the narrative of the Turkish wine industry with two main goals: 1. introduce and support native Turkish grapes and 2. make the country’s first traditional method sparkling wine with a native grape. She accomplished both of those things. Splurge big this month and pop the cork on the Vinkara Yaşasın. Made with 100% Kalecik Karası, this bottle of traditional method bubbly is by no means inexpensive. But, it’s a beautiful way to say cheers to the new year and your new more actively driving approach to your life. 

Easily (if expensively) available, find it at Carrefour, Macro Center, La Cave, Online Mahzen (best price imo!), Solera, Casa Botti, Dekante, likely AS Wine Store, Grand Cru, La Commune, and many more places.

Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)

You’ll feel an increase in your vitality and confidence during the first few weeks of January. This combination will make you neigh unstoppable! No matter what, or how lofty your goals, you can achieve pretty much anything during this period. Make the most of this boost to get something real accomplished, then let yourself rest as January winds down.

The wine for you …

Tasheli winery knows a lot about achieving goals and accomplishing big things. Instrumental in the popularization of the Patkara grape, Tasheli has also turned its eye to Gök Üzüm. It’s done a couple few things with this little-known, regional grape, including making a pretty spectacular skin contact wine with it. And that is your wine for this month, the Tasheli Gök Üzüm Orange. Made with 100% Gök Üzüm, the must spent some time on the skins giving the wine a gentle orange glow and a slightly fuller flavor that you get with direct press Gök. Do NOT drink this right out of the fridge. This should be drunk only lightly chilled and preferably allowed to breathe for 30 minutes or so.

Try Casa Botti, Mensis Mahzen, and Solera among other places for this one. 

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

January is all about hibernation and self-care mode for you, Aquarius. We’re all coming out of a busy holiday season. A time when you might have ignored stressors or health issues in favor of the celebrations. Reevaluate your healthcare practices this month. There are so many ways you can approach this: quitting a bad habit, going to the doctor/dentist, or making a concentrated effort to lower your stress levels through yoga and exercise are just a few suggestions.

The wine for you …

Another path to self-care is ensuring that you only put good things in your body. That might mean spending a little extra on a bottle of wine to ensure you’re getting quality. Off-set the extra money spent by being more present while you drink which will not only help you more enjoy the wine, but also drink less. Something most of us probably should be doing for our self-care regimes. This month, hunt up a bottle of the Midin Cudi (beyaz). A blend of two rare grapes from the Assyrian community in southeastern Turkey, this is a great wine to start a year of moderated, conscious drinking.

Look for this at Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Grand Cru, Metro, AS Wine Store …

 Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

January begins on a social note and you’ll be in the middle of every fun event. You might also host a shindig or two. Enjoy this before you go into a little hibernation mode toward the end of the month. Allow yourself time to rest and enjoy the quiet. Treat yourself to a spa day or a staycation and recenter yourself after such a busy month.

The wine for you …

Your January wine is perfect for a little hibernating at home. Cuddle up under a warm blanket and treat yourself to a wine as plush, comforting, and cozy as a hug: the Akın Gürbüz Hieron Oros. The blend here changes vintage by vintage and, not going to lie, is a little but of a splurge, but is oh so perfect for chasing away cold winter nights.

Find it at places like Rind, Iyi Sarap, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Casa Botti, La Commune, Comedus, and Dekante.

Please Help Turkey and Syria!

Turkey and Syria are still in desperate need of help after the horrific earthquakes that have decimated large areas of Turkey’s south east and northern Syria, please consider donating to one of the relief efforts if you are able:

• Animal rights organization Haytap is helping animals affected by the earthquake, and displaced people who need a place to stay with their pets. Other animal-focused groups such as Dört Ayaklı Şehir (Four-Legged City) and Work Animals Rescue Foundation, are also helping farm animals, street animals, and pets.
• Donate to civil society groups working on the ground to provide immediate relief and medium- to long-term recovery to survivors via UK-based Turkey Mozaik Foundation or US-based Turkish Philanthropy Funds. 
• Donate to the volunteer response being carried out in Turkey by the trusted, independent NGOs İhtiyaç Haritası (Needs Map) or Ahbap.  
• Hayata Destek (Support to Life), is a Turkish NGO experienced in providing humanitarian relief and working with underserved communities. 
• World Central Kitchen provides funds and food to those still living in tents in the affected areas. 
• To support rescue efforts in Syria, donate to White Helmets and SAMS. 
• Field Ready Türk‎iye (Sahaya Hazır İnovasyon Derneği) is a team of engineers working in Gaziantep, Turkey, and northwest Syria who make cheap, low-tech airbags for search and rescue from buildings which have collapsed. “If we move fast they can make more,” a good friend who previously worked with the team writes. “The workshops in Syria also have vast experience of fixing essential medical equipment, and making insulated shelters – both greatly needed right now”