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Your May 2025 Turkish Wine Horoscope

 

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Wow, April was something else, wasn’t it? 

Ah, May—after the cold-warm-cold of April, the world has finally awakened. Green, leafy trees, blooming flowers, spring has sprung! Hopefully, it’s finally time to shake off the winter blues, swap sweaters for sunshine, and see what the stars might have in store. Whether you’re planting literal seeds in your garden or metaphorical ones in your career, love life, or personal goals, this is your cosmic cue to grow. 

So, what will you be drinking this bright and, fingers crossed, warm and cheerful month? Read on to discover your future!

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Listen up, Captain Get-It-Done—yes, you! You’ve been flying solo like it’s your full-time job, saving the day one spreadsheet and stress migraine at a time. But, let’s be clear: you are not the god of war, and you definitely didn’t sign up for the unlimited-energy plan. Even superheroes need snack breaks and sidekicks.

Here’s the tea: if you keep trying to do it all on your own, you’re gonna burn out faster than a discount candle. It’s time to scan your circle—who’s actually showing up for you? Who’s ready to roll up their sleeves and help you conquer the chaos? Use them. This isn’t selfish, it’s strategic delegation with flair.

And now for the flip side (cue dramatic music): who’s just vibing in your orbit, sipping your emotional juice box without giving anything back? Energy leeches, fake cheerleaders, and drama llamas—identify them, bless, and block. This isn’t a group project where everyone gets an A just for existing.

You’re choosing your squad now. Go for the ones who bring snacks, spreadsheets, and spiritual hype—not the ones who just slow your roll.

The wine for you …

When it comes to choosing a squad, Işık Gülçubuk and Göknur Gündogan know how to do it. The team behind the Wine Experience project, they cooperate with different vineyards and wineries to release special, limited editions wines. The latest, WE23, in partnership with Vinkara, is a crazy weird blend bringing together seven local grapes representing seven different regions of Turkey in the same bottle. 

Look for it at AS Wine Store, Enoteca, La Commune, Mahzen 26, probably Santé Wine & More, La Cave, Casa Botti, Rind…

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Oh hey Taurus, May just called—and she’s not here to cuddle. She’s serving up a wake-up call with a side of “get your life right.” Time to pause your grind and take a good, hard look at what you’ve been building. On the surface, it might look solid—Instagram-ready, even. But beneath that polished exterior? Might be some wobbly support beams, questionable choices, and a metaphorical raccoon chewing through your foundation.

Basically, your life’s house might look like a Pinterest board, but is it secretly held up with duct tape and denial?

That little voice in your head—the one whispering, “Um, maybe everything’s not totally fine?”—yeah, stop ignoring it. That voice is not being dramatic; it’s trying to help you avoid a slow-motion collapse.

If something’s rotting your roots, weed it out. Because you deserve to build something that doesn’t just look good but actually is good—inside, outside, and underneath.

The wine for you …

Vineyards need good foundations too. When we talk about vineyard foundations, we’re talking about not just the roots and the topsoil, but the bedrock. Wines from Avşa island in the Sea of Marmara have solid granite foundations, nothing rotting those roots! Büyülübağ, which seems to have had a marketing brainwave after all these years, has a new line: Meltemi. Fun labels. This May, drink the most Avşa of all the line and enjoy a bottle of Büyülübağ Meltemi Ada Karası Rosé. 

Look for it at Carrefour, Iyi Sarap, Solera, Vina Wine & More, and elsewhere.

Gemini (May 20 – June 20)

You’ve been out here curating your life like it’s an Instagram feed—filters, angles, captions that scream “I totally have it together.” But let’s get real for a second: is this the real you, or just your Oscar-worthy performance for the peanut gallery?

The spotlight’s on, friend, and spoiler alert—your stage makeup is starting to crack. It’s time to ditch the script, drop the act, and debut as the glorious, unfiltered masterpiece you actually are. That makeover? Cute, but it’s just the trailer. The real plot twist is rewriting the whole dang story of who you are and how you want to be seen (especially by yourself).

So grab the mic and strike a pose, because you’ve officially earned the right to be your full, fabulous self—no apologies, no disclaimers. And this month, maybe ask: What parts of yourself have you left “unread”? When you start honoring what you actually want—not what looks good on paper—you start syncing up with a version of yourself that’s bold, brilliant, and maybe just a little bit dangerous (in a sexy, confident way).

The wine for you …

Two people who know well about this are Fulya and José. This Turkish-Spanish winemaking wife-husband duo have made (and still are) wine for other Turkish wineries for years and they now have their own label. Your wine this month is Heraki Akuarela Sultaniye. And I know what you’re thinking. Sultaniye, really? Yes really! Heraki is one of the first wineries to allow Sultaniye to reveal its fabulous self to us. This is an exciting wine that will change the way you think about this grape. 

Get it from La Commune, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Iyi Sarap, Comedus, Grand Cru, Vina Wine & More, Santé Wine & More, and Casa Botti possibly

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

This month is all about your inner sanctuary—yes, that cozy little soul-cave where peace lives and drama gets the boot. The question is: are you guarding it like a velvet-rope VIP lounge, or have you let every energy vampire and emotional freeloader waltz in uninvited?

Time to snatch back your power. We’re talking spiritual spring cleaning. Where’s your energy leaking like a busted faucet, and how do we shut it down?

Self-care is the name of the game, but no—this isn’t just about candles and bubble baths (though we love those too). This is about protecting your vibe like it’s the last charger at a music festival. It’s about saying no without an essay, taking up space without guilt, and healing on your timeline, your way, in your fabulous little bubble of serenity.

Ask yourself: What am I still carrying that isn’t mine? And how can I drop it like it’s hot—because honestly, it is.

The wine for you …

One grape that’s finally been allowed to be its authentic self is Çal Karası. For years used only for table wine, or worse, dog killer, it is slowly building the reputation it deserves as a high-quality grape. Largely thanks to wineries like Paşaeli, Heraki, and Kuzubağ who are making excellent wine with it. This month, try Kuzubağ Çal Karası. This Cinderella grape is really starting to take the stage with higher quality bottlings than we’ve seen in the past and Kuzubağ is using it in several wines. A rich, red wine, not too big for the warm spring weather, this is a delicious wine to sip with cheese or pair with a full meal. 

Find it at places like Casa Botti, Comedus, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen,  Iyi Sarap, and Rind.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Your network is everything right now—think of it as the group chat of your life. So… who’s hyping you up and who’s just lurking, draining your energy like they’re getting paid in emotional chaos?

It’s officially time to Marie Kondo your contacts list. Who’s amplifying your signal, and who’s just dead weight with a decent excuse? The right crew will help you bulldoze obstacles like emotionally intelligent wrecking balls. The wrong ones? They’ll have you stuck in a Groundhog Day loop of bad decisions and existential dread.

Let’s be real: if someone’s only showing up to unload their baggage, eat your snacks, and never offer gas money (literal or emotional)—cut the cord. You’re not a free therapy hotline. You’re a damn leader. Start acting like the CEO of your own life.

The wine for you …

This month, emulate the leadership displayed by the Paşaeli winery. It leads the Turkish wine industry in many things, especially in the the (re)discovery of rare, native grapes. Pop the cap this May on a bottle of Paşaeli Sıdalan Pét-Nat! Not only was Paşaeli the first to work with this grape, but it was the first winery to make pét-nat with it…or pét-nat at all for that matter! Sip away and channel the winery’s big leader vibes!

Find it at places like Casa Botti, Comedus, Dekante, La Cave, Mensis Mahzen, Santé Wine & More, probably Grand Cru, etc.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

This month, it’s all about the grind—but not the soul-sucking, coffee-fueled, “why am I even doing this?” kind. We’re talking intentional hustle, not just spinning your wheels like a caffeinated hamster on a deadline.

So here’s the big question: are you working toward the life you actually want, or just clocking in to impress your calendar app? Because there’s a major difference between being productive and just being…busy with extra steps.

If your life is starting to feel like a never-ending to-do list from the depths of corporate hell, it’s time to hit pause, take a deep breath, and Munkensmat the crap out of your commitments. What’s genuinely helping you level up, and what’s just draining your soul like a Monday morning meeting that should’ve been an email?

Now’s your moment to declutter your days, kick busywork to the curb, and reorganize your life. Do stuff that actually lights you up instead of just keeping you booked and burned out.

You weren’t born to be a productivity robot. You were born to thrive, baby—and maybe take a nap along the way.

The wine for you …

Level up your wine game this month with Arcadia Doğal Fermentasyon. Mostly Öküzgözü with a touch of Papaskarası, it’s a fresh, clean, juicy wine great for summer. Arcadia is a great winery. It works with intention, in the vineyard and in the winery, to produce clean and pure flavors. Exactly the kind of wine you need this month.

Look for it at places like La Cave, Santé Wine & More, Casa Botti might have it, maybe Dekante …

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Your creativity is basically doing cartwheels right now, and it’s dying to bust out like it’s auditioning for America’s Got Talent. But hold up—this isn’t the moment for shallow doodles or Instagram captions that sound deep but were actually written during a snack break. Nope. It’s time to dive into the emotional equivalent of a Netflix drama: raw, real, and slightly uncomfortable.

Whether it’s romance, art, or just figuring out what the heck you actually care about, the universe is giving you a megaphone and saying, “Speak your truth, weird human!” Anything done half-heartedly is gonna flop harder than a bad hair day in humidity.

So pour your soul into whatever you’re doing—boldly, messily, and without apologizing for being your wonderfully extra self. And when the new moon rolls in like a cosmic stage manager, it’ll ask: “Are you expressing your true self, or are you just hitting ‘copy-paste’ on whatever feels safe?” Time to ditch the filter and go full you.

The wine for you …

Not everyone gets out of school and enters the job of their dream. Many do the job they were trained for, not because they like it or because the job defines their life, but because we don’t know how to break out of the cycle. The brave people who manage to ditch the certainty of a paycheck and pursue a career that they truly care about are an inspiration.

Like Canan Gerimli of Gordias winery. She studied to be a pharmacist but realized that the job wasn’t for her. So, she left it behind and opened a winery! More than that, she also introduced a new grape to the market! That’s why this month, you should drink the Gordias Fesleğen. 

This one is NOT easy to track down. But if you’re committed, places that have been known to carry it are Casa Botti and Solera. Dekante would also be a good bet. And of course you can always order from Canan!

Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)

Time to do a deep dive into the emotional basement of your soul—yep, that dusty corner where you’ve been storing feelings like mismatched socks. What’s been lurking under the surface, waiting for its dramatic, spotlight-stealing entrance? This month is all about intimacy—real intimacy. Not the “let’s text but never talk about our feelings” kind.

True closeness means taking off the emotional armor. Yes, even that trusty sarcasm shield and your “I’m fine” cape. If you can brave the awkward vulnerability zone (a.k.a. “feelings territory”), you’ll realize that the parts of you you’ve been hiding are actually where your superpowers live. Who knew?

The wine for you …

Amazing things can be hidden in plain sight. Such was the case with the Eastern Anatolian grape, Kösetevek. For years, local winery Kuzeybağ thought all the grapes in its vineyard were Öküzgözü. They certainly all looked like they were Öküzgözü. But no! The very similar looking Kösetevek was hidden among the other grapes. 

Find inspiration in the Kuzeybağ Kösetevek this month and let yourself shine. To top if off, you get the pleasure of also supporting the really cool people behind it including the adorable Hayrı amca and my friends Tina and Sinan. I recently tried one of the newer vintages and have to say that I like it better each year. 

Get this from places like Mensis Mahzen, Casa Botti, Rind, Santé Wine & More, Solera, and elsewhere (although with a different label now).

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)

It’s relationship season—but before you break out the heart emojis and start manifesting candlelit dinners, let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t about fairytale vibes or matching couple outfits. Nope, this is about getting real—with yourself and the people closest to you.

Think less “rom-com montage” and more “emotional truth bomb.” The connections that matter now are the ones where you can show up as your full, weird, glorious self—no shrinking, no shape-shifting into whatever version makes people more comfortable. People-pleasing? Hard pass. It’s time to stop handing out emotional coupons and start honoring your own needs like the self-aware boss you are.

As you dig deeper with others, you’ll find that true intimacy isn’t about liking the same Spotify playlists—it’s about mutual respect, deep understanding, and probably some mildly uncomfortable conversations. 

 The wine for you …

Much like you needing to get real about you, winemakers are slowly getting to know Turkish grapes as they truly are, without slapping a bunch of oak on them or transplanting them to somewhere they don’t below. That’s been one of Akberg’s strengths since it broke into quality wine. The winery works with grapes where they grow naturally. This month, open a bottle of the Akberg Büyükbağ Papazkarası. 

Find it (with a different label) at places like Grand Cru, possibly Mensis Mahzen, Solera…

Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)

Alright, let’s cut the fluff and get down to business: your work life and daily habits need a little TLC—or maybe just a full-on intervention. Be honest… are you actually working toward your big dreams, or just rearranging your desk and calling it productivity? (We see you, alphabetizing your snack drawer.)

This month is all about syncing your routines with your actual goals, not just the ones that sound cool when you say them out loud. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s probably because your daily actions are ghosting your core values. Time to break up with distractions, unsubscribe from chaos, and finally make space for the good stuff.

The wine for you …

Tomurcukbağ’s Trajan Kalecik Karası is all about getting back to what’s fundamental and important. Made by Prof. Dr. Y. Sabit Ağaoğlu, a scientist first and foremost, this wine is natural in the best way possible. Organic grapes, native yeasts, no oak, all the flavors of the grape with no noise getting in the way.

Find it at Mensis Mahzen, La Cave, Dekante, sometimes the Suvla shops carry it. Let me know if you see it elsewhere!

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

You’re in a creative groove right now—but this isn’t just about painting sunsets or finally learning to play the ukulele (unless that’s your thing—then strum away, starshine). This is about what really lights you up inside. What makes you feel alive, electric, maybe even a little unhinged in the best possible way?

This month, your only job is to follow that buzz. New hobby? Go for it. Spicy crush? Lean in. Weird idea that makes no practical sense but feels oddly thrilling? Yes, that too. Dive in like it’s a kiddie pool on a hot day—no hesitation, full splash.

And here’s the real kicker: your magic doesn’t come from being polished or perfect. It comes from being you—bold, unfiltered, maybe a little chaotic, and absolutely magnetic. So give yourself full permission to shine, sparkle, or glitter-bomb your life in whatever way feels most you. The world’s not ready, but it’ll catch up.

 The wine for you …

This month, drink a wine as creative and exciting as you are! Kastro Tireli Hermos Bornova Misketi is not only an incredible example of amber wine done right, it reveals an aspect of this showy grape that’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It may even be how Muscat grapes are meant to be. 

This was a small production and isn’t available everywhere. Rind and Online Mahzen definitely have it, the Kastro Tireli shop in Kuruçeşme will, Casa Botti, Santé Wine & More, Dekante, La Commune, and Grand Cru all seem like likely places.

 Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Home is where the heart is—but have you checked in with your heart lately, or is it hiding under a pile of laundry and unprocessed feelings? This month is all about figuring out what actually makes you feel cozy, calm, and less like you’re starring in a one-person soap opera called Emotional Whirlwind: The Home Edition.

Sure, the outside world might be doing its usual chaotic dance, but you? You’ve got the power to create your own little sanctuary—whether it’s a vibey candle-lit corner, a burrito of blankets, or just finally deleting that toxic group chat. Comfort isn’t something you buy or borrow from other people—it’s something you build, from the inside out.

The wine for you …

While chaos swirls around you, stock up this month on a wine that, while maybe not fabulous, is always reliable and easy to drink: Turasan Narince. A little factory yes, but it’s fruity and quaffable, and, not unimportantly, inexpensive so it won’t knock your sanctuary vibe off-kilter. 

Get this from Carrefour, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, Solera, La Cave, pretty much every tekel everywhere…