Your January 2026 Turkish Wine Horoscope
Today starts us off on not just a new month, but a whole new year. I don’t know about you, but my 2025 got better as the year progressed. I’m hoping to keep that good streak going through 2026!
Many people greet a new year with resolutions: what they’re going to do different (or differently), a new diet or workout routine, or – my personal gripe – Dry January. Honestly, abstaining for a month doesn’t do your health much of any good. You’re better off drinking less, but better, throughout the year. To that effect, let’s see what January has in store for all of us!
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
January lights a fire under your plans—in a good way. You’re buzzing with ideas and itching to act, but the real magic comes when you pace yourself. Start the month bold, then refine as you go. A surprise win arrives when you least expect it, especially if you say yes to something slightly out of character. Trust your instincts, but don’t forget to laugh along the way.
Power Move: Start before you feel “ready.”
Your Vibe: Confident chaos, but make it cute.
The wine for you …
Making just one wine with one grape is a messy business, making a bunch of wines with one grape? That’s got to be chaotic. Match your vibe this month with a winery that not only handles chaos well, but yes, makes it cute. Drink the Paşaeli Seahorse Çalkarası rosé. A rosé with a seahorse lable that comes from a series full of mermaids and sea creatures? What could be cuter??
This, happily, is pretty widely available. Look for it at places like Carrefour, Macro Center, Migros, and Metro, but also Casa Botti, Comedus, Dekante, Gözde Tekel, Grand Cru, La Cave, La Commune, Le Conte, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Solera, Vinus, etc.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
This month invites you to get cozy with your goals and actually enjoy the process. Progress doesn’t have to be rushed to be real. January rewards consistency, comfort, and a little indulgence—especially if it fuels your motivation. A money or work-related decision pays off if you choose what feels sustainable, not flashy.
Power Move: Choose the option that feels calm, not loud.
Your Vibe: Steady glow-up energy.
The wine for you …
This January, drink a wine that exemplifies glow-up energy: Kuzubağ Çal Karası. While not the first winery to pay series attention to the sadly neglected Çal Karası grape, Kuzubağ’s wines are helping to raise the reputation of not only the grape, but the Çal region as a whole. From a region once known from making bulk and table wine to fine wine – that’s quite a glow-up!
Find it at places like Casa Botti, Comedus, Gözde Tekel, Grand Cru, La Commune, Le Conte, Mensis Mahzen, Iyi Sarap, and Rind.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
Your mind is on fast-forward, and January is serving inspiration from every direction. Conversations spark opportunities, and a casual idea could turn into something legit. Just watch the temptation to do everything at once. Pick the two things that excite you most and give them your full attention.
Power Move: Follow through on one brilliant idea.
Your Vibe: Curious, clever, and slightly unhinged (in a fun way).
The wine for you …
Güney Köse, CEO and Chief Wine Sipper at Akberg has had a couple few brilliant ideas since taking over the winery. One of those, was the Akberg Büyükbağ Kecimen. Largely used for raisins before now, this black grape from Konya offers unexpected discoveries in a wine that invites you to dive deeper and deeper.
A limited edition wine, it’s not going to be easy (but worth the effort) to track down one of the few bottles floating around. Try your luck at Grand Cru, and Le Conte, ask at Solera.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
January feels like a soft reset. You’re more aware of what drains you—and what fills your cup. Setting boundaries early in the year brings instant relief. Something emotional shifts for the better when you finally say what you mean. Home, comfort, and people who “get you” are your anchors.
Power Move: Say no without explaining.
Your Vibe: Peaceful, protected, powerful.
The wine for you …
Comfort can take a lot of forms. When talking about comfort in wine, I generally look at options from wineries with solid reputations and grapes I know well. This cold and dark month, open a wine as powerful as your vibe – but do it with the comfort that – even if it’s a new to you wine – you know it’s going to be good because it’s from Arda and enjoy a bottle of the Arda Rezerv Shiraz this month.
Get it from places like Carrefour, Gözde Tekel, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Vinus, etc.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
New year, main character energy activated. January puts you back in the spotlight, whether you planned it or not. Recognition comes when you stop trying to impress and just be yourself. A creative risk pays off, especially if you have fun with it. Let joy lead.
Power Move: Do it your way, unapologetically.
Your Vibe: Effortless star power.
The wine for you …
Yapıncak isn’t a grape we talk about a lot. While there are a couple few Yapıncak wines floating around, it is one of those that, despite its own effortless star power, people just don’t work with a lot. Maybe because, like many stars, it is a bit of a diva and isn’t easy to work with (although there are a couple more wines in the works that we’ll see this year!). Regardless, amp up your vibe with a matching wine and start 2026 with the Sevilen Yapıncak!
For such a large winery, Sevilen’s wines can often be tricky to find. Look for this one though at Boldy, Le Conte, Macro Center, and Migros, occasionally İyi Şarap has it in stock.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
January loves your organized brilliance—but asks you to loosen your grip just a little. Not everything needs fixing. Focus on what truly matters and let the rest be “good enough.” A small routine change boosts your mood more than expected.
Power Move: Stop over-editing your life.
Your Vibe: Calm, capable, quietly iconic.
The wine for you …
When you’ve got something great, there’s no need to tweak it. Bring your power move into play with your wine this month, the Doluca Tuğra Boğazkere. Doluca knows it’s got something great going on with this grape and the whole Tuğra line. No need to mess with it by watering it down with foreign grapes or drowning it with too much oak. It’s just right.
You should be able to find it in many places like Carrefour, Macro Center, Migros, local tekels, İyi Şarap, Dekante, La Cave, etc, etc.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
This month is about balance—but the fun kind. January brings social wins, creative inspiration, and a reminder that you’re allowed to want what you want. A decision becomes easier once you stop asking everyone else’s opinion. Trust your taste.
Power Move: Choose for yourself first.
Your Vibe: Charming with a backbone.
The wine for you …
Move from Spain to Turkey’s Black Sea to open a winery? Are you crazy? That’s probably what everyone asked Mert Atay and Rifaa Wais when they decided to do just that. The couple moved to Amasya where they opened 502 Vineyards. Thankfully, they didn’t listen to any of the negative opinions from other people and trusted themselves. If not, you wouldn’t have the great 502 Vineyards Merzifon Karası to drink this month!
Get it definitely from Mahzen 26, maybe from Casa Botti, Gözde Tekel, İyi Şarap, La Cave, Santé Wine & More, Vinus…
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
January is transformative in a low-key way. You’re shedding something that no longer fits—without the drama. A private realization changes how you move forward, especially in relationships. You’re more powerful when you don’t announce every move.
Power Move: Move in silence.
Your Vibe: Magnetic, mysterious, unbothered.
The wine for you …
Magnetic is one way to describe my personal favorite (Turkish black) grape. Start the year off by drinking a wine to match your vibe and pick up a bottle of Canavar Ampelo Karasakız. Given its deceptive pale color, Karasakız often surprises with its depth of flavor and power. Like a magnet, it will keep drawing you back for more!
You won’t find this just anywhere. Try more specialty shops like Santé Wine & More, La Commune, Grand Cru, Comedus, Casa Botti, Mahzen 26, and Vinus.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
The year starts with big energy and bigger ideas. January fuels your optimism, but the real win comes when you turn excitement into action. A plan involving travel, learning, or a bold goal gains traction fast. Keep it playful—pressure kills the vibe.
Power Move: Commit to the adventure.
Your Vibe: Free-spirited with a plan.
The wine for you …
Yes! Embrace that power move of yours and commit to adventure this month; like the team behind Yaban Kolektif. They travel around Turkey looking for neglected grapes and vineyards in order to regenerate interest. One such adventure lead to (re)discovery of the Black Sea grape, Sungurlu. Winemaker José Hernández makes several wines for them with this grape (although sadly, apparently no longer the amphora Sungurlu, I really liked that). Follow adventure this month and drink any one of the Yaban Kolektif Sungurlu wines you can find!
Speaking of finding them…look for these at places like Casa Botti, Gözde Tekel, La Commune, Mensis Mahzen, possibly Dekante, Grand Cru, etc.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
January is your month to shine, and you know it. Goals feel clearer, confidence stronger, and people are paying attention. Just remember: rest is part of success. Celebrate progress instead of moving the goalpost again.
Power Move: Acknowledge how far you’ve come.
Your Vibe: Boss energy, but human.
The wine for you …
Follow that ‘boss energy’ vibe and pick up a bottle of one of the biggest wine bosses there is: Cabernet Sauvingon. There’s a lot of that grape floating around Turkey, but you cannot go wrong with the Arcadia Odrysia Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, when you find it, grab two! One for this January, and another for a year or 10 for now. This one will age nicely.
Luckily, Arcadia wines are pretty widely available. You should be able to find this from places like Carrefour, Dekante, Grand Cru, La Cave, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, Solera, etc.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Your originality is popping this month. January encourages you to think differently—and actually act on it. A quirky idea or unconventional choice works surprisingly well. Lean into what makes you you, even if it doesn’t make sense to everyone else.
Power Move: Trust your weird brilliance.
Your Vibe: Ahead of the curve.
The wine for you …
Quirky? Unconventional? That’s practically Nif Bağları’s motto. Except their motto is actually “Bottled Happiness”. The winery did make some unconventional choices though when planting grapes, opting for Italian grapes over the more popular French varieties. Moreover, Nif even brought Solaris, a hybrid German grape, to Turkey. Trust your – and their – weird brilliance this month and drink the Nif Solaris!
Look for it at Carrefour, Gözde Tekel, İyi Şarap, Le Conte, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, Mahzen 26, etc.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
January feels dreamy but grounding at the same time. You’re more intuitive about what’s worth your energy. Creativity flows when you protect your peace, and a moment of clarity helps you set a meaningful intention for the year ahead.
Power Move: Prioritize what feels nourishing.
Your Vibe: Soft, soulful, strong.
The wine for you …
Lean into creativity this month and gain inspiration from The Vinkara Atelier Öküzgözü (Winehouse up til 2020, for newer vintages it’s called Atelier). Made like no other wine in the country, this blends together “young” wine with small amounts of wines made in both the Ripasso and passito methods giving this wine an entirely different personality from any other Öküzgözü you know.
Neither common nor particularly rare, your best place to look for this is Vinus (where you’ll likely also find the best price). Check also La Cave, maybe Macro Center, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, maybe Metro.
As we all pull the cork on a new year, if you make one resolution, let it be to drink better wine all year long! Whether or not you live in Istanbul or just plan to visit sometime this year, my Wine Lover’s Guide to Istanbul 2026 edition guide will help you find all the best wines.
Happy New Year!
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