The wine culture in Turkey is more complex and traditional than one might think at first. As you may know, Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, but this ancestral beverage has made its way thanks to a culture surviving for millennia and the remnants that have been found to circumvent that religious veto. And the result is more than interesting, both for the flavor of its wines and for the experience that can be lived to discover them. Here are more details about it.
Context of Wine in Turkey
Wine in Turkey has been a traditional product for millennia: since the Neolithic period, the peoples who inhabited Asia Minor cultivated the vine for wine production. This activity became even more established when this territory fell under the sphere of Greek domination, and especially when it was integrated into the Roman Empire. Later, the Byzantine Empire, heir to the previous one, maintained this important activity, so widespread in the Mediterranean world.
After the Seljuk and Ottoman conquests, wine production declined significantly, as Islam does not allow its consumption to believers. However, its production and consumption were permitted to the non-Muslim population residing here. This meant that the population of Greek Orthodox origin, which was always relatively numerous, kept the flame of local wines alive.
Another difficult moment came in the 1920s, when the war with Greece and the consequent exchange of populations caused the massive departure of Greeks and, with it, a good part of the know-how in this activity: since then, production has been in the hands of the state apparatus of the Turkish Republic, greatly limiting research and innovation, and focusing on the production of grapes as fruit and raisins.
The latter, thanks to the rise of tourism, is being reversed: private investment has returned to the sector and interest in local wines by foreign travelers, so that wine lovers can enjoy this drink in situ during a vacation in the country.
Wine Regions of Turkey
The wine region par excellence in Turkey is the Aegean coast. Not surprisingly, it has the most suitable climate for growing vines, and is also the closest to Greece and its islands, hosting a large population of that origin until the mass exodus a century ago. One of the epicenters of this Mediterranean region is the area of Ephesus, and more specifically Sirince, located in the heart of green and terraced valleys conquered by vineyards. Other areas near the coast, such as Bodrum and Datça, also stand out on their own, as well as areas close by but inland, such as Denizli.
On the other hand, the so-called Eastern Thrace, which is the Turkish region located on European soil, is also conducive to the cultivation of the vine, with different sub-zones that reach the Gallipoli peninsula, and countless producers take advantage of this. And we must not forget areas of continental climate in Central Anatolia, such as Cappadocia, whose thermal oscillations give a special character to its grapes.
How to Discover Wine in Turkey
While wine is making its way into Turkish society, the truth is that to enjoy this drink in the country it is best to travel to the producing regions. There it is easier to find wine shops and specialized places, and what is more interesting: enjoy tourist and gastronomic experiences, such as visits to vineyards and wineries, with tastings and tasting of related products. You can contact us to find out what excursions we have available at this time and in which destinations we can organize them.
