The Sweet Life with Ma’Adra Bornova Misketi
Some years ago, when I visited Ma’Adra, they told me that they were growing Bornova Misketi. It would not be until a few years later that they were able to release their first wine with it. Bornova Misketi went though something of a dry revolution. While sweet wines did not completely disappear, they certainly lost ground as many wineries switched to or make exclusively dry wines with the grape. Now, however, we’re seeing sweet Bornova Misketi, mostly semi-sweet and off-dry wines, slowly creep back in. 
Personally, I love a sweet wine at any sweetness level. But, for people who are cautious about whether or not they’ll like sweet wines, I think this more delicate style is a good intro. They’re not overwhelming sweet or heavy and they’re very food friendly.
Ma’Adra Bornova Misketi, 2020
Made with 100% Bornova Misketi, fermented in stainless steel, and just semi-sweet. I love the label Ma’Adra used for this (375 ml) bottle with the dancer suggesting the level of balance and elegance found within!
Pale lemon-lime on the pour with an intensely aromatic nose leaping (dancer-like dare I say?) from the glass. Rose, rose rose!! Like those old-fashioned, garden bush roses along with ripe stone stone and citrus. Noticeably sweet on the palate, but not too sweet! A good amount of acidity to give the residual sugar a stable platform and flavors of white rose, honey-dipped apricot, and candied citrus peel.
Delicate, pretty, very nice for sipping or to accompany food.
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”