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Your December 2022 Turkish Wine Horoscope

 

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It’s December! The winter solstice is around the corner but, even more exciting, Christmas! My tree is up! Is yours? Especially in light of the tragedy we all faced in Istanbul last month, it’s more important than ever that we embrace this season of kindness, generosity, and giving. 

Those three wise mandates (haha see what I did there?) should most certainly be how we act towards others, but also to ourselves. Be kind to yourself…especially when it comes to what you drink! Splurge a little this month. So…what will you be drinking? Read on to find out!

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

If you’re in a relationship that isn’t working out for you, don’t hang onto it this month using the holidays as an excuse to let go. If you’re not getting what you need from, take this moment of realization to end things and focus on what you really want.

 The holidays are a tough time for many people. You’ve spent so long working on your mental and emotional wellbeing, but this month, you might feel as if you’ve taken a step backward. Don’t beat yourself up for it or force yourself to appear cheerful to match all the pretty decorations. Rely on the healthy coping strategies you’ve used in the past to get through hard times, and avoid self-isolating or pretending like everything is fine — you’re human, and your feelings will always be relatable to someone.

The wine for you …

End your year sweetly with one of the best sweet wines in Turkey: the Arcadia 333. Made with a combination of late harvest and botrytised grapes, this Sauvignon Blanc has exotic citrus and floral flavors paired with honey and searing acidity. Enjoy it on its own, with creamy and/or blue cheeses, Asian foods with a heavy ginger influence, or with spicy foods!

Find it at Dekatne, İyi Şarap, La Cave, Macro Center, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Santé Wine & More, etc.

 Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

There’s nothing wrong with choosing to see the brighter side of life, especially during the cheery Christmas season! But just make sure you aren’t turning a blind eye to the truth. Ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away. Take some of the energy this season creates to face some things that you maybe need to deal with.

The wine for you …

I can guarantee you’ve never before had an Öküzgözü – Boğazkere blend like this! This being Kayra Madre. A fortified, sweet version of this classic pairing. If you love Port this is for you. If you don’t love Port, this is your introduction! This gorgeous wine is a perfect pairing for a little something sweet or for sipping by a fireside. 

Get it from La Cave, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, and Santé Wine & More.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

All the goodwill energy this month has your self-confidence soaring! Before you translate that into ambition to tackle new activities, take a look back at any previous activities you merely skimmed. Leaving something half done in the past may cause your new projects to crumble.

The wine for you …

Your wine this month Aries is quite possibly something you’ve never heard of: Wine Experience Project Kalecik Karası. Created by Göknur Gündoğan & Işık Gülçubuk, this is a new project launched at the end of 2020. Currently they have just this one wine with grapes sourced from the vineyards of Kalecik-based winery Tafali. The Wine Experience Project respects vine, wine, and are “winebassadors” who include a mix of winemakers, wine writers, retailers, and select foreigners. It’s a lower medium-bodied fruity wine guaranteed to pair well with your holiday Turkey (or whatever it is you’re cooking up this season).

Available only (as far as I know) from La Cave. 

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

This is a tough month to talk about money. Gift buying, holiday parties, they all add up! But if you’ve been careless or overindulgent with your spending during the rest of the year, you may need to pull back a little on Christmas shopping. Look into revising your budget or ending paid subscriptions that no longer offer the same value. 

The wine for you …

Make sure you’re paying attention to details this month Taurus! Your wine is the Likya Patara Plus (not just the Likya Patara – I promise that they’re different). The Patara Plus is a pale rosé made from Tilki Kuyruğu – a grape unique to Likya. It’s a fruity rosé with just a splash of minerality and citrus – a charming way to end the year!

Buy it from Rind and Iyi Sarap, drink it at Wayana!

Gemini (May 20 – June 20)

You may find yourself dreaming about new career prospects this December. However, dream jobs aren’t always as good in reality as they seem on paper. Before you take any leaps into something new, make sure you are clear on what it is you want out of life. 

You’ll definitely face challenges on this path but don’t think of them as roadblocks, rather opportunities to get more specific about what you want to achieve. It’s time to invest in your future by setting clear goals – what that dream job of yours may or may not help you achieve.

The wine for you …

Let’s end the year on an educational note! Heard of Zlahtina? This is a Croatian grape that grow – of all places – on Bozcaada. The Amadeus Zlahtina is the only one because Oliver is the nutty guy who grows European island grapes! Dry, easy to drink with citrus and stone fruit flavors, it’s a pretty little wine that will have you thinking you should spend more time next year drinking island wines…preferably on the islands!

And you’re welcome for the new year’s resolution. 

Get it from Grape Wine Boutique and La Cave.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

December is a month of power for you Cancer! You’ll feel a surge of empowerment and ambition. Believe in yourself and that you can achieve anything you set your mind to doing!

As the month goes on you may find that you need help to keep up the progress and will need to focus on partnerships. Make sure that as you keep your standards and expectations high, you’re holding yourself to the same standards you expect from others. 

The wine for you …

You might be an ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) but please trust me that the Saranta Chateau Murou Chardonnay is fabulous. According to the winemaker, all of Saranta’s white wines are bottled unoaked (even the reserve Chateau Murou line). Since it’s usually that oaky-butteryness that turns people off of this grape, you’re “safe” here. The wine has intriguing fruity-smoky-flinty notes that will keep you sipping right up until the bottle is empty. 

Look for it at Dekante, İyi Şarap, and Mensis Mahzen, possibly also Casa Botti or Grape Wine Boutique. 

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Plans don’t always work out well, or how you wanted them to, or sometimes not even at all. But that doesn’t mean it was a bad idea or that you should give up hope. 

This month, turn your attention back to reigniting a dream that didn’t reach its full potential. If you experience slow progression — the kind that begins with one step forward and two steps back — remember that every opportunity presented is a chance to improve on your previous work. Don’t give up or start over. Keep the bigger picture and end goal in mind to keep yourself motivated. 

The wine for you …

Arda Solera Cabernet Franc is another collaboration between Arda Bağları and Süleyman Er of the wine bar Solera. Just a kiss of oak means that you’ll still be tasting plenty of Cab Franc’s yumminess. You may want to let this one breathe a bit as the tannins right out of the bottle are a little rough. Get it in time to celebrate #CabFrancDay on December 4!

So obviously you can get it from Solera – but it shouldn’t be your first shopping choice. Trust me on this, the bottle will cost you minimum twice there. Look instead at places like La Cave and Rind that traditionally carry a fair amount of Arda’s wines. 

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

If you’ve been struggling with relationships, use this month to figure out what it is you really want from a life partner. When you meet someone, take things slowly to give both of you a chance to build love and trust without pressure. 

Elsewhere, Virgos may face some new challenges that test your work-life balance and how many responsibilities you can realistically take on at once. Don’t say yes to everything. Have a hard think about you can really do while maintaining boundaries and priorities.

The wine for you …

What better way is there to celebrate the season than with bubbles!? That’s why your wine this month is the Paşaeli Yapıncak Pét-Nat. There’s an ever so slight hint of residual sugar that the first vintage of these fun bubbles didn’t have which really helps highlight the fruit flavors and balance with the slightly hoppy finish. 

Find it at La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Grape Wine Boutique, probably Dekante (but it’s stupid expensive there, go to La Cave or Mensis).

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Don’t let the present pass you by because you’re too focused on what you’re hoping will happen in the future. This month not only is it important to focus on the now, but you have so many opportunities to do so!

Use all the holiday cheer, get togethers, Christmas cards, etc to develop a fulfilling personal life that will inspire you to live for today rather than tomorrow. Spend more time around family and friends.

If you need a little extra oomph, try redecorating your your space (holiday themed or otherwise) in a way that will create a sanctuary for yourself.

The wine for you …

Treat yourself to a very different Sauvingon Blanc this season! There’s soooo much SB in Turkey running the gamut from rip to racy and steel to oak. So what makes the Kuzubağ Sauvignon Blanc different and special for the holidays? The way it’s made. Skin contact, whole bunch press, just a kiss of oak…like a present wrapped up with all the bows!

 Find this on İyi Şarap and at Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, and Rind. 

Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)

It’s okay to ask for help – especially from professionals. There are a few things in life we cannot do for ourselves and dealing with mental health issues is a BIG one. Don’t be afraid to look for professional help in that arena. Having someone to answer your questions and help you through uncertain and unstable times will be an invaluable investment in your future.

The wine for you …

Pop that cork and let the bubbles flow! Well, in this case, pop that crown cap because you’re celebrating the holidays with the Arcadia Pét-Nat. Made from 100% Sauvignon Gris (not a grape we hear a lot about!) these are delightful creamy bubbles that will pair well with everything from your cheeseboard to your Christmas turkey. Or screw the food and drink them on their own because they are so scrummy, the bottle might be empty before you make it to the dinner table!

Ask for it at Casa Botti, Dekante, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Santé Wine & More.

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)

In this month of togetherness, you might be suddenly caught off guard by the realization that you’re not being invited to as many holiday gatherings as you thought you would be. Take some time early this month to examine whether or not you haven’t seen certain friends in a while because of something simple like schedule conflicts – or if there’s a bigger conflict that caused a small rift that has slowly widened. Put some effort into building bridges and repairing those relationships that you don’t want to let go of. The season is a great excuse to do a little legwork on that … especially as people often tend to be more forgiving around now!

The wine for you …

Round out your year with a wine Nif Bağları Viognier. Once part of the winery’s ‘Private Collection’ series, it’s not widely available (and with a much cooler label than in the picture I have). Silky smooth, just a touch oily, and with ripe fruit and floral aromas, this is going to go so well with your roast Christmas chicken (so much easier than turkey) or even your Christmas curry if you’re going that route!

 Get it from Carrefour, Dekante, İyi Şarap, sometimes La Cave, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Grape Wine Boutique and Rind…

Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)

The Christmas holidays can feel very overwhelming for many, especially when they only add an additional burden to an already fraught life. If you want to throw yourself into the celebrations this month, try to push through some difficult challenges, work projects, tasks, etc early this month to clear a path for joy and frivolity later. 

The wine for you …

Like your Leo friends, you’re drinking a wine from Arda this month; the Arda Reserve Semillon. Maybe you all should get together for a holiday dinner party and compare! If you haven’t ever tried Semillon before, this is a great intro for you. Semillon has become more popular over the last four-five years but it’s not new in Turkey. In fact, it was the first grape imported into the country in the 1940s! Arda’s version is full of exotic citrus fruits, flowers, and almonds. Perfect for sipping on its own but also very food friendly. 

Tip: buy two bottles and age one for even just a couple years. You’ll thank me. 

Check La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, and Rind but it also might be available at places like Casa Botti, Dekante, Macro Center, Grape Wine Boutique, etc.