Your July 2023 Turkish Wine Horoscope
Well we had a nice three-day spring before summer dropped on us like a ton of bricks. Hopefully none of us have anything serious or strenuous that we need to deal with this month because it’s going to be hot! Hot weather calls for some nice, bright wines to cool us all down.
I have a few ideas of what I want to drink this month, what about you? Need inspiration from the universe to decide? Read on to find out what it recommends for you!
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
July will offer you time to address your mental health journey and progression toward self-betterment. Remember also that not all self-betterment/mental health work has to be deep or difficult! Take advantage of the healing vibes this month is putting out to you and amplify them by spending some time on self care.
Have a hamam day (or even a home spa day!), take some time to listen to your favorite album without making it mere background noise, take a leisurely stroll or a guilt-free nap!
The wine for you …
This month for a wine you should try Vino Dessera Entrika Emir. You need a light wine because you’re already dealing with a lot of heaviness and pressure in your life. Vino Dessera’s Entrika Emir is reasonably priced (well it used to be anyway!) but is light-bodied with lively acidity and citrussy-floral flavors that will make your whole life seem a little more sprightly.
Available at Carrefour, some Macro Centers, winery direct, and let me know if you see it anywhere else!
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
You can feel a glimmer of excitement tingling just under skin as this month brings you that month closer to manifesting something you’ve been working on/trying to achieve! It may not fully happen this month, but you’re going to start getting a taste of what that success will be like!
The wine for you …
Try the Diren Narince. Diren knows about success. This winery took a gamble on being the only one to set itself in the Black Sea in the home of Narince. While there are a great many wonderful Narince wines now from all over the country, Diren has the satisfaction of knowing its wine is quite possibly the variety standard.
Find it at Carrefour, Migros, Macro Center, likely Metro, Mensis Mahzen, Gözde Tekel, probably your local tekel…it’s not exactly hiding.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Don’t rush your way through work, Aries. Slow down, take the time to be careful with what you’re doing. You may have promised people the moon and that you’d have it for them tomorrow…but careful and precise is always better than fast and sloppy. People will forgive a slightly delayed delivery time for the great work you give them.
The wine for you …
A nice, easy, don’t have to think too hard about it wine for you this month! 7Bilgeler Lasos rosé. For one thing, it’ll really hit the spot in this heat! But it’s also a perfectly lovely wine to sip on its own or pair with light dishes.
So that you can continue on your ‘taking it easy’ path, this wine is pretty widely available. You can find it at places like Comedus, Dekante, İyi Şarap, La Cave, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Santé Wine & More…and possibly Casa Botti, Macro Center, etc.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Have you ever experienced being stared down by an angry bull you know is seconds away from charging? The people in your life surely do. Have a care for all your relationships this month. It’s hot and horrible outside but try to keep a cool head and check your stubborn and critical habits around the people in your life. Speak from the heart and remember that you and your loved ones (family, friends, and so on) are generally on the same team…
The wine for you …
To put you in the right mood…Gürbüz Mood Rosé! This blend of Kalecik Karası, Papazkarası, and Cinsault is fresh and cheerful. Delicate red fruit flavors marry with citrus fruits and bright acidity. Refreshing and easy to drink or perfect to pair with light summer foods.
Get it from Mensis Mahzen, İyi Şarap, Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, etc.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
We all have ups and downs in our lives. You, however, have a bad habit of clinging to the downs, fixating on small flaws and failures, and being too critical…especially on yourself. Revel in the victories! All of them, big or small. Life is a long game and you need to enjoy the good times and let go of the little nitpicky stuff. Hanging onto it will only hold you back and make for a sad existence. 
The wine for you …
The down here is the awful, awful label. But the up is the wine in the bottle! Try Doluca Kav Narince this month. It’s going to become a wine you reach for often (despite the awful label), especially as you can enjoy it with the lighter foods you may want to eat during the summer heat!
Another happy thought is that this is pretty widely available. Carrefour, Migros, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, possibly La Cave…you shouldn’t have a hard time finding this.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
The best relationships are the ones that lift you up and allow you to be you. Pour some energy this month into sustaining – or shoring up where need be – your relationships both so that you’re providing that lift for others, and getting it for yourself. These strong and supportive relationships will make it easier for you to overcome any fears and insecurities and express your opinions and emotions freely. 
The wine for you …
Some relationships are toxic and you don’t need those in your life. And boy are there such relationships in the wine world! If you want the gossip about your wine this month, Likya Fox Tilki Kuyruğu, get in touch. The wine itself though is a delicious mélange of tart and sweet red fruits. Maybe share a glass with a trusted friend and toast your (good) relationship.
Look for it at Vinus*, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, and Grape Wine Boutique are likely to have it, Dekante, Casa Botti, Mahzen 26 and Santé Wine & More are likely candidates.
*I don’t know the price everywhere but the standard format bottle (not the magnum of the initial release) is a GREAT price at Vinus! It was under 300 TL when I got it (in May).
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Watch your pocketbook this month, Leo. Look for ways to improve your budgeting skills and curtail your spending habits. Treating yourself from time to time is fine, in fact it’s great! But be careful you don’t go overboard and spend unwisely. 
The wine for you …
This month your wine is a mini splurge: the Paşaeli Sıdalan. Happily, Paşaeli isn’t one of the wineries guilty of greedflation these days so, while the wines aren’t cheap, neither are they madly over priced. The Sıdalan is fabulous for sipping under a summer sun with flavors of candied lemon, sweet pineapple, pear, and wet stone. Very fresh, clean, and bright with relatively low alcohol, you’ll barely notice it disappearing!
The universe is also going to make you work for this one since it is not the easiest to find. Mensis Mahzen, Dekante, probably Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, I think sometimes Santé Wine & More has it…
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
You’re wracking up some victories this month, Virgo, in both love and work. Projects are starting to bear fruit and you’re able to enjoy some satisfying moments of achievement. However, don’t allow yourself to bury your insecurities under temporary triumph. They’ll only fester there and come back another day to overwhelm you. Seek out the people you trust most to open up about these insecurities. Your victories will be all the better for it.
The wine for you …
Reach for a bottle of Chamlija Strandja Rose this month, Virgo. A little pricey but kinda worth it. A blend of Papaskarası, Kalecik Karası, and Pinot Noir, it balances fruity and floral aromas with crisp acidity and elegance. Wines made with Papaskarası are a pet project of Chamlija and the winery takes the grape very seriously. So they’re not making a rosé just for the sake of adding something pink to it’s profile.
Look for it at Mensis Mahzen, Online Mahzen, Dekante, possibly Casa Botti, Santé Wine & More, maybe Macro Center?
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Expect a full calendar this month Libra. Your social life is booming! You may even meet more potential friends this month as you mingle and share your passions and interests. You’ve got some interesting hobbies; use them as conversation starters!
Just make sure to not burn out as you’re fluttering around from event to event! Don’t forget to take some down time.
The wine for you …
Since you’ll be entertaining and entertained this month, you need a wine that’s both crowd-pleasing AND easy on your pocket. Reach for Vinkara Narince. Simple but delicious, enjoy it on its own or with pretty much whatever you’re serving…it’s hard to go wrong here!
Look for it at places like Carrefour, Migros, Macro Center, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Iyi Sarap, Savoy Tekel, Gözde Tekel, and so on.
Note: It’s a different label now than the one pictured.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
Look into collaborations during the month of July Scorpio. Working with others will often help you make the success and dreams you have a reality. This isn’t about chasing recognition, but finding partnerships that will help lift you up. So maybe you give someone a better deal than you would normally in return for non-monetary benefits. Explore goods exchanges with people who have skills in areas you need but lack. 
The wine for you …
This month, try Ma’Adra Chardonnay. This is a wine even ABC drinkers will enjoy! Some time resting on the lees adds a roundness to the mouthfeel and richness to the flavor without sacrificing acidity. No oak means lots of yummy fruit without any of that overwhelming buttery vanilla nonsense. Clean, refreshing, and delicious.
Ma’Adra wines don’t have as wide a distribution as they should. But you can try looking at Mensis Mahzen, Grape Wine Boutique, sometimes La Cave has it…send me a message if you see it elsewhere!
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
There’s a lot of give and take to life. Which means that you are both a student of life and a teacher. As you explore new topics and either modify or strengthen your beliefs and value, remember that you have valuable knowledge to pass on as well. You don’t have to pretend to know everything about any particular subject matter, but chances are that you have more knowledge or experience in something than others around you do. Be generous with what you know and others will do the same for you. 
The wine for you …
Reşit Şöley, founder and owner of Corvus winery, says that he is an eternal student. And trust me that he will tell you everything he knows (even if you didn’t ask). But in the spirit of continuous education, this month your wine is one of his, the Corvus Zeleia Vasilaki. This Bozcaada-specific grape will instantly transport your mind (if not your body!) to the islands and inspire you to pair the wine with all manner of fish and seafood and many of Turkey’s yağlı meze.
Fairly widely available, get it from Carrefour, probably Migros, Macro Center, Iyi Sarap (most expensive here), and any number of tekels.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
During July, practice opening up and being vulnerable, Capricorn. You don’t have to fear the intensity of your feelings, but let others help you carry them if you do. You have to be willing to ask for help or tell others what it is that you need from them – on all levels. This includes emotional, romantic partnerships, at home, at work, etc. If you keep everything bottled up and don’t reach out for the support you need, you may start to resent people around you for what you perceive as their lack of caring or interest in your relationship. 
The wine for you …
Your wine is the Kuzubağ Çal Karası blanc de noir. You might remember Kuzubağ’s Çal Karası (red) and the rosé from the winery’s freshman vintage last year. They’re back with a 2022 vintage and new wines including a blanc de noir. Fresh, fruity, and delightful, this is a wine that’s going to become a regular in your fridge.
Find it at Rind, Iyi Sarap, maybe Mensis Mehzen, Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, and Santé Wine & More are also likely to carry it.
Please Help Turkey and Syria!
Turkey and Syria are still in desperate need of help after the horrific earthquakes that have decimated large areas of Turkey’s south east and northern Syria, please consider donating to one of the relief efforts if you are able:
- Animal rights organization Haytap is helping animals affected by the earthquake, and displaced people who need a place to stay with their pets. Other animal-focused groups such as Dört Ayaklı Şehir (Four-Legged City) and Work Animals Rescue Foundation, are also helping farm animals, street animals, and pets.
- Donate to civil society groups working on the ground to provide immediate relief and medium- to long-term recovery to survivors via UK-based Turkey Mozaik Foundation or US-based Turkish Philanthropy Funds.
- Donate to the volunteer response being carried out in Turkey by the trusted, independent NGOs İhtiyaç Haritası (Needs Map) or Ahbap.
- Hayata Destek (Support to Life), is a Turkish NGO experienced in providing humanitarian relief and working with underserved communities.
- World Central Kitchen provides funds and food to those still living in tents in the affected areas.
- To support rescue efforts in Syria, donate to White Helmets and SAMS.
- Field Ready Türkiye (Sahaya Hazır İnovasyon Derneği) is a team of engineers working in Gaziantep, Turkey, and northwest Syria who make cheap, low-tech airbags for search and rescue from buildings which have collapsed. “If we move fast they can make more,” a good friend who previously worked with the team writes. “The workshops in Syria also have vast experience of fixing essential medical equipment, and making insulated shelters – both greatly needed right now”