Anatolia's Signature
Wine Grapes
Anatolia is recognized as the genetic heartland of the grapevine, hosting over 1,200 indigenous grape varieties. While this vast genetic pool is still being explored, approximately 60 of these varieties are currently used in commercial wine production. The list below highlights the most important endemic grapes that define modern Turkish winemaking and are the focus of our tasting tours.
EMİR
Central Anatolia - Cappadoccia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Light yellow color, high acidity, elegant. Notes of green apple, lemon, grapefruit, and pronounced minerality.
Wine Style & Significance
Grown in Cappadocia's volcanic soils. Primarily used for still, unoaked, and sparkling wines. Famous for its freshness and vibrancy.
NARİNCE
Black Sea - Tokat
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Medium to full-bodied, moderate acidity. Notes of white fruit (quince, pear), citrus, and light floral accents
Wine Style & Significance
One of Turkey’s most noble whites. Can be produced both unoaked (fresh) and barrel-aged (complex), showing great texture and potential.
BORNOVA MİSKETİ
Aegean - İzmir
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Light color, low acidity, intensely aromatic. Notes of rose, basil, geranium, sweet citrus, and Muscat.
Wine Style & Significance
Turkey's most aromatic grape. Typically made dry, but semi-sweet and sweet styles exist. Also popular in rosé production.
SULTANİYE
Aegean - Denizli, Manisa
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Medium-bodied, low acidity. Notes of white peach, grape, and light floral notes.
Wine Style & Significance
Globally known as "seedless raisin," but widely used for wine. Produces crisp, easy-drinking, everyday wines.
YAPINCAK
Thrace - Marmara
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Moderate acidity, full-bodied. Notes of honey, dry herbs, and yellow fruit.
Wine Style & Significance
A lesser-known but high-potential local grape from Thrace. Capable of producing rich, age-worthy, and complex wines in good vintages.
KARKUŞ
Midin - SE Anatolia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Early maturing (Mid-Sept), high sugar (brix), unique tannic structure, and deep natural sweetness.
Wine Style & Significance
Produces historically significant white wines with a distinctive amber color and natural phenolics (tannins). Famous in Midin for its rapid sugar accumulation and unique texture, despite being made without skin contact.
MAZRONA
Midin - SE Anatolia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Very late maturing (late Oct, reaches high brix: 23-24), very thin peel, very juicy. Also used for high-quality molasses.
Wine Style & Significance
Creates robust, good-quality white wines with a dark golden color. Highly valued locally for its late-season sugar accumulation and multi-purpose use.
BILBIZEKİ
Midin - SE Anatolia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Features thin-skinned, translucent white granules with a delicate and juicy texture. It is distinguished by its elegant floral aromas and a soft, easy-drinking palate.
Wine Style & Significance
A prized variety in the authentic viticulture of Mesopotamia, primarily used to produce light-bodied and refreshing white wines. Its name is synonymous with purity and finesse, making it an essential component for high-quality local blends and elegant varietals.
MSABIK HEWERO
Midin - SE Anatolia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
Distinctive vibrant green color with medium-sized, firm granules. Notable for its high aromatic intensity, offering a balanced acidity and a naturally rich sugar content.
Wine Style & Significance
A foundational grape of ancient Mesopotamian winemaking, especially celebrated in traditional Syrian wines. It produces bright, aromatic white wines with a refined clarity. Its deep historical roots in the Mardin terroir make it a rare symbol of cultural heritage and viticultural endurance.
KOLORKO
Kırklareli - Thrace
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
A rare and thin-skinned white grape. It delivers a gentle and elegant palate of white peach, honeysuckle, and citrus, often with a subtle oily texture and a clean finish.
Wine Style & Significance
Once nearly extinct, Kolorko is a symbol of Thracian viticultural heritage. It produces light, aromatic, and easy-drinking white wines that capture the breezy essence of the Uçmakdere region.
HASANDEDE
Ankara - Central Anatolia
Key Characteristics (Tasting Profile)
A bright and aromatic white variety. It is known for its intense nose of citrus blossoms, lemon curd, and white-fleshed fruits, with a well-balanced and refreshing acidity.
Wine Style & Significance
A classic from the heart of Anatolia. Hasandede is appreciated for its pure fruit expression and elegance. It produces medium-bodied, aromatic white wines that pair beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine.
