Your June 2024 Turkish Wine Horoscope
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 know about you, but I want to drink something cool these days. Let’s see what the universe has in store for us.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
People often equate play with the death of productivity. But however counterintuitive it might seem, there is great profitability to be found in fun and play. Increased dopamine gives you more energy, helps you slough off tension and stress, gets your creative juices flowing…how could it not be beneficial to your work? Lean into the fun this month!
The wine for you …
A fun wine to put you in the right head space is exactly what you need this month! Keep things light with an easy wine that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Try the Nif Bağları Aegean beyaz. The combination of Viognier, Narince, and Solaris is delicious, easy to drink, and will bring a smile to your face. Delightful and super drinkable.
Find it at chain stores like Carrefour and Macro Center, as well as Mensis Mahzen, Casa Botti, Iyi Sarap, Gözde Tekel, and elsewhere.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
This time of the year for you is often a push-pull between wanting to nest and hide under your cozy blanket or going out and partying while emotionally bonding with people you care about. This month when you’re struggling to figure out if you want to stay in your igloo or go out, pause to take your mood temperature. Any FOMO you’re afraid of feel can be easily quashed if take a beat to determine if you really want to do something or not. 
The wine for you …
One thing you really don’t want to miss out on is the Heraki Akuarela Karasakiz. One of the most stunning red wines to come out of Turkey lately, it will surprise you with its natural duality: powerful but elegant, spicy but fresh, red but oh so pale. And since it is summer, after all, don’t be afraid to give it a little chill before you open it up!
Find Heraki wines at shops like La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Casa Botti, Grand Cru, Santé Wines & More, and Iyi Sarap.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Learning something new is a practice in remaining teachable. If you know everything, then you can’t learn anything. So, go ahead and find something new to learn about. Get excited about it and see how (or if) it alters your firmly held values, beliefs, and principles. Remember that flexibility is key to both health and survival so allow yourself some fluidity. And maybe learning to paint glass, do ebru, juggle, what have you won’t rock your foundations, but you’ll get a fun new hobby out of it!
The wine for you …
I don’t know about you, but one firmly held belief to which I clung for far too long was “oak in white wine is bad”. Chalk it up, perhaps, to my early drinking years being in America and influenced by those over oaked, butter bomb Chardonnays. I’ve come around since, both to Chardonnay and oak. The key is balance, which a good winemaker knows how to achieve. Happily, Arda’s winemaker Şeniz knows what she’s about. So, your wine this month is the Arda Rezerv Narince which shows both how well Narince does in Thrace and what a small amount of well-used oak can do to enrich wine. Beautifully made, a wine that will age well for several years at least, and something that’s not horribly priced these days.
Look for it at La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Solera, etc.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
There’s so much uncertainty, instability, and change in the world now. Even though only a fraction of it touches us personally, we need touchstones in our lives to help center us. This month, think about what things, people, etc in your life create stability for you. Really think about them because as much as you might love all the “stuff” in your life (and as someone with a ton of stuff, I absolutely get you), these are not necessarily the things that provide you with stability. Once you’ve figured out what those things are, protect them.
The wine for you …
For some people, their history and culture is one of the biggest, most influential touchstones. So it is with the three families who formed Turkey’s first commercial Assyrian winery, Shiluh. This month, try the Shiluh Kustan. This wine blends together two rare grapes from Southeastern Anatolia: Kerküş and Mazrona for a truly interesting Assyrian wine and cultural experience.
Look for this at places like Carrefour, likely Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, Metro, etc.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
Some things in life have a clear beginning and a clear ending. But not everything. Much of what we experience is blurry as things mould, merge, morph into a different path. Don’t look for every path you take, every phase of your life to be precise. Being prepared for the shifts will help you face them and make the ride more smooth.
The wine for you …
That the Turkish wine industry has a blurry path is something of an understatement! But we embrace it, with all its trials and tribulations, for so many reasons. One of which, for me, is the rich tapestry of native grapes found here. This month, open a bottle of one of the lesser seen grapes, Vinkara Hasandede. This grape doesn’t get a lot of love but it sure gives it with juicy citrus and ofttimes semi-tropical flavors. It has taken a few years to really find its feet…but of if it can do that, so can you.
Happily this will be a lot easier to find then talking about your feelings…get it from Carrefour (possibly also Macro Center), La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Online Mahzen, Vinus, Santé Wines & More, etc.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
This month, solitude is your friend. Spend time in your cave as you unpack the things that have weighed on you during the first part of this year. Don’t be afraid to take them out, examine them, and triage. What do you need to forgive, or ask forgiveness for? What can you fix, what do you need to let go? You’ll still get your chance under the warmth of the sun as this month brings in summer when you’re ready to come out of your cave.
The wine for you …
During your moments of solitude this month, keep yourself company with one of Paşaeli’s Yapıncak wines. While a different situation than you’re facing this month, this grape is something that Paşaeli has examined very closely. The winery works with plots in different areas along the Marmara to create terroir-driven wines, experiments with oak, with bubbles, all in a bid to see how far it can push Yapıncak.
Look for these wines at La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Comedus, possibly Casa Botti, Santé Wines & More, Dekante, etc.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
You, more than anyone, understand the value of feeling alive. Often for you what gives you that zing is the pursuit of a new goal or project. Life bursts into technicolor while you strive towards something. But life isn’t all go go go. There are uneventful moments between between the peaks but they don’t meant that you’ve lost anything. All that spark, all that momentum is still in you, banked and ready to be flamed into action. Let those uneventful moments happen though, you don’t always have to rush your way to your dreams.
The wine for you …
Selva İşmen knows about pursuing new goals. After a life as an accomplished civil engineer, Selva felt at a loss for what to do when faced with retirement. She decided to take the love of Zinfandel that she gained in the US and learn to make wine. Fast forward a number of years, and Karnas was born. This month, try the Karnas Zinfandel Rosé. This is no saccharine “white” Zinfandel but a serious wine with savory flavors and tangy acidity.
Sadly it’s not available everywhere but Mensis Mahzen definitely has it.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
June brings you some introspective, and sometimes difficult, questions to ask yourself, Virgo. What beliefs do you have around giving and receiving care, respect and labour? Do you find it easy to be vulnerable with others? Do you feel affirmed or suffocated when others take care of you? Do you think love should be unconditional? The answer to these questions, regardless of whether or not you’ve thought about them before, affects your relationships with the people in your life. Try to formulate answers for these and use them to guide your interactions with others. 
The wine for you …
Some people, who already have these answers, put them into practice with not only people, but everything they do. With wine from Akın Gürbüz, you can feel the respect and love he has for the land and the grapes. This month, look for a bottle of the Gürbüz Sauvignon Blanc. Not only will you fall in love with the explosive flavors of this wine, you’ll appreciate the man who wants a good relationship not only with nature but with the consumer. Gürbüz is one of the decreasing number of wineries that hasn’t outrageously inflated its prices.
You might find it at places like Mensis Mahzen, Casa Botti, Rind, and Iyi Sarap.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Your fears have a lot to tell you and it’s up to you to decode their messages. Some concerns your have arise from fear and only that. Fear without any grounding. However, other concerns might be your intuition and instincts raising alarm bells for very real threats. Don’t give into all the fears. You will need to face unpleasant feelings by examining each fear and learning to understand what represents a real issue, and what can be rejected as baseless. Once you learn to trust your examination of fear, you can find solutions for many of your concerns. This will help strengthen so many areas of your life.
Shameless book plug!
The wine for you …
Your wine this month, the Nahita Dokya Kalecik Karası from Argos in Cappadocia. The man behind the hotel and winery knows all about no giving into fear – he bought an entire fracking mahalle and turned it into a hotel for pity’s sake! The Kalecik Karası is a sterling example of what this grape can do in volcanic soils and (at least for the time being) it’s set at a reasonable price.
Argos’s Nahita Dokya wines still aren’t super widespread. Definitely Online Mahzen has it. Likely you could also find it at Santé Wine and More, Dekante, and possibly also Casa Botti.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
Successfully undertaking projects, life changes, relationships, etc all require a major foundation: faith. It’s time to work on the faith that you have in yourself. Build it up, strengthen it, or find some if you’re lacking! Keep in mind that pacing goes hand-in-hand with that faith. Even if you believe in yourself 105%, you can burn out and start to make mistakes which might leave you feeling floundering and uncertain. Strive to stay patient with yourself. On the flip side, if you need a little more belief in yourself, set smaller goals and celebrate them as you go to build up confidence and belief. 
The wine for you …
To help get you into a place where you can go deep and examine your thoughts, you need a thinking. Saranta’s Chateau Murou Semillon takes you on a journey through layers of fruit tree and citrus fruit, chamomile, and lanolin all with an intriguing viscosity on the palate. Each sip will show you something new as you mull over the skill it took to make this.
Available at Mensis Mahzen, Online Mahzen, and Dekante.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
The things that feel like blocks on your path are the exact same things that require your care and attention, Sagittarius. You may have too many things on the table all at once, or you may be over-committed and not sure how to rise to the occasion for some of the things that are most important to you. Whatever the case may be, if you slow down and get grounded, it will help you to use your time and energy more wisely.
The wine for you …
One thing you can take off your plate is the decision of what to drink! I present, Vino Dessera’s Entrika rosé blend! A bright, crisp, dry rosé just perfect for summer, this blends together Çalkarası and Emir with a splash of Öküzgözü for color. If you shy away from pink wines, I promise you’ll like this wine which drinks more like a white than a rosé! It’s just the kind of fun and interesting wine you need to help bring a little joy into your life!
A little tricky to track down (but worth it!) try Aperitivo around Caddebostan (conveniently owned by Vino Dessera), Carafe Istanbul, Macro Center, larger Migros stores, etc.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
Next time you make small talk with someone and they ask you to introduce yourself, fight the urge to immediately associate who you are with what you do for work. If so much of your sense of self-worth is mired so deeply in your career, this might be an excellent time to untangle yourself from this way of forming your identity. Despite how proud you are of yourself, find other ways of coming alive. Or at least play around with different scripts on how to present yourself..
The wine for you …
Well yes, one of Abud Abdo’s jobs is as owner of Antioche winery, but he doesn’t tell you about his job, he tells you about his passion for wine and the regional Hatay grapes. This month, try the Antioche Barburi Blanc. I do not mean blanc de noir, I mean blanc. Not only is this a refreshing white wine for the summer heat, but it’s a chance to put some good energy into the world! Antioche is based in Hatay and the winery and its workers were hit hard by the earthquakes. Buying Antioche wine is a way to support a local business and help rebuild their world.
Available at Casa Botti, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Macro Center, Rind, check Mahzen 26.
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”