Many visitors are surprised to discover that Turkey is a wine-producing country. After a day of sightseeing, few pleasures rival sitting on a balcony with a glass of Turkish wine and reflecting on the fact that viticulture in this region dates back millennia.
Despite a long winemaking history, some say Turkey finds it challenging to produce consistently high-quality grapes. The country’s fertile soil and plentiful underground water can make vines less stressed, which sometimes reduces concentration in the fruit. Still, modern viticultural techniques and careful site selection have helped a number of regions produce excellent wines. Four main areas now stand out as Turkey’s primary wine-producing zones.
Brands of Turkish wine
Pamukkale Wine
Pamukkale, famous as the “Cotton Castle” for its cascading calcium terraces, is also home to one of Turkey’s best-known wineries. Founded in 1962, Pamukkale produces popular international varieties such as Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. A typical bottle retails for around 30 TL (roughly 12 GBP or 20 USD). About 30% of Pamukkale’s production is exported, reaching markets in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Japan.
Website address – http://www.pamukkalesarap.com/
Newspaper review – Pamukkale Wine In The Media
Foreign website address – http://www.pamukkalewein.com/seite/our_wine.htm
Sevilen Wine
Sevilen has been producing wine since 1942 and in recent years expanded into cider production. The company sources grapes from vineyards near İzmir on the Aegean coast and from the Anatolian plateau, reflecting Turkey’s diverse terroirs.
Kavaklidere Wine
Established in 1929, Kavaklıdere is one of Turkey’s oldest and most prominent wineries, working primarily with vineyards in Anatolia. The company exports wines to Europe, the United States and the Middle East, so you may encounter their labels outside Turkey. Kavaklıdere highlights a long list of awards—reportedly hundreds of medals—and has collaborated with French winemakers to enhance vine and wine quality. Their website features an extensive historical gallery documenting vineyard and production practices over the years.
Website address – http://www.kavaklidere.com/gallery.aspx
Şirince Wine
Şirince is a small village popular with tourists and known for its local winemaking. Wines from Şirince are often bold and intensely fruity; some drinkers find them very ripe and concentrated. There isn’t a single official website for Şirince wines because production is handled by multiple small producers. One Aegean-area supplier is Akberg Wines.
Website address – http://www.akbergwines.com/
Facebook Group – Artemis Şirince Wine
Acknowledgements to Karen from Circus Cafe in Altınkum for assistance with this overview of Turkish wines.