Turquazz Article: Boğazkere In Australia: The Story of Lokum Wine An interview with Robert Paul
Most people, including many wine enthusiasts, have not heard of many (or any) of Turkey’s grape varieties. While Turkey shares some native grapes with its geographic neighbors, the majority are endemic to the country. There’s no Narince in California. No Öküzgözü in South Africa. Nor is there any Kalecik Karası in New Zealand…but there is Boğazkere in Australia.
The story of Lokum Wine began in 2005 when Robert Paul and John Runting (respectively a winemaker and a viticulturist) were visiting Istanbul. In a restaurant on the shores of the Bosphorus, they took a stab at ordering a bottle of Turkish wine from the menu. Eschewing the wines made with international grapes, they chose a Doluca “Kav” Öküzgözü-Boğazkere blend. While he says that he cannot recall the exact details of what was on the plate, he does vividly recall the flavors in his glass.
“I had never tasted a wine like this before…at once medium-bodied yet rich and full of flavour. Yes, there were tannins but they melted on to the palate especially in company with the food. The aromas were new to me, full of spice and exotic fruit scents.”
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