Wine-making in Anatolia dates back 6000 years. Today, Turkey is a world leader in grape production. But the bad news (for wine lovers) is that only 5 percent of the production is used for wine making. The rest, we consume dried and fresh — I love fresh red grapes. Not surprisingly, there are a number of indigenous wine grapes of Turkey which should be on your check list if you are a wine lover. In a restaurant, try to order your wine by understanding what kind of grapes and flavor it has.
Turkish White Wine Grapes
- Emir
- Grown in Central Anatolia
- Refreshing and easy to drink
- Suitable for producing dry, primeur and sparkling wines
- Wines of this kind are greenish-yellow
- Narince
- Grown in the Tokat region for its sandy soil
- Often consumed as table grape
- Narince is good for dry white wine with a balanced structure
- Wines of this kind are greenish-yellow when young and have a fruity aroma
- Sultaniye
- Globally known as Sultana
- Seedless grape grown in the Aegean region
- Sultaniye wines are light with fruit aromas
- Not suitable for aging, should be consumed within a year of bottling
- Misket
- Grown around Izmir
- Most aromatic of the white grape varieties
- Both dry and sweet wines from Misket should be tasted
Turkish Red Wine Grapes
- Bogazkere (Boğazkere)
- Grown in Southeast Anatolia
- One of the best native grapes in Turkey
- Has high tannin
- Strong body and the potential to age
- Boğazkere is traditionally blended with Öküzgözü grape
- Okuzgozu (Öküzgözü)
- Grown in Elazig
- The wines from Öküzgözü carries floral and fruity aromas
- Medium body and soft texture
- Kalecik Karasi (Kalecik Karası)
- Grown in Ankara region
- Kalecik Karası produces medium-bodied wines with red fruit aromas
- Suitable for aging (preferably 5 years)
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