Heritage vines of Türkiye

Eratalar Karasakız Vineyard in Akçakıl village_Photo credit@Chamlija Wines

A new research project aims to demonstrate not only the cultural importance of the Karasakız grape variety, but also how delicious its wines can be. Above, Eratalar Karasakız vineyard in Akçakıl village (photo via Chamlija Wines).

In July 2022, Umay Çeviker wrote that ‘Turkey’s vineyards are in danger’. The challenges facing the country’s wine regions are complex, involving politics, poverty, religion, climate change, culture, communication, market and social change. And as a result, many of Türkiye’s vineyards are being uprooted or abandoned. Many of them are planted to indigenous varieties; more than a few are well over a...