General/History Flashcards
What place does Turkey hold in vineyard acreage in the world? How much is used for wine production?
In 2010 they were 4th behind Spain, France, and Italy with 1,167,500 acres (472470 hectares) (2015 says Turkey is 5th with 497,000, as China has jumped over all to 2nd place)
Only 2-3% was made into wine. The rest are eaten fresh or dried, or find their way into raki “rah-KUH” (the country’s aniseed-flavored spirit).
Where is the greatest concentration of Turkish wineries located (40% of all registedred producers)?
Marmara (“MAR-ma-ra”) although it only grows less than 16% of grapes turned into wine.
What is the climate of Marmara?
Influenced by the sea of Marmara, the climate is Mediterranean, similar to that of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast to the north and the northeastern corner of Greece.
-Surrounded by three seas, the peninsula has a unique terroir with two low montain ranges, Ganos to the south and Strandja to the north.
Which two wine estates began the modern day Turkish wine revolution in the late 20th century?
Gulor and Sarafin, now part of the big Doluca group.
What region in Turkey grows more than half of all wine?
Aegean region
Who is Turkey’s biggest producer? Who is their wine consultant?
Kavaklidere “ka-VAC-kla-DARE-ey”
Stephane Derenoncourt
Who is the only producer of note in the Black Sea region?
Diren “dee-RAN”
Name two main grapes of the Aegean region of Turkey.
Misket (small berried Muscat)
Sultaniye (Sultana)-grown mainly for eating and drying but also vinified clean, fresh, if rather neutral wines.
What producer has pioneered winemaking in the Mediterranean region of Turkey?
Likay has pioneered winemaking in the tourist area of Antalya on the south coast’s Mediterranean region.
What are the most popular fine red wine grapes from Eastern Anatolia?
Öküzgözü “oh-KOOS-go-ZOO”
Boğazkere “boz-CARE-eh” (tannic)
-both probably from Elâzığ region in Eastern Anatolia and are traditionally blended together.
What countries border Turkey in all directions?
Turkey is bordered by eight countries with Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the south.
What three seas border Turkey?
Aegean Sea to the west
Black Sea to the north
Mediterranean Sea to the south.
What is raki?
Unsweetened, occasionally (depending on area of production) anise-flavored, alcoholic drink that is popular in Turkey, Albania, Greece (where it is distinctly different and comes as an unflavored distillate, unlike its Turkish counterpart), Iran, Turkic countries, and in the Balkan countries as an apéritif. It is often served with seafood or meze (selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks). It is comparable to several other alcoholic beverages available around the Mediterranean and the Middle East, e.g. pastis, ouzo, sambuca, arak, Aragh Sagi and aguardiente. In Turkey, it is considered a national drink. Raki is traditionally produced by twice distilling grape pomace (or grape pomace that has been mixed with ethanol) in traditional copper alembics of 5000 liters, and flavoring it with aniseed.
What are three hurdles facing the modern day Turkish wine industry?
- The government is Islamic-leaning, although not fundamentalist,
- the taxes on local (and imported) wine are outrageously high
- most Turks would rather drink beer and raki than wine..
Why is it believed wine cultivation originally began in Turkey?
Alongside Armenia, Georgia and what is now Iran, Turkey is part of the cradle of wine civilization. Vitis vinifera vines still grow wild in parts of eastern Anatolia, clinging to rocks like tenacious mountain goats, and if you believe the Bible, the site of Noah’s post-flood vineyard is here, too.
