French news agency reports: A wine renaissance is taking place in Turkey

The French news agency (AFP) covered the wine sector in Turkey in a report published today. 

It was reported that Zeynep Arca Şallıel entered the business professionally in the 2000s, following the state's removal of the alcohol sales monopoly that favored large producers. 

Now 50, Şallıel has expanded her vineyard with the help of an Italian wine expert, producing between 120,000 and 150,000 bottles per year. 

Using both local and international grape varieties in her vineyards in Thrace, Şallıel describes herself as an "endangered species." She lists the problems they face as the economic crisis, inflation, climate change, and a lack of visibility in the sector, adding:

'A WINE RENAISSANCE HAS BEGUN IN TURKEY'

"Even though we produce quality wines, we have difficulty selling them both in our own country and abroad."

Like other stakeholders in Turkey's wine sector, she suffers from taxes, bureaucracy, and laws that AFP describes as "absurd." 

On the other hand, wine expert and consultant Göknur Gündoğan argues that a new generation, most of whom have been educated abroad and a significant portion of whom are women, has started a wine renaissance in Turkey. 

There are around 250 vineyards in Turkey, and half of them are focused on quality wine production. 

Both foreign grapes such as Cabernet, Sauvignon, and Merlot, and local varieties such as Narince, Kolorko, Papazkarası, and Karasakız are used.

Gündoğan states that 1,000 grape varieties have been identified in Turkey and that 15 of them have proven their success in winemaking.

Pointing out that the majority of Turkey is Muslim, Gündoğan says of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "He does not want Turks to consume wine." 

'WE CANNOT EVEN POST ADS ON INSTAGRAM'

Wine accounts for only 6 percent of the alcohol market in Turkey. 

Wine producer Metin Harbalioğlu complains about advertising bans:

"We are even afraid to post photos on Instagram."

Seyit Karagözoğlu also criticizes the attitude of the authorities while noting that they export to the USA, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates:

"The lack of promotion is very significant. I think there is a truly major obstacle in front of the new generation or new entrepreneurs starting this business."

The requirement for all firms that produce or import tobacco and alcoholic beverages to provide collateral of up to 50 million Turkish Liras, depending on their production capacity, hits small producers hard.

ONLY 3 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION CAN BE SOLD ABROAD

Speaking about the practice introduced this year, Zeynep Arca Şallıel says:

"Dozens of new producers had entered the market in the last 10 years. These regulations have stopped that."

AFP reports that Turkey, which was once among the world's top 10 wine exporters, can now sell only 3 percent of its production abroad. 

Italian expert Andrea Paoletti, who has been working in Turkey for the last 20 years, argues that there is no problem regarding quality.

"The future of Turkish wine is in international markets. They must promote themselves."

Currently, Turkey is the world's 5th largest grape producer but ranks 51st in wine exports. 

The world's most influential wine magazine, Decanter, also devoted extensive space to winemaking in Turkey in its latest issue. 

While noting that Anatolia's winemaking tradition has survived despite prohibitions during the Ottoman era, the magazine introduced various vineyards and producers in the country. 

News Source: 12punto