Öküzgözü Taste Along
I continued my online wine tasting series last Friday with one of my favorite Turkish grapes, Öküzgözü. Öküzgözü wasn't always a favorite of mine. In fact
Read MoreI continued my online wine tasting series last Friday with one of my favorite Turkish grapes, Öküzgözü. Öküzgözü wasn't always a favorite of mine. In fact
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc enjoys great popularity in Turkey. It, along with Chardonnay, are not only the two most popular white wines here; they're even more
Read MoreFor my next online tasting, I tackled what is probably the most popular native white grape in Turkey: Narince. I went a little overboard
Read MoreI've had a couple few Juhfark wines in the past. But I think I'd never actually tasted Juhfark until this bottle of Fekete Pince
Read MoreMy foray so far into Slovenian wine has been limited but highly rewarding. I first visited Ljubljana with a dual purpose in mind: Christmas
Read MoreAfter the Bornova Misketi taste along went so well I moved on to one of my favorite Turkish black grapes, Kalecik Karası. Not only
Read MoreA few years ago I started offering monthly wine tasting events out of my apartment. Focusing on Turkish wine, I used these not only
Read MoreI recently gave an online taste along about the grape Bornova Misketi. While the trend has turned to making dry wines with this grape,
Read MoreI don't usually celebrate Rosé Day, pink wine not being a favorite of mine. However, this year the intermittent bright spring weather in Istanbul
Read MoreI recently read an article in Forbes by the great wine writer Dame Wine about British sparkling wine producer, Nyetimber. While I had the absolute
Read MoreSo. Canadian wine, eh? Although in this case I suppose I should say "oui" as today's post is about Quebecois wine. My family is
Read MoreThe Boğazkere grape comes from Diyarbakır in Turkey's farthest east vineyards. Commercial wineries do not exist in Diyarbakır. Wineries around the country either own
Read MoreAssyrtiko. The most iconic of Greek grapes immediately brings to mind images of Santorini, the distinctive vines, and the smell of the sea. Assyrtiko
Read MoreFrom one of the most recognizable names in Turkish wine comes the Turasan Seneler Cabernet Merlot Syrah blend. The Turasan Seneler line includes many
Read MoreSpring has finally spring in Istanbul. We don't have a lot of green in this city so every tender spring bud is a precious
Read MoreI know what you're thinking. "Wait, did you say Maui?!" Indeed I did. Kula is a white wine from Maui Wine, a winery located
Read MoreLast October Istanbites and I finally made it to Avşa island to visit Alp Törüner and his winery Büyülübağ. A lovely island in the
Read MorePorta Caeli, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is a luxury wine brand that tries to model itself after Bordeaux. The winery produces several series including
Read MoreTurkish winery Sevilen has winemaking facilities in both Mürefte and Aydın. They also have vineyards in several locations including Mürefte, Denizli, and across Anatolia.
Read MoreOne of the world of wine's "everything old is new again" biggest topics must be skin-contact white wine. Call it skin-contact white wine, amber
Read MoreLast summer, Istanbites and I visited Garova Vineyards and I wrote about a couple of the red wines the winery produces. Now it's time
Read More[caption id="" align="alignright" width="302"] From oesterreichwein.at[/caption] Whether you call it Welschriesling, Laški Rizling, Olaszrizling, Graševina, Riesling Italico, or anything else, what does not change is
Read MoreGordias winery, located outside Turkey's capital Ankara, is mostly known for its red wines. However, Canan, the one woman show runner there, does make
Read MoreLast year, Kırklareli-based winery Vino Dessera debuted a new line of wines. The Vino Dessera Entrika line up includes three wines: a red, rosé,
Read MoreI've been digging through older tasting notes, trying to pull out wines from wineries I've neglected, and stumbled across notes for the Kastro Tireli
Read MoreLocated in Turkey’s Thrace, just a stone’s throw from several other wineries on the Trakya Bağ Rotası (Thracian Wine Route), Saranta produces quality wines
Read MoreHidden away in the unwelcoming landscape of Turkey's north-eastern Aegean are the organic vineyards of Selendi Şarapları. The arid heat of Akhısar is not where
Read MoreThese are odd times. You don't need me to tell you that. Social distancing, self-isolation, working from home etc have all led to an
Read MoreFor this month's Wine Pairing Weekend, Nicole at Somm's Table invited us to write about wines from the ancient world. People often forget to
Read MoreLocated over a two and a half hour drive from Lebanon's storied Bekaa Valley, Gaston Hochar established Chateau Musar in 1930. While the winery
Read MoreAkın Gürbüz grew up among grape vines. In his childhood he worked the harvest in his family's vineyards. They did not make wine but
Read MoreThe twenty-first century may still be fairly young but the wine world has already been rocked by a movement as big as it is
Read MoreMüteşekkir is a new line from Chamlija, featuring a Pinot Noir, a red blend, and a white blend. Despite being an entry level wine
Read MoreLiving in Turkey I'm pretty well accustomed to outsiders' surprise that this is a winemaking country. Every once in a while, I get treated
Read MoreNamed for its elevation on the Güney Plateau, Sevilen’s 900 series includes three wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Fumé Blanc, and Petit Verdot. At 900 meters elevation
Read MoreSuvla Wines, on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula offers a huge range of wines. Currently the winery produces some 12 or 13 series.
Read MoreÖküzgözü Şarapçılık's name creates a bit of confusion. It is the only winery in Turkey named not after a family name or a vineyard
Read MoreOver the last couple years I've visited Greece once or twice a year. However, I have to make it to Santorini. The most famous
Read MoreAs my wine tastings wind down, sometimes a few of my regulars stick around for a chat. More often than not when that happens,
Read MoreAs close as I am to Armenia, living in Turkey, I still haven't visited. A pity as I hear Yeravan is nice. And of
Read MoreVinolus Winery makes possibly my favorite Kalecik Karası wine. Therefore, it came as a great surprise to me whenI realized that I hadn't posted
Read MoreBarel Vineyards was founded in 1997 with the aim of adding a little bit more taste to the life by the Akın family. While
Read MoreNestled in the sunny slopes of Megara, just 60 km from bustling Athens, lies Ktima Evharis. In 1992, owners Eva-Maria Boehme and Harry Antony began
Read MoreThere's some argument here whether or not the grape Karalahna means 'black pumpkin' (per Wine Grapes) or if it's a derivative of the Turkish
Read MoreAt the end of November during Turkey's annual Sommeliers' Selection event, I had the chance to participate in a vertical tasting of two wines
Read MoreAt Gotsa winery, wine is a family tradition that founder Beka Gotsadze is determined to preserve. Located 4200 feet above sea level in the hills
Read MoreIn a country that straddles two continents
Read MoreWine writer turned winery owner Şeyla Ergenekon and winemaker husband Çağatay cultivate organic grapes on the Gallipoli Peninsula. There they concentrate on French varieties
Read MoreFor over 40 years the Molnár family has cultivate vineyards on the southern slopes of the Örsi hill in Badascony. Now run by a mother-daughter
Read MoreMany moons ago I joined my very first wine club at Virginia-based winery Doukenie Winery. "the Bazaco family: a family-run winery built on courage, adventure
Read MoreTaking its name from the Syriac word for “peace,” Shiluh is Turkey's largest commercial Assyrian-style winery. Based in Midyat about 100 km from Mardin
Read MoreArchitect and musician (respectively) turned winemakers Bilge Benisü Öğünlü and Reha Öğünlü make wine they way they like it. After spending more than 15 years
Read MoreRecently I sat down (virtually anyway!) with Lori from Dracaena Wines and Exploring the Wine Glass to talk about Turkish wine. It was such
Read MoreBased in Elmalı, Antalya, Likya is one of Turkey's few Mediterranean wineries. Run by brothers Burak and Doruk Özkan, Likya's vineyards sit at an
Read MorePetit Verdot blends well with a number of Turkish grapes. In addition to this Öküzgözü blend by Gülor, it also does well with Karasakız.
Read MoreKırklareli-based winery Arcadia is not alone in cultivating Sauvignon Blanc. This French varietal maintains a spot as a major favorite here in Turkey. What
Read MoreI've read a lot of #WinePW posts but for one reason or another never managed to get my act together enough to participate. However,
Read MoreThe Hungaria Grand Cuvée Brut sparkling wine, or peszgő as it's called in Hungary is a delightfully affordable sparkling wine. I discovered this wine at
Read MoreEstablished in 2002 by wine and beer importer Seyit Karagözoğlu, Paşaeli is, in my opinion, one of Turkey’s most valuable wineries. More than just creating quality
Read MoreYapıncak is arguably Turkey's most up and coming native white grape right now. As a general champion of lesser-known Turkish grapes, Yapıncak has been
Read MoreI do not count driving among my core skills. If I'm being honest, it's barely a peripheral skill. Essentially, the best one can say
Read MoreRıfat Şekerdil, owner and winemaker of Öküzgözü Şarapçılık, has been a fixture in central Izmir since his father opened a small winery in the
Read MoreWhat Ali and Melis Emin intended as a future retirement project turned into full-blown careers. Located on the same grounds as the Emins's vast
Read MoreIn the next coming weeks I'm moving apartments. I'm really hoping to be in the new place before Christmas. The tree and decorations will
Read MoreI used to feel rather agnostic about Cabernet Franc. Wines left me with a feeling of “meh.” Over the last few years grape has
Read MoreAn embarrassingly long time ago, I received two vintages of the Büyülübağ Shah from Turkey's Oenotrian Wine Club. The bottles belonged to a collection
Read MoreOne of Turkey's most widely available native grapes is Bornova Misketi. It is, however, not the only type of Muscat grape to be found
Read MoreEarly in the twentieth century Turkish winemakers looked to Europe for pretty much everything. Not only were machines, corks, barrels, and even bottles coming
Read MoreProfessor Dr. Y. Sabit Ağaoğlu entered the world of wine through his study (and eventual resurrection) of the Kalecik Karası grape. However, that is
Read MoreI drink a heck of a lot of wine on a pretty regular basis. A few years I started keeping a spreadsheet to track
Read MoreSince I am back in Athens, I thought it a good time to dig out some old notes on Greek wines I've drunk. Because
Read MoreEach time I begin to explore a country's wine; there has been one wine that sticks in my mind as the one that made
Read MoreMerlot. That grape that, for good or bad, everyone knows. I have largely avoided Merlot for years. Not because Sideways turned me off of
Read MoreI am slowly coming around to Merlot. Not my favorite (long before that wine movie that's not about wine), it always seemed to strike
Read MoreProdom winery based in Aydın (eastern Aegean) produces several wine series. The Tellus line represents the winery's mid-range wines. They are widely available and
Read MoreI have chosen to tackle the Trakya Bağ Rotası (Thrace Wine Route) last because I find it the most frustrating. [caption id="attachment_11330" align="alignleft" width="267"] Please
Read MoreBozcaada based winery Corvus is one of the most recognized names in wine in Turkey. When Reşit Söley decided to give up architecture for
Read MoreUndeniably the smallest with only four members, the Güney İzmir (South Izmir) route even shares some of its members with the İç Ege Bağ
Read MoreNestled in a bowl-like cradle in mountainous Bodrum and nearly lost in the riotous greenery of the surrounding agriculture grow vines of Cabernet Franc,
Read MoreIn Part One of my Turkish Wine Routes series I covered the Urla Bağ Yolu. Now for Part Two, we're moving east from the
Read MoreTurkey's Aegean region is home to beautiful coasts, vistas, and culinary delights. Thanks to these advantages, it's also a hotbed for both domestic and
Read MoreTurkey, the land of Süleyman the Magnificent, Atatürk, the Bosphorus, the battle at Gallipoli, fezes, fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, ayran, kebab, Turkish coffee, and
Read MoreEver having tried Domaine Porto Carras' sparkling wine Yliana I've been wanting to try more of the winery's wines. During my next trip to
Read MorePinot Noir and I have not got on very well. Just not my grape. I have enjoyed a few, chiefly Chamlija's Felix Culpa. But
Read MoreFor some years now, Doluca has been making a red blend called Signium. The blend changes from year to year but it has always
Read MoreAkın Gürbüz grew up among grape vines. In his childhood he worked the harvest in his family's vineyards. They did not make wine but
Read MoreOne of my friends here in Istanbul is a lovely Austrian woman, Su. Originally from Graz, she's been in Istanbul almost 10 years but
Read MoreLast winter Istanbites and I visited Thracian winery Saranta. In addition to getting a tour of the winery, it's impressive cellars, and beautiful tasting
Read MoreLast December I met up with several friends in Ljubljana. We were there for the Christmas market (I try to visit one every year)
Read MoreUnless you're a serious student of history and/or a fan of the Roman Empire, chances are if you've heard of the city of Antioch
Read MoreUmurbey arguably makes one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in Turkey. While the winery's proprietor, Umur bey (Mr. Umur) does not want to be
Read MoreIt's been a little while since I've written about Chamlija's wines. While not writing about them, I certainly haven't stopped drinking Chamlija's wines. Or
Read MoreIt was while studying agriculture in Germany that Gaye Özcan, proprietor and winemaker at Nif Bağları, learned about the grape Solaris. Developed in 1975 in
Read MoreTo those for whom it's a surprise that wine is made in Turkey, it will come as an even bigger surprise to learn that
Read MoreSolera is my favorite wine bar in Istanbul. Frankly it's the only real wine bar in Istanbul. The staff here are friendly, largely knowledgeable
Read MoreI used to travel a great deal for my job. One such trip, in 2012, took me to Lebanon. On my one free in
Read MoreThe Aegean island, Bozcaada - formerly Tenedos-has a long history of winemaking. So long in fact, it rated mention in The Iliad. Today this
Read MoreThe Zero Kilometer food trend that began a few years ago involves restaurants that source ingredients from their immediate area. In many cases this
Read MoreAfter an exciting day exploring Tokaj with Taste Hungary I fell into bed at my hotel. A good night's sleep was definitely in order
Read MoreI joke that my research into Turkish wine essentially involved drinking from the bottom of the shelf up. But honestly that's actually what I
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