Your January 2023 Turkish Wine Horoscope
Happy 2023 to everyone! Who’s made a resolution for the new year? Share in the comments below!
I’m not one for resolutions generally but I can tell you one I shall NOT be making and that’s dry January. Dry January?! Obviously that’s not happening here. Start the year the way you intend to end it; pickled.
I already have a few wines lined up for myself for this month. What will you be drinking? Read on to find out!
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Does anyone else silently sing the Aquarius song from Hair when they hear the word? No? Just me…?
Anyhoodle, Aquaariuuuss, you may feel more in your element this January. However (there’s always a ‘however’), changes in your environment could prompt you to focus on your well-being. Reflection is fine because we should all learn from our past mistakes, but try to not beat yourself up over decisions you made in the past.
The wine for you …
Start off the year boldly with a big, full-bodied, bold wine like the Akın Gürbüz Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz. Beautifully made, rich in flavor and texture, this will get your year off to a fantastic start.
Find it at places like Dekante, İyi Şarap, Mensis Mahzen (or for Blend #1 try Santé Wine & More).
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Pretend this month that you’re not a fish but a bear and hole up in your cave. Not to avoid people specifically, but because some alone time will fire up your creative juices and your most brilliant ideas will find you during time spent alone.
Look into mindful practice like prayer, meditation, yoga, and/or journaling. These activities will not only bring you peace, but will help focus your mind and clarify those genius ideas.
The wine for you …
One of my favorite genius ideas is when a winery puts emphasis on local and regional grapes. Like the Tasheli Patkara. Have you tried Patkara yet? Personally, I think this grape prefers being a rosé (a very interesting one, no less) than red. Despite that, Tasheli is doing great things with Patkara in red varietal wines like this as well as blends.
Find it at Mensis Mahzen, Santé Wine & More, likely Grape Wine Boutique, maybe Casa Botti…
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
So. January. New month, new year, maybe some new beginnings?
You might feel some lingering questions / issues following you into the new year. Take a beat and decide if those can be resolved or not. For those that fall into the latter category, take some time to find resolution and peace within yourself and let them go.
Also, try to not panic if you feel like you’re going into the new year without a solid plan. Pheobe didn’t “even have a pleh” (and if that eludes you, we cannot be FRIENDS) but she still did pretty well for herself over the seasons.
The wine for you …
I have a plan for you though and it consists of only two words: Shiluh Mazrona. You may not be too familiar with this grape. For years it’s been buried in Shiluh’s Kustan white wine. Now, they’re making a varietal wine with this grape that comes from the Turkish border with Iraq and Syria. And the wine is as interesting as the grape’s provenance.
Also do yourself a favor when you drink it and let it sit outside the fridge for 10-15 minutes before you drink it.
Okay, I’m going to admit that I don’t know where to get this one in Istanbul. Try Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, possibly Casa Botti…you can always put together an order from the winery!
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
A burst of inspiration will break over you at the beginning of this month, mostly related to your work life. Think about some ways you can make your work more purposeful and efficient (and then share with the rest of us!).
One thing not to do this month is second-guess yourself. Be confident in your vision.
The wine for you …
One thing you won’t have to second-guess is your decision to follow my wine advice. Especially around the Arcadia Finesse Sauvignon Blanc Narince blend. These two grapes really seem to like each other and Arcadia’s blend has exciting tension and flavor.
Apparently I’m making life hard for you and your Aries friends because I honestly don’t know where to get this except directly from Arcadia.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
We all know the economic situation here is bleak. BLEAK. Which makes me sorry to tell you that you might find yourself struggling this month with your financial situation. This lack of stability can be scary, but where one door closes a window will open.
Or you can smash the window with a crowbar and gingerly crawl through over the glass.
As the month goes on, you’ll find it easier to find a pathway that doesn’t sway underfoot and you’ll be able to focus more on what you love to do instead of what you need to do. 
The wine for you …
Speaking of things one loves to do, I love to drink the wine you should check out this month: Paşaeli 6\N Karasakız. Paşaeli has two 6\N wines – one has a wee amount of Merlot in it. If you can find the varietal Karasakız though, it’s worth the hunt. Especially if this is a grape that you haven’t explored very much yet.
It’s not super easy to find, I’m sorry to say but you have a good chance at Casa Botti, Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, and Santé Wine & More.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
The new year is a great time to make a fresh start for any aspect in life. However, don’t be too fast shedding any old activity/habit/etc. Remember the tortoise and the hare. Quitting things cold turkey almost always backfires. 
If you’re really trying to kick a bad habit (or start a new good one!), find a buddy or program that will help both keep you accountable while giving you support.
The wine for you …
To help put you in the right mindset this month for starting new, good habits, try the Akın Gürbüz Mood white. This Sauvignon Blanc Misket blend from Gürbüz is a light, delicious, happy wine that will lift your spirits and give you a fresh outlook!
Look for it at Dekante, İyi Şarap, Mensis Mahzen, and anywhere else his wines are sold.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Find your Leo strength and lack of caring about others’ opinions this month! If you keep your mind and eyes open, this month will bring you new opportunities and/or relationships that others find…odd. 
The worst thing you can do is deny yourself true happiness out of fear of what others will think. You know what is good for you so shield yourself with your Leonine ego until others come around to what they’ve misunderstood.
The wine for you …
Like whatever it is you’re up to this month, the Akberg Büyük Bağ Narince has been one of the most divisive wines I’ve encountered here. It seems to be someone people either love or hate. I fall into the former category and hopefully you will too!
Sooo…I know Grape Wine Boutique has carried this in the past. Mensis Mahzen has a couple bottles of the Büyük Bağ reds left. You can of course always order from Akberg!
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Letting go can be difficult – regardless of whether you’re saying goodbye to a person, things, or a habit. Use this month to reconnect with yourself and sort out what is no longer working for you in your life; or what is no longer good for you.
It’s important to be honest with yourself during this process. You might find that it will take most of the month to get the energy to fully purge but, it will be worth it. Once you fully let go, you’ll find yourself more optimistic and energized about life.
The wine for you …
A fresh with with its own lively energy will help focus your mind on your goal this month. Try the Kavaklidere Cotes d’Avanos Emir. Chock full of tension, minerality, and bright citrus flavors, this will wake up all your senses.
Get it from Carrefour, İyi Şarap, Macro Center, probably Migros, Santé Wine & More, and more!
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Keep your eyes peeled this month for new ideas, people, and experiences that may not be your usual type. The new year will spark your creativity and spur you to try new things.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss what you feel may just be a passing fancy. Explore these new paths and see where they take you and how they might help you clarify and/or achieve your dreams.
The wine for you …
This may or may not be new to you, but Chardonnay blended with Emir was a surprise to see when the 7Bilgeler Herakleitos first hit the shelves. Narince is often the blending partner of choice for both Chardonnay and Emir. This was definitely a good bit of creativity brought to life from 7Bilgeler!
Likely places to find this will be Casa Botti, Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, İyi Şarap, Mensis Mahzen, etc.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
Not everyone understands people who need alone time and space. You’ll find that you have an increasing desire this month for both of those things. Don’t let fear of hurting people’s feelings keep you from taking both to recharge yourself.
For those wierdos who don’t get it and constantly need people around them, be polite but honest about why you don’t want to hang out. Whether they understand the need or not, if they’re friends they’ll back off and give you the space. If they’re not…well then maybe some time apart is a good thing.
The wine for you …
As you retreat into your cave this month, take with you a bottle of Hus Syrah. Contemplate it over a couple days (it wants some time to open properly). The wine will cocoon you in its richness and depth; so, even if you can’t physically get away from people, you’ll be in your own little mental retreat.
Look for wines from Hus at Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, possibly also Dekante and Santé Wine & More.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
Take some time early this month to tie up loose ends and/or pay off any outstanding debts. Then get ready! New journeys are on the horizon! Both literal and figurative; use these opportunities as a chance to invite more freedom, spontaneity, and excitement into your life. 
Although, if clearing up old, financial debts was on your plate this month, maybe don’t be too spontaneous with your spending!
The wine for you …
Make one new journey the chance to get to know the Arda Gala Blanc de Noir Papazkarası. Interesting, refreshing but not too hard on the bank account! It will be easy to feel carefree and spontaneous with this wine.
Look for it, and other wines in the Arda Gala series, at Casa Botti, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Santé Wine & More, and elsewhere.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
January may start off as an emotional month for you as you have some heart-to-heart conversations with your family. Make sure you step back and look at things logically before making any rash decisions based on in-the-moment emotions resulting from these conversations. 
Your psyche will even out as the month wears on leaving you time to find new ways to improve your financial situation.
The wine for you …
Speaking of family, your wine this month comes from family-owned winery Midin, specifically, the Midin Baluto red blend. An interesting blend that combines the usual Öküzgözü and Boğazkere with rare, regional grape Raşe Gurnık.
Midin wines are becoming more mainstream now and you may be able to find this at Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, possibly even Macro Center, and so on.