Opal Wines

T U R K I S H W I N E S / T U R K S A R A P L A R I

Opal Wine Merchants are proud to represent the wines from Turkey to the wine lovers of Australia. We offer professional & informative training sessions for venues or wine associations, as we outline the history of Turkish wines and further about regions, climate, grape varietals and winemakers notes as well as service training for those in the hospitality industry. Turkey is home to indigenous grapes varietals native and exclusive to the region as well as the popular grapes of Europe grown in Turkey's rich & diverse Eco-regions. As well as the history of Anatolia which goes all the way back to the Neolithic period (10,200 - 4,500 B.C.) where grapes were first discovered and the earliest wineries & vineyards are found in the surrounding regions. And we present you a comprehensive outline of the history, culture, geographical elements, and grape varieties behind the production of wines in Turkey. Including information & the history of the modern day wineries of Kayra, Vinkara and Suvla and their wines. And we hope to include many more new wines & wineries to our portfolio. We hope that this guide will give you a better perception of the scope and depth behind wine making in Turkey, and that you enjoy the finer tastes of Turkish wines. Şerefe! Tan Sümer Director

WINERIES

In 1942, after having discovered vineyards and winemaking in France, Mr. İsa Güner, a first-generation immigrant from Bulgaria, founded his own winery in ‹zmir, Turkey. Understanding that there was outstanding natural potential in Turkey for wine production, he purchased 4 hectares and started planting vineyards. In 1958, Mr. Güner’s sons, Mr. Gökhan Güner and Mr. Coflkun Güner joined the business developing the property to 50 hectares. Nowadays the property, composed of 160 hectares of vineyard and a first class restaurant (‹sabey), is managed by the third generation of the Güner family. Sabri, Rasim, Murat, Enis and Cem represent the new team. They are assisted by experienced french consultant Mr. Florent Dumeau from the Bordeaux region. Sevilen Group has been working on the terroir approach (Soil, local climate and vineyard architecture, rootstock, varietal, vine spacing, leaf area per hectare, crop per vine) with already outstanding results. This diversity of soil and climate allows the production of very qualitative white and red wine always presenting a unique expression. After having totally restructured part of his vineyard, plus adding new plantations, Sevilen Group now produces ten million bottles/year of qualitative wines.

Vinkara’s tale dates back to the 1960s when the group purchased land in the Kalecik region in Ankara. Venture into viniculture began in 2003 with the cultivation of vineyards in Kalecik. Today, Vinkara has vineyards and production facilities on 135 acres with a capacity of produce 1,040,000 liters of wine. In 2008, Italian wine producer and oenologist Signor Marco Monchiero joined our group. The microclimate created as result of the mountains surrounding the Kalecik terrain, makes it one of the most important centers for viniculture in the world. This climate characteristic is the same as that of the regions around the world where Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grapes are cultivated. The air hits the mountains as it rises, creating hot weather in the valley and rain in the plains. Our vineyards are approximately 650 meters above sea level and in close proximity to Kızılırmak. Because there is a big difference between day and night temperatures, the grapes cultivated in Kalecik have a distinctive taste and aroma. The most prominent grape cultivated carries the name of the region: Kalecik Karası. 60% of Vinkara’s vineyards are allocated to Kalecik Karası grapes as the priority, but other Anatolia grapes along with world class grapes are cultivated.

Suvla is family owned wine producer and viticulture company located in Eceabat, by the Canakkale Strait -Dardanelles on the historical peninsula of Gallipoli. The region is becoming a center of developing vinyards. In this region, famous with it’s deep history, the relationship between vines and soil is going on for centuries. Suvla pursues to produce wines of great density, rich in character with elegant and exquisite finish to complement food. Vinyards of SUVLA, named “Bozokbağ” are 80 hectars and were established in 2003 by Mr.Selim Zafer Ellialtı. Vinyards have a wide variety of vins. Reds are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir. The whites are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne and Marsanne. Indigenous varieties are Kinali Yapincak and Karasakiz. Vinyards are under the certification of ‘Good Agriculture Practice - GAP’. SUVLA Winery was established in 2009. The winery is only 3 to14 km far from vinyards, which makes it possible to obtain ultimate quality chateu style wines. The modern style winery boasts 5200 square meters and houses a traditional olive and natural agricultural products processing facility as well. Focusing on quality, working with leaders in all equipments and with latest technologies, winery processes over 658 tons, incorporating state of the art technology and knowhow.

P R E S S & R E S O U R C E S

Melbourne International Wine
Competition 2017
Awards List, Silver & Bronze

"A smorgasbord of Gallipoli flavours in Turkish imports"

Max Allen, Wine Columnist

"Of Pickled Roses & Raw Venison"

Alquimie Magazine, 8th Edition

Grapevine Audio

Hince on Wine, Michael Hince

"Elyros restaurant brings Greek and Turkish wines to the table"
Australian Financial Review, June 2017

Suvla Wines

Vinkara Wines

Kayra Wines

(#40) "Hottest 100 Trends of the Moment"

Australian Gourmet Traveller, May 2017

"A Toast to the Fallen on Anzac Day"

Regan Drew, Wine Writer

"Türk şaraplarına 6 madalya!"/

"Turkish wines won Silver and Bronze at 2017 Melbourne International Wine Competition"

SBS Radio

Vinkara Winehouse Okuzgozu 2013

Vinkara Doruk Kalecik Karasi 2013

Wines of Turkey

Resource Site

Best Imports under $25

Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine

2013 Suvla Karasakiz (rose)

Regan Drew, Vinonotebook

Suvla Kinali Yapincak 2015

After many years in the wine business, Kayra presents its portfolio reflecting years of experience and passion devoted to perfection. A testament to the true potential of our vineyards, the Kayra wine family is an important proof in our ongoing passion to improve winemaking in Turkey. Under the guidance of winemaker Daniel O’Donnell, from soil to grape variety, harvest to bottling, Kayra aims to bring the rich history and generous spirit of Anatolia to lovers of fine wine. Kayra wines are produced from both indigenous Anatolian grapes as well as international grapes grown in the best vineyards that are true to our “on-site production” philosophy. Our Elazığ Winery in Eastern Anatolia was established in 1942, and the Şarköy Winery in Thrace was established in 1996 with annual capacities of 4.7 and 4.5 million litres respectively. The wide variety of Kayra wines offer diversity under the brands Kayra Imperial, Kayra Vintage, Kayra Versvs ,Buzbag Rezerv, Terra, Allure,Leona and Buzbag. But export brands are limited. Today, Kayra’s fine unique tastes from Anatolia are listed in many international fine dining restaurants and are receiving awards in international competitions. In 2008, Kayra established IWSA (International Wine&Spirits Academy) as a wine training and information center. This project aims to create a platform for wine and horeca professionals, wine enthusiasts and academics in Turkey. IWSA (International Wine&Spirits Academy) is also the Turkish Programme Provider for WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). Born in Anatolia, wine has always been among mankind’s most noble culinary achievements; so much so that it has been known as the “water of life,” and referred to in sayings like “the truth is in the wine.” Now, it is time for wine to regain its glory in the land where it belongs.

Kayra Buzbağ (White)
Grape/s: Emir & Narince
Region: Cappacodia & Tokat Two indigenous Anatolian grapes Emir and Narince are blended to create Buzbağ White. The delicate aromas of Narince make more eccentric the rich texture of Emir. With a nose of lemon flower and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, Buzbağ Emir and Narince reveals lychee, apricot flavors on the palate. It may be enjoyed with shellfish, pasta with white sauce, grilled chicken and fish.

Kayra Buzbağ (Red)
Grape/s: Öküzgözü & Boğazkere
Region: Elaziğ & Diyarbakır Öküzgözü and Boğazkere varietals, when blended complete one another and the harmony of the blend of these two grapes truly reflects the nature of Eastern Anatolia. Öküzgözü with its plum like dark skinned grapes and generous acidity complements Boğazkere with intense tannins, fruit driven, spicy and tar-like aroma character. Buzbağ is a legendary blend of Anatolian winemaking history. This wine has ripe, sour cherry and blackberry aromas. It is soft and pleasurable to drink; it pairs well with grilled meat, kebabs, meat dishes with sauces and traditional Turkish dishes.

Silver Award

Sommelier Wine Awards 2016

Kayra Narince
Grape/s: Narince
Region: Tokat Kayra Narince is produced from the highest quality Narince grapes grown in Tokat region. The gravel and stone soils and the cool evenings of Tokat give a mineral focus and linear acidity to a fresh fruity wine with aromas of Asian pear, quince, chamomile and grapefruit that pair with all sorts of fresh seafood and spicy dishes.

Kayra Cameo D'Oro (Sparkling)
Grape/s: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Narince & Muscat
Region: Tekirdağ Greenish, light yellow, vivid and bubbly. Apple, pear and fresh grape scented. Fruity on the palate, light sweet. Aperitif light, sparkling wine.

Bronze Award

International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014

Kayra Boğazkere
Grape/s: Boğazkere
Region: Diyarbakır Kayra Boğazkere is produced from the ancient Boğazkere grapes grown in Diyarbakır region. It reveals dark fruits, berries, mint, camphor and juniper berries aromas followed by dark roasted coffee and chocolate. It also shows earthy tones, leather, campfire and cigar wrapper. The palate is powerful with dense chewy tannins, concentrated fresh berry pie, licorice and baked fennel bulbs. It has balanced acidity and great length of tannins. Perfectly matches with lamb and aged cheeses.

Kayra Buzbağ Reserve
Grape/s: Öküzgözü & Boğazkere
Region: Elaziğ & Diyarbakır Boğazkere is the power behind the blend and Öküzgözü is the taming portion of the relationship. This special wine promises enthusiasm and delicate character exchanges through its life in the bottle. Dense fruit and lively acidity in its youth this blend continues to integrate aging gracefully to reveal subtle nuances of exotic spices, leather, cassis, soy sauce with a soft silky texture. Barrel aged for 18 to 24 months it goes into the bottle very powerful with meaty tannins, but given time and patience it softens and smooths out to more of a raw silky texture and the fruits come out from where they were once hidden.

Suvla is family owned wine producer and viticulture company located in Eceabat, by the Canakkale Strait -Dardanelles on the historical peninsula of Gallipoli. The region is becoming a center of developing vineyards. In this region, famous with it’s deep history, the relationship between vines and soil is going on for centuries. Suvla pursues to produce wines of great density, rich in character with elegant and exquisite finish to complement food. Vineyards of SUVLA, named “Bozokbağ” are 92 hectars and were established in 2003 by Mr.Selim Zafer Ellialtı. Vinyards have a wide variety of vines. Reds are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir. The whites are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne and Marsanne. Indigenous varieties are Kinali Yapincak and Karasakiz. Vineyards are under the certification of ‘Good Agriculture Practice - GAP’. SUVLA Winery was established in 2009. The winery is only 3 to14 km far from vineyards, which makes it possible to obtain ultimate quality chateau style wines. The modern style winery boasts 5200 square meters and houses a traditional olive and natural agricultural products processing facility as well. Focusing on quality, working with leaders in all equipments and with latest technologies, winery processes over 800 tons, incorporating state of the art technology and knowhow.

91 Points

Wine & Spirit Magazine 2016

Bronze Medal

Berlin International 2015

Suvla Grape/s: Kınalı Yapıncak
Region: Gallipoli Peninsula The indigenous variety Kınalı Yapıncak is unique to the Gallipoli Peninsula region and grows at Bozokbağ the family vineyard. Pale yellow in colour, peach, lemon and white flowers dominate the nose with the hints of flint and dry mint. The palate is creamy and supple. The finish is lively with enhancing notes of spices.

Commended

AWC Vienna Wine Awards 2013

Commended

Decanted World Wine Award 2014

Suvla Rose
Grape/s: Merlot & Karasakiz
Region: Gallipoli Peninsula The indigenous variety Karasakiz is unique to the Gallipoli Peninsula region and grows at Bozokbağ, the family vineyard. Brilliant pale rose petal pink colour. The nose exuberant, enhancing vibrating aromas of raspberries, fresh apple, strawberry and summer flowers. The palate is crispy and soft, exhibiting a lot of red berry fruit and leading to a dry, lingering finish

Bronze Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

Bronze Medal

China Wine & Spirits Award 2015

Silver Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

Silver Medal

Mundus Vini 2016

Gold Medal

AWC Vienna 2015

Bronze Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

Suvla SUR
Grape/s: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot
Region: Gallipoli Peninsula It shows excellent intensity and depth with a mix of spice, blackberry, mocha and licorice aromas. With an intricate structure and tannins, Suvla SUR 2012 will age well for 5-7 years. Suvla SUR is produced in Bozokbağ, the family vineyard on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and represents power and balance. The wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is partially aged for 12 months in 100% new oak barrels.

Suvla Grape/s: Syrah
Region: Gallipoli Peninsula Suvla Syrah 2015 is a red intense wine with fragrant aromas of dried fig, black olive with layers of spices, vanilla and laurel. The explosion of fruit and spice nuances is accented by a background of violet notes. The wine is well-balanced, fleshy and exhibits velvety tannins. The palate has ripe blackberry and dried fruit flavours, escalating to a long and exuberant finish. The wine is produced from Syrah grapes grown on the family vineyard Bozokbağ in the Gallipoli Peninsula. The vineyard has hardpan soil. Northwest winds prevailing the micro climate provide a highly convenient terroir for the maturation of high quality grapes.

Gold Medal

China Wine & Spirits Award 2016

Silver Medal

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

2015

Silver Medal

Sommelier Wine Awards 2016

Silver Medal

AWC Vienna 2016

Commended

Decanter Wine Awards 2015

Commended

International Wine Challenge 2015

Silver Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

86 Points

Master of Wine 2013

Vinkara’s tale dates back to the 1960s when the group purchased land in the Kalecik region in Ankara. Venture into viticulture began in 2003 with the cultivation of vineyards in Kalecik. Today, Vinkara has vineyards and production facilities on 135 acres with a capacity of produce 1,040,000 liters of wine. In 2008, Italian wine producer and oenologist Marco Monchiero joined our group. The micro climate created as result of the mountains surrounding the Kalecik terrain, makes it one of the most important centers for viticulture in the world. This climate characteristic is the same as that of the regions around the world where Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grapes are cultivated. The air hits the mountains as it rises, creating hot weather in the valley and rain in the plains. Our vineyards are approximately 650 meters above sea level and in close proximity to Kızılırmak. Because there is a big difference between day and night temperatures, the grapes cultivated in Kalecik have a distinctive taste and aroma. The most prominent grape cultivated carries the name of the region: Kalecik Karası. 60% of Vinkara’s vineyards are allocated to Kalecik Karası grapes as the priority, but other Anatolia grapes along with world class grapes are cultivated.

Vinkara Doruk Series
Grape/s: Kalecik Karası (Rose)
Regoion: Kalecik, Ankara A rose wine, made from Kalecik Karası grapes indigenous to Anatolia. Imbued with hints of red forest fruits and floral aromas, this wine is full-bodied and has a strong acidity. Due to these unique weather conditions, the most prominent grape cultivated in Kalecik carries the name of the region. Kalecik Karası is one of the three most important red grape varieties in Turkey. Vinkara’s Kalecik vineyard is located northeast of Ankara in the Mid-Northern Anatolia province. At an altitude of 2,000 feet the vineyard is surrounded by nearby mountains and the Kızılırmak River. The river creates an extraordinary micro-climate for producing wines with naturally high acidity that are powerfully complex.

Silver Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

Vinkara Yaşasın
Grape/s: Kalecik Karası
Region: Kalecik, Ankara Yaşasın 2014 was produced with the méthode traditionnelle that is commonly used to make top quality champagne and sparkling wines. With this method, wines are produced with the secondary fermentation directly in the bottle. As a result, the complexity of the bubbles or effervescence is more pronounced and each bottle is closely monitored and processed throughout each stage of the production process. Vinkara’s Kalecik vineyard is located northeast of Ankara in the Mid-Northern Anatolia province. At an altitude of over 2,000 feet, the vineyard is surrounded by nearby mountains and the Kızılırmak River. The river creates an extraordinary mesoclimate for producing wines with naturally high acidity that are powerfully complex.

Vinkara Doruk Series
Grape/s: Kalecik Karası
Region: Kalecik, Ankara A dry red wine made from Kalecik Karası grapes indigenous to Anatolia. Ruby in color with slight garnet reflections. Intense flavors of ripe red fruits, strawberries, raspberries and plum are present on the palate along with spicy notes of black pepper and chestnuts. Vinkara Kalecik Karası is smooth, well balanced and intense with a long lingering finish. Grapes are hand harvested. Cold pre-fermentation maceration and controlled temperature fermentation on the skins in stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 12 months in tank before bottling.

Vinkara Winehouse Series
Grape/s: Öküzgözü
Region: Kalecik, Ankara A dry red wine made from Öküzgözü grapes. It has intense ruby colour with bright purple and ruby reflections. The nose has notes of red fruits, cherry, nutmeg, tea and strawberry jam. The wine is soft and pleasant to drink with full and well-balanced tannins and has a long finish. Öküzgözü is high in acidity, medium to low in alcohol content and its medium body offers a delicate bouquet. Öküzgözü derives its name from the fact that it has large, black berries that resemble a bull’s eye.

90 Points

Wine Enthusiast 2016

Bronze Medal

Texsom International Awards 2016

Bronze Medal

IWC International Wine Challenge 2015

91 Points

Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2015

Silver Medal

Melbourne International Wine Competition 2017

90 Points

Wine Enthusiast 2016

Best Reds of 2016

European Wine Store 2016

VICTORIA

City Wine Shop

159 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Cloudwine Cellars

317 Clarendon St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

European Wine Store

2 Wynyard St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

Grand Cellars

136-138 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056

Rathdowne Cellars

348 Rathdowne St, Carlton North VIC 3054

Seddon Wine Store
2/101 Victoria St, Seddon VIC 3011

Smalls Bar

20 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205

Union Wine Store

211 Union Road, Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia 3032

Wine Down

131 Koornang Rd, Carnegie VIC 3163

Wine Republic

265 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

118 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181

226 High St, Northcote VIC 3070

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