Southern Turkey Has Become A Precious Land for Wine
Turkey’s southern region has become a promising precious land for wine production as many leading experts compare it to the United States’ Napa Valley, famous for top wineries of the world, said a wine expert Sunday.
“Turkey’s award-winning wineries are attracting world famous wine brands,” said Yasin Tokat, head of the Turkish Wine Producers Association in the southern province of Denizli.
Turkish Wine Producers Association and the Turkish wine market held a press conference in Denizli. Noting that Turkish wineries in the south are often compared to the world famous wineries in Napa Valley, located north of San Francisco Bay, Tokat said, “Wines produced in the southern region of Turkey are highly favored among wine lovers looking for unique tastes.”
“Grapes grown on 30 million square meters of land in Denizli attract many world-famous wine producers,” Tokat said adding that Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are two types favored by the foreign producers. Kalecik Karası, a grape mostly grown in Central Turkey, and Öküzgözü and Boğazkere, both very dark red rich grapes originated in eastern Turkey, are listed among the top grapes favored by the foreign wine producers as wines made of these grapes presents a unique taste, aroma and flavor only found on Turkish soil.
Since many farmers who focus on grape production in the southern province of the country are being encouraged by strong local and international demand, Denizli has emerged as the core of the winery business in the region. “Trio, a unique wine of Öküzgözü, Boğazkere and Kalecik Karası mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz is favored by many wine lovers,” said Tokat. This special wine won two bronze medals in wine competitions in the U.S and the United Kingdom this year, he added.
Despite the international success of the Turkish wine, wine exports of the country have been highly concentrated on three particular markets: northern Cyprus by 26 percent, Belgium by 23 percent and Germany by 10 percent according to Export Promotion of Center of Turkey. The total export volume of carbonated beverages was $76.6 million and the export quantity was 114 million liters by the end of last year, official figures say.
31 July 2011
SOURCE: HURRIYET DAILY NEWS
