Your June 2023 Turkish Wine Horoscope
June 1, 2023 5Amber Wine, Articles, Orange Wine, Red Wine, Rose Wine, Sparkling Wine, Sweet Wine, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews
Hello spring! You have finally graced us with your presence. Huzzah!
This month I say Happy Birthday to several very good Gemini and Cancer friends, hopefully the Universe grants them a great wine! What will they – and you! – be drinking this month? Read on to find out!
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
You may be feeling unsure these days of what will make you happy. Don’t fall into a black hole and shut yourself away from people while you figure it out. Now is not the time to shy away from the love and affection people are trying to give you. 
It’s okay if you don’t know right this minute what the distant future holds for you. Let the people around you give you the support you need while you figure out what you want.
The wine for you …
The Barburi grape had a humble beginning. Growing wild around Hatay, locals used the grape to make wine at home or molasses. No one outside the area had ever heard of it. Antioche winery now makes two varietal wines with Barburi as well as a blend but go for the Antioche Barburi. Nothing pretentious here, this is a great drinking and food pairing red wine that is not trying to be above itself.
Find it at La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, possibly Macro Center, Casa Botti.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Breathe in one two three four five, breathe out one two three four five six seven. Now let go and relax. Whatever craziness you’ve been experiencing will settle down this month and allow you to find your balance.
It won’t happen instantly though. Make some time every day for some deep breathing and relaxation visualization. It will help get you back on track all the sooner.
The wine for you …
Talk about craziness, your wine this month is called “Hell’s Creek”. Seriously. The Midin Cehennem Deresi is a blend of regional grapes Bilbizeki and Mazrona. Midin, and Assyrian winery based not far from Şırnak, knows a lot about taking a beat to breath to calm down. This ancient Christian village, most of which is involved in the winery, is surrounded by ultra conservative Muslims. They often need a breath to calm down – and a good bottle of wine!
Find it at places like Mahzen 26 and Mensis Mahzen, possibly also Metro and Macro Center.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Ah Aries. Just because your sign is named for the god of war does not mean that everything is a battle. There IS such a thing as a friendly debate. Don’t get worked up this month if people try to engage you in such a debate. Lighten up, enjoy the exchange of ideas (you might actually learn something new!) and don’t fixate on being right.
The wine for you …
You know who wasn’t right? The wineries that have been treating Çal Karası like a low-quality grape only good for blending. Thankfully, Fulya and José are not those kind of people (although if they got into an argument with them, they’d definitely win). Your wine this month is the Heraki Çal Karası. Heraki is a new winery making its mark by working with old vine native grapes from the Denizli/Çal area and the Çal Karası … wow.
Get it from places like Casa Botti, Grand Cru, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, Santé Wine & More, and elsewhere.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
No one’s path forward is obstacle free. Sometimes, we make our own obstacles, ones we can’t even see. You’re tasked this month to find a way to deepen your understanding of what you want and of what your limitations are. When you have more clarity on this, you’ll have a better understanding of how you can move forward in manifesting your goals.
The wine for you …
You need a little sweetness in your life to smooth out those obstacles. If you’re one of the people who professes to hate sweet wines then a) we need to hang out more and I’ll change your mind and b) start slow with a semi-sweet like Ma’Adra Bornova Misketi. For one thig, it’s a half bottle so it’s not a huge commitment. For another, wines like this are unbelievably food friendly! Spicy food, check! Salty cheese, check! Indian or Thai food, double check!
Look for it at Grape Wine Boutique, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Santé Wine & More, etc.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
Pay attention to what the people around you are trying to tell you. They have much to teach you. Through their wisdom and behavior, you will learn more about yourself and your relationships. Be conscious during your conversations with people and:
-Instead of dominating conversations with your opinions, be an eager and enthusiastic listener
-Ask people questions about themselves
The wine for you …
So, speaking of learning new things, your wine this month is made with a grape you might not know a lot about: Corvus Teneia Çavuş. Çavuş is native (and exclusive) to Bozcaada. It’s wines are interesting with a fat oiliness balanced by decent acidity and fruit flavors. They’re the perfect foil for the island cuisine of fish, seafood, and mezes.
Get it from Carrefour, Mensis Mahzen, Metro, possibly La Cave, Dekante, etc.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Gear yourself up to make some changes to your behavior this month, Cancer. Your fear of going outside your comfort zone is currently holding you back. If you can’t find the motivation for a big foray, take small step after small step until you feel your comfort zone expanding. You’ll be able to more easily leap for bigger and better things when you feel more confident of a cushioned landing. 
The wine for you …
Talk about going outside your comfort zone…amber wine (or orange or skin contact, as you like) is outside of many people’s comfort zones. They can take a little getting used to. And, unfortunately, a lot of people have bad amber wines as their first experiences that put them off this style. I promise you that a safe bet is the Kastro Tireli Hermos Bornova Misketi.
This was a small production and isn’t available everywhere. Rind definitely has it (that’s where I bought mine), La Cave is a likely suspect, Sensus in Kuruçeşme, Casa Botti, Santé Wine & More, Dekante, and Grape Wine Boutique all seem like likely places.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Last month you got to roar with a “Leo’s first” attitude increasing your pride and charisma. However, you cannot be the center of attention all the time. Not every situation is about you. 
If you’ve been feeling like you’re not succeeding lately, maybe it’s because you’re letting your attitude get in your way. Take some time for reflection this month and see if you’ve been enjoying the limelight a little too much.
The wine for you …
Your wine this month will help you step back and reflect: Arcadia Pinot Gris “Rosé”. I say “rosé” because a Pinot Gris in this style would also be called a ramato is you’re in north east Italy. A word people who don’t like rosé might have an easier time swallowing! Ha – double entendre. Ramato means copper, a name given to skin contact Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio if you’re in NE Italy) because Pinot G is a grey or pink grape meaning it takes on a more orange hue when macerated on the skin. This is a fabulous wine with body weight, acidity, and tropical fruit flavors. Balanced, elegant, and oh so food friendly.
I wish it were easier to find but Mensis Mahzen usually carries it, sometimes you can find it at La Cave, Online Mahzen, Iyi Sarap…
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
You don’t get what you don’t ask for in life, Virgo. This applies to your career as well as your love life. Stop stewing about what you want or silently fuming when you don’t get it.
Speak up for yourself. Gather your supportive friends around you and use them as a sounding board to practice on if you feel unsure about how to say things out loud.
The wine for you …
Paşaeli is great about speaking up for unloved Turkish grapes. To give you a little inspiration and courage this month, try the Paşaeli Çalkarası Seahorse. Çalkarası has long been underappreciated and hidden in bulk wine blends but Paşaeli has brought it into the light and shown us what this grape can do! Not to mention, this fruity-citrusy-herby rosé is just oh so enjoyable!
Get it at Carrefour, Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, Macro Center…
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
You can only bury things for so long before the earthy spits them back out. This month will see you dealing with the consequences of things you’ve ignored or not dealt with properly, especially as it regards your health and wellness. Whatever it was you didn’t take seriously in the past is now practically begging for your attention.
Learn from your mistakes, immaturity, naïvety, whatever it was and finally deal with your problems.
The wine for you …
You’ve got some hard thinking to do this month, Libra, so be easy on yourself elsewhere, beginning with your wine choices. Try the Vino Dessera Muscat of Alexandria. A dry but highly aromatic wine full of garden roses, juicy melon, and citrus. Very pretty, and perfect for the warmer weather we’re finally having!
Look for it at La Cave and Aperitivo for sure…anywhere else you find it, let me know!
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
A boost to your ambition will have you hungry to tackle new challenges and for success this month, Scorpio. Stay focused, try not to let yourself get distracted. But, don’t beat yourself up if you do. You’re only human, after all.
The wine for you …
You know where your path is now so try a wine that doesn’t deviate from its own linear path. Saranta’s Chateau Murou Sauvignon Blanc is a stellar example of this grape. If you like New Zealand style Sauv Blanc you’ll love this.
Look for this at Casa Botti, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, Dekante, Online Mahzen, etc.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
You’ll find yourself looking for interesting things to do outside of your work life this month. You’re feeling thirsty for knowledge and want to explore new topics that you find fun or fascinating. Let yourself stick to a 9 to 5 schedule and be strict about confining your job to those hours, leaving you more free time to explore other things.
The wine for you …
Your wine this month 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.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
Look to your health and wellbeing this month, Capricorns. You’ll feel inspired to explore positive changes to your routines. Whether it’s about losing weight, getting fit, managing your mental health, or something it, get yourself on a good track this month to do it.
Remember that changes aren’t made overnight and there are slips and slides along the path to wellness. Don’t beat yourself up when they happen. One slip doesn’t mean failure. Tomorrow is always a new day with a fresh start.
The wine for you …
Clearly drinking less is not on your goal list. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here! This month, try a fun new wine to celebrate your fresh start: Sevilen Element Water semi sparkling Emir. A simple bottle of bubbles made with the addition of CO2, this one happily won’t break the bank! It’s fresh, fun, and tastes like a mouthful of bubbly peaches.
So far the only place I’ve seen this is Online Mahzen (which, if you’re not already ordering wine from there, you should be) but I expect to start seeing show up soon in places like Migros, Macro Center, Metro, possibly Carrefour etc.
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”