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Your July 2022 Turkish Wine Horoscope

 

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June has been just a crazy month for me! I hope yours has been calmer. I’ve barely been able to enjoy any wine at all. Eek! So, I’m looking forward to a quiet July.

Now that I have time to enjoy wine again, what will I be drinking? What will you be drinking in July? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests!

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Feeling stuck? At work, in your relationships, at life in general? Feeling like you’re not making progress in your life can be frustrating. And the more frustrated you feel, the more stuck you become.

At times like this, don’t stubbornly wave your independence flag. Moments of self-doubt and insecurity are what your friends and family are for. They’re there for you to lean on so don’t feel like you’re imposing or taking advantage if you do!

The wine for you …

Your wine for this month is a lesson in why it’s not always good to be independent! Nif Viognier Narince is a beautiful blend of two grapes – not one independent one. Rich and flavorful, it’s a great example of how well Viognier and Narince compliment each other.

Find it for sure on İyi Şarap and from Nif directly. I imagine it will also be available soon (if it’s not already) at places that generally carry a good stock of Nif such as Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, and Mensis Mahzen.

 

 Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

July will give you an opportunity for a change. Put aside the long period of all work and no play you’ve inflicted on yourself. Change your focus to a new project. Heck, change your focus to no project at all and give yourself a break!

Hopefully all that work you’ve put in has come to fruition. Celebrate! You put in a lot of time and effort and that’s worth a celebration. And while you’re at it, maybe throw a little inspirational light on someone in your circle who’s trying to realize their own project.

The wine for you …

Papazkarası is having a moment and I’m loving it. A new favorite comes from Şirince-based (yup, I know) Akberg with its Büyük Bağ Papazkarası. Fruity and lush, you’d never guess that a Şirince “fruit wine” producer could pull off this level of deliciousness! Talk about inspiration! 

Available at Grape Wine Boutique and Mensis Mahzen and, of course, from Akberg.

 

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

You’ll find yourself standing on the brink of achievement this month. A big career milestone, your own project, a personal goal, etc. Whatever it is, let the glory wash over you and gain confidence from it.

You’ve pushed yourself long and hard to get to this point. Now, like your Pisces friends, you can change your focus. Start living for fun again! Get excited about a hobby or passion that makes you happy.

The wine for you …

You deserve bubbles for whatever achievement this is! Try Suvla İyi Ki Rosé. A little pricey for dang sure. But worth it. Full of raspberry, rosemary, hazelnuts, tomato leaf, and cardamom – this is going to surprise and delight you with every sip. Besides, if you’re celebrating an achievement, why cheap out on crap bubbles that aren’t good? You deserve the splurge. 

Really only available at the various Suvla shops – try Cihangir and Kanyon.

 

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Bull in a china shop. Bull fights. Bully…usually when people think of bulls, they think of how big, tough, ungainly, etc they are. But they can still get their feelings hurt.

Your biggest challenge this month will be to work on communicating after your feelings have been hurt. Open up instead of emotionally shutting down.

The wine for you …

A month of exploring your delicate feelings deserves a wine that, if not exactly delicate, is at least elegant. And of course delicious! Sevilen Plato Kalecik Karası is for you. Full of silky, fruity goodness, this will remind you that you that, even if you are a bull, you’re a damn pretty one!

Look for it at Carafe, Dekante, İyi Şarap, La Cave, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen and elsewhere Sevilen is sold.

 

Gemini (May 20 – June 20)

Allowing yourself to accept support from others already seems to be a theme this month. And you Geminis are part of that.

Welcome the physical, emotional, and financial support that comes through others this month. You’ll notice the more you demonstrate your commitment to being a better version of yourself, the more other people will want to support you.

The wine for you …

An emotional month like this needs a wine that’s like a hug. Try Hus Syrah. Rich and velvety, it will envelop your soul (and your mouth) with all the comfort of a warm hug. And yes, it’s July. It’s a little hot for a full-bodied red wine. Sit in some air conditioning and enjoy!

Find it at Grape Wine Boutique, La Cave, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, and direct of course. Hus has a smaller production so her wines don’t appear everywhere but they are popping up in more and more shops!

 

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

I read a horoscope that said love is in the air for you this month, Cancer. But that’s a little misleading.

It’s not that you’re going to hook up or find Mr/Ms Right this month. Your priority should be on working on yourself to improve your current relationships (romantic and otherwise). First you need to work on finding self-acceptance so you feel safe in your relationships. Then you can open yourself up to finding deeper levels of trust and intimacy within them.

The wine for you …

From the same female winemaker behind Hus, Karnas, and Vinolu’s wines comes a Sauvignon Blanc with real depth: Tronia Sauvignon Blanc. Oak aged, making it a “fumé” style, this wine is an elegant example of MLF, lees ageing, and oak done well adding baked fruit, brown spice, and toasty-nutty nuances to the grape’s usual exuberant personality.

Get it from Beyoğlu Şaraphanesi, Casa Botti, Dekante, Mahzen 26, and Mensis Mahzen.

 

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

July brings new beginnings for you, Leos. Whatever the personal goal is, the project at work you’ve been thinking of starting, your ultimate life goal … whatever it is, July is the month. Don’t put it off any more.

Starting something and finishing are (clearly) two different things. Unless it’s me and a bottle of wine because really one equates the other. However, there’s celebration and relief even to be found even at the start of a project. The relief that you finally got up and got moving. Revel in that and let it help carry you to the next step.

The wine for you …

Look this month for a wine as big as you are. Try the Claros Mantos. Like Claros’s eponymous Merlot, this one is also fermented on native yeasts and unfiltered), so it’s a little wild and uncensored like you!), but it’s also aged in oak to give it a bit more refinement.

Get it from Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, Santé Wine & More, and Solera.

 

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

It’s time to stop being the person always giving and never accepting. For whatever reason you don’t allow others to comfort you, get over it. Easier said than done, I get it. But lower some of those walls and accept the love people are trying to give you.

Maybe when you can finally openly accept the affections from even a couple people in your circle you will find the courage and desire to explore why you instinctively hide away your true feelings from others.

The wine for you …

The universe has not set an easy path for you this month. That’s why you need an easy wine. Try Paşaeli Kolorko. Nothing complicated here; just a nice quaffable white wine perfect for sipping on your balcony or along the sahil. Refreshing with notes of red apple, citrus, and mineral, this is one thing you don’t have to think overly hard about this month. 

Likely found at Carrefour, Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, Macro Center, and Mensis Mahzen.

 

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

It’s party time! Sort of anyway. You’ll notice a serious uptick in your social schedule this month – with you at the center!

And because you’re at the center this month, don’t wait for the invites to come flooding in. Kick things off yourself. Suggest dinner out with a friend. Host a party, plan an adventure, or perhaps even book a wine tasting!

The wine for you …

Since you’re going to be such a social butterfly this month, you need a crowd-pleasing wine! Try Ma’Adra Rosé. Made with 100% Öküzgözü, this light-bodied and fruity wine is lovely on its own or paired with food. Even the ‘no way rosé’ drinkers will come around to this!

Look for it at Comedus, La Cave, and Mensis Mahzen and possibly also Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, and Rind.

 

Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)

Alright, let’s get real. You’re looking at a number of issues through you-colored glasses. You have the tendency to be blinded by your own beliefs, especially when your emotions are involved.

It’s time to start seeing things for how they are instead of what you want them to be. You’ll be surprised by how much this will positively impact various aspects of your life.

The wine for you …

An unusual wine, Shiluh Kustan also has its own outlook on this. Rare grapes Mazrona and Kerküş grow in Turkey’s extreme southeast. Their thick skins and high tannins make a white wine like no other. Sip on this to get you ready to look at the world through someone else’s lens.

Not available everywhere, but try Carafe, Carrefour, Mensis Mahzen, and Santé Wine & More to find it. It’s also on a few restaurant lists like Tarihi Pano Şarap Evi.

 

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)

It’s time to let go and heal this July.

Allow yourself to explore the depths of your feelings instead of denying yourself the freedom to feel deeply. It doesn’t matter how you reach this place: God, therapy, meditation… Whatever path you feel comfortable taking is the one you’re meant to be on.

Your commitment to your inner healing will pay off, allowing you to believe in yourself, be truthful about your experiences, and feel as strong and confident on the inside as you appear to be externally.

The wine for you …

Be sweet to yourself this month. Literally. Try Prodom Late Harvest Misket. Not so sweet as to be cloying, this takes Misket’s perfumed aromas, a touch of residual sugar, and lots of acidity and creates a very pretty wine. Lovely to sip on its own but also great for pairing. Try it with spicy food!

Get it from La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, and Rind.

 

Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)

Surround yourself with people who understand and value you this month. Well, I mean, generally this is probably something you should be doing! But it’s especially important this if you’ve been feeling a little closed off and afraid to trust.

Had a heartbreak or someone close to you let you down recently? That certainly can make it difficult to trust. Remember that you don’t need to build trust with these people you’re gathering close to you. It’s already given and received.

The wine for you …

Speaking of loved ones and heartbreak … Tomurcukbağ Gülcihanlı is such a special wine. The only non vintage Kalecik Karası on the market, this wine was named for the winery founder’s wife. She passed some years ago and he made this as a tribute for her. It’s one of the most beautiful expressions of Kalecik Karası. 

Not easy to find, I’m afraid but worth the effort. I’ve seen it at Dekante, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, and Santé Wine & More.