VinBodrum: Making a Dream Reality
When the Yürüt family began to make wine, they didn’t know that they would one day be sharing their dream with a considerably large crowd of wine lovers. Their initial curiosity led them to research, read, discover, and eventually establish Bodrum Winery. Erhan and Füsun Yürüt began making wine at home in the 1980s. While initially everything was a trial and error method, their interest grew leading them to attend wine making courses, tasting events, and tour vineyards. Eventually they devoted themselves entirely to what was once a simple hobby. In 2010 they officially turned the hobby into a full-blown business in Kızılağaç, Bodrum.
When Grapes Go on a Holiday
At first glance, Bodrum, a resort town, might seem like an odd place to make wine. However, its history began long before droves of domestic and international summer tourists flooded its shores. Halicarnassus (Halikarnas in Turkish) has a history dating back to the 15th century BC and Mycenaean presence in the area. It seems that after the Mycenaeans, everyone and his brother went through the city. From the Dorians to Darius III of Persia to Alexander the Great to a Christian settlement (at which time it was given its current name, Bodrum), this city oozes history from its pores. It is home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the tomb of Mausolus (whence the word mausoleum). It is also home to a small handful of Turkey’s remarkable wineries.
While Bodrum resort grounds look lush and green, the region’s land is actually quite inhospitable. Making it perfect for growing grapes.
Feeling Right at Home
When Istanbites and I showed up for our appointment with the Yürüt family they were expecting just the two of us. Not the three friends we had in tow. However when the five of us sheepishly turned up they graciously welcomed us all and said that we did right by bringing our friends. I’d got my hands on a couple bottles of their wine (not an easy find in Istanbul) so was eager to meet them and see their operations.
The winery is run out of their home. The basement holds several small fermentation tanks, five or six barrels for ageing, and all the corking, filling, labeling, and boxing paraphernalia. Outside they have a few vines (mixed grapes) planted as their “learning vineyard” and they entertain guests and wine lovers on the back porch. We were entertained by the whole family during our visit. This boutique winery (less than 10,000 bottles a year) involves three generations of the Yürüt family-including Erhan and Füsun’s young grandson. While he was more interested in our oohs and aaahs over his fire truck, there might be a future winemaker in him!
One of the best things about traveling around Turkey meeting winemakers is just that-meeting the winemakers. The people I’ve met range from interesting to eccentric and distant to warm and welcoming. The Yürüt family was the latter. I have liked and enjoyed many of the winemakers I’ve met but have been so charmed by very few. While Istanbites and I enthusiastically took pictures of everything we possibly could (including the group of tiny, adorable kittens playing among the vines) Erhan bey was as busy taking pictures of us. Taking pictures of them.
Vin bodrum is Turkish for “basement wine”. Like many family wineries in Turkey the Yürüt family’s story begins in the basement. So it’s not surprising that when it came time to name their wine they chose VinBodrum for the name. Bodrum Winery produces white, rose, and red wines under the VinBodrum label using Chardonnay, Bornova Misketi, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Öküzgözü. Unlike a lot of Turkish wineries they make no Bordeaux-style blends. They have no desire to imitate anyone else’s wines but to make Bodrum wines that emphasize their tastes and terroir.
VinBodrum Öküzgözü Rosé 2016
This was the first wine from Bodrum Winery I tried. We all know that I’m a rosé detractor but the first time I tried this everything I know about life was turned upside down. So I was delighted to try it again at the winery.
The color on this wine is an intense coral-salmon and set off by a fantastic label by Mine Arasan and Edito İleştim. The nose is as intense as the color displaying crushed berries, pomegranate, and hints of green. This is no one’s girly-girl rosé, especially not at a whopping 14.5% abv. The palate is to be taken equally seriously. Clean and balanced with racy acidity the flavors of berry, pomegranate, and mint build up intensity culminating in a crescendo of flavor.
VinBodrum Chardonnay-Bornova Misket 2016
One of the two whites made at Bodrum Winery, this is a blend with 85% Chardonnay and 15% Bornova Misketi and neither grape was 
aged in oak prior to blending or bottling. The intense, dark lemon color of hot climate fruit reflects the characteristics found in the nose. That small hint of Misket takes the Chardonnay to the next level adding aromatic aromas Chardonnay can lack. The nose displays a lot of exotic and yellow fruit aromas with hints of vanilla and floras.
Being as it is a hot climate fruit I was delighted to find a really nice level of acidity in the wine. Without the acid it could have been a saccharine and flabby mess. But with it, the wine is clean with flavors of caramelized pineapple and plumeria. Round and silky in the mouth yet singing with acidity, this 13.6% abv, medium-bodied wine is a delight.
A rare delight with a mere 600 bottles released on the market. The rosé too, with only 1,000 bottles is not much easier to find so I count myself very lucky to have tried these gems with charming Yürüt family! I cannot wait to drink more from Bodrum Winery.