Since I am back in Athens, I thought it a good time to dig out some old notes on Greek wines I've drunk. Because
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Each time I begin to explore a country's wine; there has been one wine that sticks in my mind as the one that made
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Merlot. That grape that, for good or bad, everyone knows. I have largely avoided Merlot for years. Not because Sideways turned me off of
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I am slowly coming around to Merlot. Not my favorite (long before that wine movie that's not about wine), it always seemed to strike
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Prodom 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
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I 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
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Bozcaada based winery Corvus is one of the most recognized names in wine in Turkey. When Reşit Söley decided to give up architecture for
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Undeniably the smallest with only four members, the Güney İzmir (South Izmir) route even shares some of its members with the İç Ege Bağ
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Nestled in a bowl-like cradle in mountainous Bodrum and nearly lost in the riotous greenery of the surrounding agriculture grow vines of Cabernet Franc,
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In Part One of my Turkish Wine Routes series I covered the Urla Bağ Yolu. Now for Part Two, we're moving east from the
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Turkey'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
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Turkey, the land of Süleyman the Magnificent, Atatürk, the Bosphorus, the battle at Gallipoli, fezes, fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, ayran, kebab, Turkish coffee, and
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Ever 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
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Pinot Noir and I have not got on very well. Just not my grape. I have enjoyed a few, chiefly Chamlija's Felix Culpa. But
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For some years now, Doluca has been making a red blend called Signium. The blend changes from year to year but it has always
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Akın Gürbüz grew up among grape vines. In his childhood he worked the harvest in his family's vineyards. They did not make wine but
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One of my friends here in Istanbul is a lovely Austrian woman, Su. Originally from Graz, she's been in Istanbul almost 10 years but
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Last winter Istanbites and I visited Thracian winery Saranta. In addition to getting a tour of the winery, it's impressive cellars, and beautiful tasting
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Last December I met up with several friends in Ljubljana. We were there for the Christmas market (I try to visit one every year)
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Unless 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
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Umurbey arguably makes one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in Turkey. While the winery's proprietor, Umur bey (Mr. Umur) does not want to be
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It'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
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It was while studying agriculture in Germany that Gaye Özcan, proprietor and winemaker at Nif Bağları, learned about the grape Solaris. Developed in 1975 in
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To those for whom it's a surprise that wine is made in Turkey, it will come as an even bigger surprise to learn that
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Solera is my favorite wine bar in Istanbul. Frankly it's the only real wine bar in Istanbul. The staff here are friendly, largely knowledgeable
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I used to travel a great deal for my job. One such trip, in 2012, took me to Lebanon. On my one free in
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The Aegean island, Bozcaada - formerly Tenedos-has a long history of winemaking. So long in fact, it rated mention in The Iliad. Today this
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The Zero Kilometer food trend that began a few years ago involves restaurants that source ingredients from their immediate area. In many cases this
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After an exciting day exploring Tokaj with Taste Hungary I fell into bed at my hotel. A good night's sleep was definitely in order
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I 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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In high school one of my favorite songs was Aerosmith's Pink. And while pink anything, let along wine, is not my obsession, I'm no
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Recently I took a break from all things Turkey and, as an early birthday present to myself, spent five days in Hungary to learn
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As it has elsewhere in the world; pink wine has caught on in Turkey. Some winemakers make it grudgingly to satisfy market demand while
Read MoreI unabashedly love New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand is very far away and I keep putting off visiting. Partially because my friend Roy,
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I've never been entirely sure how my parents became a couple. Of course I've heard the story of how they met. But do I
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Despite a winemaking history that some scholars say extends back even further in history than the Republic of Georgia's (renown for claiming to have
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Şen Vineyards is a little-known winery tucked away in Balıkesir in Turkey's Marmara region. Better known for its harbor Bandırma (second only to Istanbul
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A negociant wine company started by friends Avto Kobakhidze, Givi Apakidze, and Zaza Asatiani, Wine Thieves claims to be “The finest quality Georgian wine
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Producing some 10 million liters of a wine a year, Kayra is not only one of the largest, but most recognized wine companies in
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I had this 2015 Paşaeli Karalahna Rose at a tasting with Şarap Atölyesi. Not being a fan of rose wines I wasn’t terribly excited to be
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Narince is perhaps the most ubiquitous of the native white Turkish vitis vinifera. Its native home is in the alluvial soils of the Black
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Nif Vineyards outside Izmir is owned an operated by the Özcan family. The powerhouse behind the winery is Gaye Özcan who spearheaded the winery's
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I've read a few articles recently that suggest Sauvignon Blanc has become rather passé. New Zealand wines apparently have had their heyday. Sancerre no
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For something like 15 years I worked in DC and abroad on international development programs. My specialty was media development. While I focused the
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I've always wondered who has the fantastic job of naming colors. The big Crayola crayon box had not only an amazing array of color,
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One of the magical things about living in Turkey is how one seems to stumble across history everyone one goes. Sometimes its obvious. In
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I'm quite fascinated by both composers and perfumers. Two completely different careers but requiring similar skills. Even the language used in both shares words.
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Duty Free has long been my friend while living in Turkey. Often shopping in duty free is the only place I can find (non
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When I first started seriously drinking Turkish wine my strategy was simple. Start at the bottom shelf at my local Carrefour and drink my
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My first introduction to raw wine happened before I even know what raw wine was. Georgia. Long before it became a Top 10 travel
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I grew up in a small town where I attended an even smaller school. While I did not enjoy great popularity, neither did I
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I go back to the States maybe once a year is all. For the last two years those have been work trips to DC.
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Having friends who travel frequently is a great boon to my wine collection. In particular, one friend of mine seems to travel constantly. Thankfully,
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O! learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love’s fine wit. Wine as Poetry In 2003 Can and Serpil Şener
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After six years of living in this country, my Turkish language is still pretty crap. Partially because my day job is conducted 98% in
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All of the teachers participate somehow and many of them wear traditional Austrian costumes of Lederhosen and Dirndl. As a rather typical American, my family is from
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Fumé Blanc and I are not friends. We do not get along well at all. I without exception prefer my Sauvignon Blanc fresh, clean,
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It feels like forever since my last post! While I try to post every Wednesday and Sunday, I missed the previous two weeks due
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Turkish Malbec? What? That can’t be right, you’re thinking. It pleases me to say that it is correct! Turkey makes Malbec. In fact, Malbec
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Chardonnay is a tricky beast. Or at least I find it to be so. I have been burned by so many cheap and overly and
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One does not immediately associate wine with piracy. Yet, Barbare, one of Turkey’s Thracian wineries, takes its name and inspiration from the famed (or
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While Turkish wine may be my raison d’être, that certainly doesn’t preclude enjoying wine from other countries. Greece in particular has captured me over the
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Just a few years ago, Papaskarası, a black grape native to Turkey’s Thrace, was something of a novelty. Very few producers worked with it.
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I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying several wines now from Domaine Porto Carras. Their P.G.I. Halkidiki Malagouzia is one of my favorite examples of
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Gemici Family Winery began as a couple of novice winemakers’ desire to share traditionally produced wine with visitors and wine lovers. It soon turned into
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Likya Winery in Turkey’s Mediterranean has a huge range of wines. From simple but quaffable entry level to complex high-end wines, Likya has something
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Established 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
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Fortified wine is not so much a thing in Turkey. However, for a country that’s shown itself to be a scrappy innovator in wine,
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I have an excellent friend here in Istanbul who is Austrian. Through her generosity, I have learned a great deal about Austrian wine over
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The popularity of blanc de noir wines (white wine made with black grapes) is on the rise in Turkey. The wines are made with
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I was really skeptical about the Cantine due Palme Tessuto Salento Primitivo when I bought it. Any imported wine that costs only 50 TL
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Datça Vineyard and Winery, conveniently located on the same named peninsula in southern Turkey, is a small, family-run winery. Here they make wine for
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Despite its long history with wine, Turkey has little wine culture. A great many of the Turks who make or love wine developed this
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The Alamos Malbec is one of the few readily available foreign wines at my Carrefour in Cihangir. One of the readily available, not French,
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More and more Turkey is becoming a great country for Sauvignon Blanc. The diverse microclimates and terroirs contribute to a wide range of personalities
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Nearby the famous ruins of Greco-Roman city Ephesus sits the southern Aegean winery Yedi Bilgeler. It was almost fated that owner Bilge Yamen, who
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I first encountered Our Wine at the 2017 Zero Compromises wine festival in Tbilisi. The No Compromises festival features wines that are organic, biodynamic,
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I firmly believe that sparkling wines should not be drunk only on special occasions. However, they are still my first choice for celebrations! Happily
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Chamlija Winery is a huge pioneer in Turkey. They experiment not only with various winemaking methods but also grape varieties. Chamlija is responsible for
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Gülor Winery, founded in 1993 by Güler Sabancı, has the distinction of being one of Turkey’s first boutique wineries. It has grown a lot
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In Eastern Anatolia sits the city of Elazığ. Quite small by Turkey standards, the city is home to about 350,000 people with only about another
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Yes, Turkey makes wine! In fact, together with Georgia and Armenia, Turkey has one of the longest histories of winemaking. As far back as
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Öküzgözü Şarapçılık's name creates a bit of confusion. It is the only winery in Turkey named not after a family name or a vineyard
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Central Anatolia is famous for being the home of Cappadocia. Even if you’ve never been to Turkey you’ve probably seen pictures of the “fairy
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Nestled in the Şarköy district of Tekirdağ (southern Thrace) is a small village called Uçmakdere. Prior to the population exchange of the 1920s this village, like many
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Verona is one of my favorite cities. Medieval charm highlighted by Roman ruins all within reach of the Soave vineyards. When it comes to
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I am so pleased to say that I’ve had my first article on Culinary Backstreets published today! Culinary Backstreets does so much to bring attention
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MMG Winery, owned and operated by the Güner Atalay family began as a simple hobby. However, after friends and neighbors expressed how much they liked
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Konstantinos Lazarakis MW describes Palivou Estate (Ktima Palivos) as “One of the more low-key Nemea producers, but one always striving to improve his existing
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Seyit Karagözoğlu’s path to becoming a winemaker began in the early 90s when he started importing wine and beer to Turkey. While his career as
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Cenap And founded Kavaklidere in 1929 in the Turkish capitol Ankara. What started as a winelover’s dream to promote Turkish grape varietals has grown
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I don’t often have the chance to drink American wine. While I’ve bought probably every California Zinfandel in Istanbul’s duty free shop (there are
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To the surprise of many, there are over 100 wineries in Turkey. Some of them produce wine on a colossal scale and are known
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Nif Vineyards might look slick and modern – in fact it’s one of the prettiest wineries here I’ve visited – but at its heart
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I first learned about Saranta Vineyards at the 2017 Sommeliers’ Selection Turkey event. Then for some six months after said event I waited on
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For 90 years the Kutman family has been at the forefront of the Turkish wine industry. When Nihat Ahmet Kutman founded Doluca in 1926
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One of the reasons why I love Turkey’s Suvla Wines is not only that they make wine at all price levels. In fact many
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Family is such an important thing, be it blood family or the family you make. I have a fantastic family here in Istanbul. However,
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When was the last time you were really wrong about something? While I’m sure there have been so many more times; one that really
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One of the wineries making up the Urla Bağ Yolu, Mozaik Winery sits in a place of idyllic, pastoral heaven. Vineyards run alongside paddocks
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