Turkish Wine Selection: Harvest Flavors
- Andrea Lemieux
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
Heading abroad to enjoy a country’s harvest festival isn’t feasible for everyone. But there are many other ways to participate in these celebrations. You could get some grapes from the grocery store and try stomping them in the bathtub if you want! Although, that would get quite slippery, so do be careful.
Perhaps a safer (and certainly more delicious) way to vicariously participate in Turkey’s grape harvest season is to try some of the wines! The trio we have for you this month features three wines, each from a different Turkish wine region so you can taste the harvest across the country.
Coming from the Aegean region, Kuzubağ blends Narince with Chardonnay, the exotic with the familiar. This family-run winery is the leading winery of the country’s Çal Wine Route, and has elevated the reputation of the whole region.
Tasting notes: Radiating with flavors of ripe yellow apple, tangy lime, and subtle herbs. Crisp acidity delivers a zesty rush, showing off the wine’s altitude-driven quality. Stony mineral undertones are supported by a touch of creamy texture, balancing the lively acid core. A gentle touch of bitterness adds a polished edge and refined mouthfeel.
Heraki’s winery may sit in the Aegean… but it harvests its Gök grapes from the Mediterranean. Gök is one of Turkey’s special, regional grapes that grows only in one area. In this case, the 60+ year-old bush vines grow high in the marine fossil limestone of the Taurus Mountains.
Tasting notes: Lush flavors of apricot and nectarine, wrapped in a core of zesty, high-altitude acidity that keeps each sip vibrant. Savory saline notes blend harmoniously with rich undertones of caramel and butterscotch. With a balance of power and finesse, this wine can keep evolving over several years or be enjoyed young and fresh.
You may remember the Odrysia A Cabernet Franc from our December trio, now it’s time to try the Odrysia A Blend! From the varied soils of the Istanca Massif, this blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc gives you an explosively delicious taste of Turkish Thrace.
Tasting notes: This Bordeaux-style blend marries Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc in a gorgeously bold expression. Displaying pronounced notes of black cherry, black pepper, dark plum, pomegranate, violet flowers, and smokey spices, all layered with dried herbs and structure to balance the rich ripe fruit. Signature Cabernet Franc green pepper notes accent this delicious blend suitable for enjoying now, but could also evolve beautifully with age. Pair with meats, herbed dishes and rich sauces.
As always, you can enjoy and purchase each of these wines and many more 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. She is also the author of The Quick and Dirty Guide to Greek Wine and the founder of The Quirky Cork blog which is dedicated largely to Turkish wine.
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