Turkish Wine Selection: Meet (some of) the New Grapes!
- Andrea Lemieux
- May 1
- 3 min read
Did you know that Turkey has over 1,450 native grapes? In addition to the five local varieties we retained in our initial shipment, with the arrival of our second shipment, we now present a total of thirteen local Turkish grape varieties, most of which have not previously been available in the United States! So this month we are happy to introduce Americans to three of those thirteen varieties, each of which is new to the US! Get ready for Osmanca, Çal Karası, and Karasakız.
We are so excited about our new wineries. For all three of these Aegean wineries, it’s the first time their wines have come to America. These new wineries: Akberg, Kuzubağ, and Heraki, all proudly represent the beauty of Turkish terroir and the richness of the country’s native grape landscape. Here are three of the many new selections we look forward to sharing with you!
Akberg’s series Büyükbağ defines the winery. It means “big vineyard” in Turkish, which is exactly how the winery looks at the country. Akberg famously sources grapes from around the country in the belief that a grape is native to a certain place for a reason. Remove it and plant it elsewhere, and it loses something of itself.
However, the grape for this white wine, the Akberg Büyükbağ Osmanca, comes from the winery’s backyard. The Osmanca grape (pronounced Ohs-man-jah) grows in southern Izmir mere miles from the Aegean Sea. While known to locals, who eat the sweet grapes and use them to make molasses, none of the quality wineries ever paid it any attention. Until Akberg. Now you get to try it too!
Tasting notes: This wine is fruits, flowers, aromatic herbs, and everything in between! Expressive yet elegant, with delicate dried white blossoms layered with ripe peach and stone fruits. Soft notes of lemon balm and basil with fennel detail wrap around a core of pear and quince alongside zesty lifted notes of dried lemon peel. Savory green tea tannins and bright acidity with a bold yet light-medium body and a long clean floral finish beg you to go back for another sip.
Kuzubağ is a family-run winery in the eastern Aegean. Its vineyards sit in a village called Çal, whence this new grape, Çal Karası. Long used for bulk wine production, Kuzubağ has focused its efforts to make high quality fine wines from this lovely local grape.
Using the saignee, or bleeding off method, this rosé is a 50/50 blend between a grape you hopefully have now tried, Kalecik Karası, and Çal Karası.
Tasting notes: A brilliant and remarkably pale salmon in the glass swirling with savory top notes of thyme followed by geranium, mint, citrus, and just a touch of red fruit. Yellow pear and lemon provide juicy vibrancy, joined by rhubarb, fresh strawberries, tart cranberry, and a burst of pink grapefruit scattered with mint leaves, white pepper, and spice. Bright, fresh, and layered with refreshingly vibrant high-altitude acidity, this gracefully balanced rose energizes the palate and finishes with a smooth pleasing salinity.
The couple behind Heraki winery blends its cultures into their wine as seamlessly as they blend grapes. Fulya is from Turkey, and José from Spain, but they both share a passion for old vines and native Turkish grapes.
Their Akuarela series takes its name from the Spanish word for ‘watercolor’ as a nod not only to José’s heritage, but also to the pale color and delicate elegance of the grapes they use. This is particularly true for Karasakız.
These karasakız grapes come from old, bush vines in the northern Aegean district, Bayramiç. The wine it makes is deceptively translucent. While it is so pale that you can read through it, there is nothing pale about this bold red wine's flavor.
Tasting notes: A pale, nearly transparent ruby color hides an intensely aromatic wine. Pronounced black pepper spice aromas embrace refreshingly juicy raspberries, red currants, and young cherries laid over a subtle layer of dried fruit and earthy base notes. The soft hints of damp soil ground the wine, adding interest without overwhelming. Smooth yet firm acidity gives vibrancy while tannins are enough to give structure without roughness, resulting in a wine with a gorgeous silky texture that is approachable, full of character and flexible at any table setting.
You can enjoy and purchase each of these wines at the Fine Turkish Wine Bottle Shop + Tasting Room, located in Houston's Montrose District at 1909 Dunlavy Street.
Andrea Lemieux is an international wine expert with particular expertise in Turkish Wine. She is the author of The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine, the world's only comprehensive English language book on Turkish wine, and she is the founder of The Quirky Cork blog which is dedicated largely to Turkish wine.
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