Surrounded by mountains and the verdant forests of the Black Sea region, the district of Amasya lays about 120 kilometers from the Black Sea. Although near the sea, Amasya sits high above the coast and has an inland, hot summer Mediterranean climate. While tea might be the most famous crop to come out of the region, Amasya is well-known for its apples which grow well here. And maybe soon
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We leave behind the tricks and treats of Halloween and October for a new month. Hopefully one that is actually autumn-like. Every new month is a fresh start for us. A time to reevaluate, start something new, or just start anew. So what will I be drinking this month? I have several things planned! But more importantly, what will YOU be drinking? Read on to find out what the Universe recommends. Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) This month you'll hear a siren's song calling you to exploration. It could mean travel is in the cards for you, or perhaps expanding our current world through learning something new. This spirit of
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For many of us, our first encounter with amber wine, wine made in amphora, or "natural" wine was with a Georgian wine. While many countries have for centuries made wines thusly, the global trend and enthusiasm for such is often attributed to Georgia. Wine trends come late to Turkey, but they do come. These started quietly with Gelveri and have since spread. Now finding orange wines does not take much effort and a growing number of people are making amphora wines and "natural" wines. What happens though when a trend isn't a trend, but culture? Does that change the wine? For those who poo-poo amber/"natural" wines, does culture make
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Is summer over yet? Please?? I know I complained about that weird cold and rainy early July we had
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I like Sevilen. Yes, it's one of Turkey's larger wineries and makes a slightly eye-popping amount of wine every year. But most of their wine is pretty solid. And I think that the winemaker, Sibel, is a rock star. The biggest argument I've always had with Sevilen is the less than top billing native grapes receive. Sure, Sevilen puts out some native grape wine, but not generally as part of the higher quality category. An exception has been the Plato series which included three wines: Kalecik Karası, Öküzgözü, and a Syrah-Öküzgözü. But no white wines. Until finally
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Well we had a nice three-day spring before summer dropped on us like a ton of bricks. Hopefully none of us have anything serious or strenuous that we need to deal with this month because it's going to be hot! Hot weather calls for some nice, bright wines to cool us all down. I have a few ideas of what I want to drink this month, what about you? Need inspiration from the universe to decide? Read on to find out what it recommends for you! Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) July will offer you time to address your mental health journey and progression toward self-betterment. Remember also that not
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I briefly mentioned the Yaban Kolektif during a previous post about Patkara. Since that collaboration with the Asmadan winery, Yaban Kolektif has partnered with Vinolus to create two new wines from the rare grape, Sungurlu. Similar to the Patkara origin stories, Sungurlu has previously only been vinified by Urla Şarapçılık as part of its limited Discovery series. Since then, we haven't seen anything from this grape. From Yaban's Instagram: Yaban is a step taken to reunite viticulture and winemaking in Turkey with its past and forgotten values. We lost our rich viticulture culture, winemaking techniques, traditions, festivities and rituals in a short time after the natural disasters and forced population
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Kayra Buzbağ and Kayra Buzbağ Rezerv have been around since forever. By which I mean at least the 10 years I've been knocking around Istanbul and many years prior to that. Kayra's facility in Elazığ has been there for so long that they city grew up around it. Kayra has two wineries, but the Elazığ location is dedicated to the production of its wines made from regional grapes Öküzgözü and Boğazkere. Which are the grapes that have always gone into the Buzbağ blends. Which means also that Buzbağ Rezerv has also always been a red wine. There's not been a Rezerv white until now. Hello Kayra Buzbağ Rezerv White
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Summer is definitely in full swing and we have the hot temperatures to prove it! Are you absolutely melting or hiding inside with your AC? Most of the year, I complain about having to walk up all the stairs to my flat but around now I start appreciate being higher up and being able to catch the breeze. Since it is so hot, I'm drinking a lot of white and rosé. I'm eyeing some of my lighter reds as well though, remember that so many of those can be chilled! What will you be drinking in August? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests! Aquarius (January 20 -
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In 2021, Diren Winery celebrated the centennial of founder Mustafa Vasfi Diren's birth. It did it the only way this winery could; by releasing a reserve Narince: the Vasfi Diren 1921 Narince. Diren and Narince are so intertwined, it's almost difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. Diren and Narince In the early 1940s, Tokat-born Mustafa Vasfi Diren attended the Bursa Agricultural Vocational School. While there he became increasingly convinced that the overall development of Turkey was dependent on agriculture. Coupled with the knowledge that Anatolia is the motherland of vitis vinifera grapes; his interest in viniculture grew. Diren spent the next 18 years learning about grape
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