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Top Papazkarası Turkish Wines to Try

 

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Papazkarası has been staging a quiet take over. When I first discovered the grape, maybe you could find two or three wines. Now, this ancient blue-black grape variety native to Turkey’s upper Thrace abounds and wineries are releasing not just red wines, but also rosés and blanc de noir wines.

The name Papazkarası roughly translates to “black of the priest (or) pope”. In Greece, the variety is registered as “Kara Papas”, although little, if any, Papazkarası wine is produced there. In Turkey, the spelling varies between Papazkarası (with a ‘z’) and Papaskarası (with an ‘s’).

You can read more about the here!

Now that there are so many of these wines to enjoy, where do you start? Here, of course!

Arcadia Blanc de Noir

Arcadia’s blanc de noir Papaskarası has been the newest white version of this to hit shelves. And every bit as much as you would let the reds below breathe – let this one do so as well!

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 13.5%

Nose: Very fruity with notes of pomelo, peach, and lemongrass

Palate: Round and slightly unctuous balanced by a lively acidity. White peach touched with grapefruit, white petals, and the smallest splash of vanilla cream on the finish.

SRP: ~325 TL

Where to find it: Grape Wine Boutique, La Cave, Macro Center, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Rind

Akberg Büyük Bağ Papazkarası

Akberg is located in the Aegean, not so very far from Ephesus. The winery brings in its Papazkarası grapes from Thrace from the Suloğlu area of Edirne. This was their first vintage with Papazkarası and, if I’m not mistaken, the wine both fermented and aged in stainless steel only.

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 14%

Nose: This very much shows the earthier side of this grape with mushroom, tack room, sandalwood, and pine forest over cherry and mint.

Palate: Fruit comes through more on the palate and the fruit, coupled with low tannins and a healthy dose of acidity, give the wine a juiciness with flavors of cherry, pepper, spice, flowers, and sandalwood.

SRP: ~200 TL

Where to find it: Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen

Arda Gala Papazkarası

Like Akberg, Arda has a fairly simple approach to the grape. The wine takes its name from Lake Gala, whence the winery sources its grapes. The lake sits in the west of Edirne, not so very far from the Thracian Sea. 

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 12%

Nose: Red fruits, earth, spice, dashes of allspice and eucalyptus, forest spices

Palate: Medium-bodied with a silky mouthfeel, flavors of red fruits and dried flowers 

SRP: ~200 TL

Where to find it: La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Metro, Santé Wine & More, Solera, Rind

Paşaeli Papaskarası

Paşaeli does not make a Papaskarası every year. The winery sources the grapes from a grower in Kırcasalih, Edirne … but only in the years they deem the grapes of high enough quality. 

I’ve seen a few vintages including 2013, 2016, and I believe there is now a 2019 or 2020. For this vintage (2016), 10% of the wine matured in 225 liter French barrels before blending and bottling. 

Vintage: 2016

ABV: 14%

Nose: Earthy with moss and mushroom, black pepper, cherry, and red currants

Palate: Medium-bodied with smooth tannins and high acidity. Cherry and red plum, earth, and tones of all spice on a lingering finish.

SRP: ~385 TL

Where to find it: Carrefour, Dekante, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Metro, Santé Wine & More

Saranta Chateau Murou Papazkarası

I have enjoyed Saranta’s wines since I tried them the first time – and that was a Merlot! It makes me so happy that the winery is making more forays into native grape production. First with Öküzgözü, then with Papazkarası, and now even a Kalecik Karası! The Papazkarası is a new favorite of mine.

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 15%

Nose: Pomegranate, cherry, black pepper, and pine forest

Palate: A well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with soft tannins and juicy acidity and flavors of red currants, earth, and dried herbs

SRP: ~500 TL

Where to find it: Dekante, İyi Şarap, Mensis Mahzen, Online Mahzen

Chamlija Kara Sevda

Chamlija makes many wines with Papazkarası including a blanc de noir, a rosé blend, two monocepaj red wines, and a red blend. The Kara Sevda, however, whole bunch pressed, aged 12 months in stainless steel, and both unfiltered and unfined prior to bottling, is what stands out the most to me.

Vintage: 2018

ABV: 13.5%

Nose: Purple flowers, freshly tilled earth, cracked black peppercorns, and leather

Palate: Medium-bodied and silky with loads of black pepper and dirty strawberries. But you know, good dirty strawberries. Like you’re picking fresh berries, drop a couple, blow off the worst of the dirt, then pop them in your mouth. No? Was that just my childhood. You all missed out.

SRP: ~385 TL

Where to find it: Dekante, Macro Center, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Metro, Online Mahzen

Gürbüz Papaskarası

I last visited Akın Gürbüz in 2020 and during that visit, saw several barrels of Papazkarası which thrilled me to no end! The label says nothing about oak ageing but, having seen the barrels (and later smelled the wine), the oak use is unquestionable. 

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 13.8%

Nose: Smoky in a charcoal grill kind of way with red fruits, cherry, boysenberry, wild mountain berries,  leather, sandalwood, cardamom, dried rose petal, overtures of chocolate

Palate: Bright acidity and structure with perceptible but elusive tannins and flavors of leather, sandalwood, dried Bing cherries, roses, black pepper, and carob

SRP: ~450 TL

Where to find it: Dekante, İyi Şarap

Note: The suggested places to find these wines are not the ONLY places. Only where I have seen them myself. If anyone sees them elsewhere, please let me know. 

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.

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To support rescue efforts in Syria, donate to White Helmet 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”