Turkish Wines Net Working - Bogazkere and Öküzgözü

Thursday, 22 December 2016 00:00

Anatolia is the centre of Turkish wine production, which actually goes back about 5.000 years. There have been times when production of wine has been restricted by laws during the Osmanian periods. When the Republic of Turkey was established by Atatürk in 1923 all these restrictions were lifted.

The wine production industry developed quickly during the 70’s. The consumption, mostly by the tourists, led to an enormous increase in production. Since the 80’s wine production changed its aims a little. Instead of producing quantity they changed to quality wines and they have been really successful.

This new characteristic of Turkish wines became familiar to the experts. This led to their presentation at fairs and exhibitions, where they won acceptance and some important awards for their high quality. Today Turkish winegrowers produce about 80 million litres of wine a year, which is exported all around the world and is convincing more and more consumers of the quality of Turkish wine.
Today most of the grapes are grown in the Marmara district, along the Aegaen Coast and in Central Anatolia. Only 5 % of grapes are used for the production of wine, all the rest being eaten as fruit, dried to become raisins, or pressed for juice.

The local grapes, Bogazkere and Öküzgözü, grow in the south- east of Turkey and are well known for their high quality as red wine which, certainly, is a little expensive.
The grapes of Narince grow in Tokat in the north of Central Anatolia and are used to produce a very tasty white wine. An imported grape which grows extremely well in the Turkish sun, is Sauvignon Blanc, which is already well known as an excellent wine. The growing of grapes and the production and marketing of wine is controlled by the government, which imposes many restrictions and rules.

STRUCTURE OF THE WINE-GROWING IN TURKEY

The wine-growing scene is determined by some huge wine producer’s. The entry into high-class-wines of the last years was initiated just by them. Small vineyards at the moment benefit from the success of these good ones according to the model of the French companies of the “Châteaux”. Most of approx. 100 Turkish wine-growing companies are very small and do not export. Because you will find these vineyards scattered around the whole country and the huge wine producers have an enormous need in grape material, the plantation owners often need to drive some hundred kilometres.

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