Your September 2022 Turkish Wine Horoscope
Summer is over; even if no one told the weather forecast that it’s supposed to be! Those who had the summer off are back to work. School is starting (or has already!). Harvest is in full swing!
Even if September isn’t the beginning of the calendar year, it is the beginning of the “regular” year. So, what will this “new year” hold for you? Read on and find out what your horoscope suggests!
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
This September is all about looking to the future with hope and calming any unnecessary worries.
If you’re in that happy minority with your finances set, let yourself sit back and relax. You don’t have to always be the squirrel preparing for winter. For those less fortunate, try to find that balance between the busy squirrel and still actually living life. Always easier said than done; but try to not lose sight of what’s happening in the now while you’re worrying about tomorrow.
The wine for you …
Your wine to try this month: Kayra Buzbağ Reserve Emir Narince. A new release from wine giant, Kayra, this is the first time they’ve released a white wine under the Buzbağ Reserve label. I’ve had a few Emir – Narince blends over the years and, in my opinion, this is the most successful.
It also won’t break the bank! Or anyway, last month it wouldn’t hovering as it did around 200 TL. This month with yet another zam. Who knows?! You can find out at Macro Center, likely larger Migros stores, and Mensis Mahzen for sure. Let me know if you see if elsewhere!
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)Y
The world’s a mess and, sadly, does not seem like it’s going to right itself. Which means, that those of you Pisces who have been waiting for world order to be restored as a sign that you can also be happy and at peace are, essentially, SOL. While it’s natural for one’s feelings to fluctuate, you need to take control of yourself and stop blaming anything in your environment for your anxiety, depression, bad moods…
Look to those in your circle for the support that you need right now. That’s why we have friends and family: couches to crash on in foreign countries and support.
The wine for you …
Tasheli Göküzüm Aküzüm is also a new wine from Tasheli’s 2021 vintage. This blend of rare, local grapes from the Taurus Mountains about Mersin delivers a surprisingly aromatic and exciting new wine.
Look for it at Casa Botti, Mensis Mahzen, and Santé Wine & More.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Keep your standards and expectations of yourself high this month. Don’t let your insecurities cast a shadow, you can do anything you set your mind to doing. There are probably some limits, like if you want to take over the world or something. But if that’s what you want then go for it! Anything you achieve between here and global domination is bound to be interesting!
But for realz, if there’s something you want, go after it. You certainly won’t get it by doing nothing.
The wine for you …
To bookend your recommendation from last November, this month, uncork a bottle of Doluca Tanit red. A blend of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the bouquet on this lovely wine will have your imagination drifting off into a fantastical dreamland and maybe help push you into going after your goal!
Find it at Macro Center and likely your larger Migros stores.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
How are things going in your romantic life, Taurus? Some friction perhaps with your partner or finding dating difficult lately? One thing that might help: check yourself if you are placing higher expectations on your romantic interests than you yourself are meeting. One hates to be trite…but it is a two-way street.
If you find this is your problem, have a check-in with your other relationships.
The wine for you …
Gordias Nana Narince is your wine this month to add a little “sweet” to help that romantic life. It is NOT a sweet wine. Let’s be clear. It is a dry wine, but a Narince unlike any you’ve had before. Gordias owner and winemaker Canan Gerimli chaptalizes the wines in her Nana line, meaning she adds sugar during the fermentation. The wines still ferment dry, but the process adds a fuller mouthfeel, highlights the fruitiness, and of course increases the alcohol!
Unfortunately this one’s a little tough to find. You might luck out at Solera and can badger Mensis Mahzen to order it for you (as they already carry some Gordias wines) but your best bet is to get it directly from the winery.
Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
If work has been weighing heavily on you this month, consider taking a step back. A mental health day or three (if you work somewhere that allows that). At the very least, even if you’ve got a big project you’re trying to complete, try to put it down for a day or two and concentrate on taking care of you for a few days. We all know that even non-physical work can cause huge mental and physical impacts, so make sure you’re taking sufficient care of yourself so you can complete the job.
On the romantic side of things, this month may introduce you to a new potential love interest. Keep things lighthearted and flirty — you don’t have to commit to anyone before you’re ready.
The wine for you …
You need a wine this month that will put you in the right headspace for everything. Kuzubağ Öküzgözü rosé is a flirty little number that’s crushable and refreshing for your palate and you soul! If you haven’t heard of this winery yet, get in now on the ground floor! They’re new this year and so far I am loving all their wines (so look for tasting notes on all of them soon!).
While new, they’re already in a couple stores like Mensis Mahzen, Grape Wine Boutique, and even on İyi Şarap. I suspect we’ll start seeing them in more places soon.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
You and Pisces should get together this month and have a chat. You’re both allowing what’s happening around the globe to impact your life. In your case, it’s less your emotional state and more your faith and optimism.
Lean on people in your life whose faith and hope in the future you know have been less (or not at all) shaken. Deliberately seek out feel-good news stories. Watch videos of kittens and puppies playing together. Just don’t wallow in the bad news that you cannot affect anyway.
The wine for you …
Some good news for you is definitely Akberg Büyük Bağ Öküzgözü! Fruity, silky, easy to drink on its own or pair with dinner, AND should be available at a relatively reasonable price. Akberg’s branching out into “real” wine is so far going well.
I don’t know 100% where Akberg’s wines are. Previously Mensis Mahzen carried them but what is currently in stock, not sure. Grape Wine Boutique has them. Casa Botti is great about carrying wine from some of the smaller producer so try there too.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
September is the time to organize and, if need be, restructure your finances. Leos like to live big lives but our bank accounts don’t always allow for such extravagance.
Start simple by tracking all your expenses this month. It’s a pain to do but by the end of the month you’ll have a good idea of what an average month’s spending looks like, where you can economize, and how to build a budget for yourself.
The wine for you …
In the sea of Bordeaux imitations we have in Turkey, Barbare Ambiance is an outlier. It is a French red blend copy, but rather than following the Bordeaux formula, it looks to the Rhône for inspiration. The blend brings together Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre (called GSM for short). Despite the price hikes that are happening right, left, and center, Barbare has kept its prices fairly steady (knock on wood!) making this one of the best quality for value red wines on the market right now.
Speaking of markets, Barbare wines are widely available. You should be able to find this on İyi Şarap and at Carafe Istanbul, Macro Center, Mensis Mahzen, La Cave, Santé Wine & More, possibly Dekante, I think Rind has it, etc.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Have you been spending a lot of time recently taking care of others but neglecting yourself? Think about some of the advice you’ve been generously sharing recently. How much of that do you need to apply to your own life? How much of that have you applied?
It’s okay to be “selfish” from time to time and not be available to others so that you can take care of you.
The wine for you …
Be nice to yourself this month and drink Buradan Şirin! This isn’t your typical fruity and light rosé. Made with 100% Grenache, it has a salty-herbal character that is simultaneously challenging, refreshing, and so food friendly.
It can be a little tricky to find. I know that Grape Wine Boutique has it, Mensis Mahzen may still have a bottle or two and I’d say try Dekante as well. If you find it somewhere else, please let me know!
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
The bad news is that the month may get off to a rocky start. However, you’ll find things smoothing out as the months wears on, especially if you embrace the fact that you don’t have to be perfect (or have a perfect façade) to present to the world.
Libra season begins towards the end of September which will help bring balance to your own life and allow you to better take on the mediator and problem solving role you often serve. But keep in mind that instilling peace in the lives of others isn’t possible if you don’t have at least a semblance of it in your own.
The wine for you …
To help smooth out your month, open a bottle of Chateau Nuzun Syrah. Let it breathe. You’ll thank me for that even if it tries your patience. Big, rich, and fulsome, this isn’t just Syrah, it’s SYRAH. Try it with a really nice sucuk, grilled if possible. You’ll thank me for that too!
Find it where Chateau Nuzun wines are sold: Casa Botti, La Cave, Macro Center, Mahzen 26, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Santé Wine & More, Solera, etc.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 22)
Short but to the point for you this month, Scorpios.
Are your side hustles, creative projects, and hobbies bringing joy into your life, or have they become centered around competing and meeting goals? It may be time to take up a new hobby that’s more laid back.
The wine for you …
Your wine this month is the result of a hobby that blossomed into a goal. Ayda Bağları VinAida Pinot Noir came from owner Ayda Kargılı Kalelioğlu’s hobby winemaking. She gave up her day job, eared a oenology certification in France, and came back to Turkey where winemaking is now her goal. And she’s crushing it.
Find her Pinot Noir (and other wines!) at Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, Dekante, and Santé Wine & More.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 22)
Concentrate this month on bringing stability to your home life and relationships. Work has been going well lately and you’ve put all your focus there while neglecting your personal life. You may have to deal with some resentment from people in your life over that, but if you bring your focus back to them they will forgive you.
Going forward, remember that you cannot throw yourself 100% into only one aspect of your life and let everything else around you slide. Find a way to create balance between these different aspects of your life.
The wine for you …
Büyülübağ İris has the balance you need. This 100% Adakarası balances red fruits, flowers, herbs, and white pepper to create a unique rosé. Not an insipid sip to be had in this bottle but it’s zippy acidity will have you going back for glass after glass!
Look for it at La Cave, Mahzen 26, Comedus, and İyi Şarap.
Capricorn (December 23 – January 19)
A recent decision to increase your standards will inspire you this month. Create a reasonable plan for yourself to meet new goals by setting realistic benchmarks. Only really expensive cars go from 0 to 100 with seamless and unnoticeable gear shifting. You are not a Porsche. By setting smaller goals you can celebrate progress and keep the enthusiasm with which you started.
The wine for you …
For a wine with its own high standards to inspire you, try Kastro Tireli Junus. This full-bodied, ageable, and straight up delicious red wine turns the regular Öküzgözü – Boğazkere blend on its head by adding Kalecik Karası to the mix as well!
Find it at Casa Botti, Dekante, Grape Wine Boutique, Mensis Mahzen, Rind, Santé Wine & More, Savoy, Sensus Kuruçesme, and Solera.