How did we choose the civilizations?
The history of the lands we live in is so rich that the main difficulty in choosing civilizations boils down to priority. Wine is at the focus of our event, due to the work we do. Wine found a place in almost all of the civilizations that lived in Anatolia. Scientists working in this field make it more evident with every new concrete and intangible information they uncover. Let's briefly look at the research done by experts.
How is information about the history of wine obtained?
- Written sources: Tablets began to be used to record information and records were also kept about viticulture and wine. Very valuable information can be accessed thanks to tablets and inscriptions from the Assyrian, Hittite and Urartian periods.
- Objects: Tools produced and used for the storage, transportation and consumption of wine are also very valuable sources of information.
- Workshops: There are workshops used in wine production in many parts of Anatolia.
- Visual records: Pictures both in ruins and on some objects provide us with important information.
The civilizations of the first event:
While making our selection, we identified eight civilizations for two sessions with which we would have no difficulty establishing wine relations. The fact that these civilizations lived in different regions and the existence of indigenous grapes specific to these regions were the two main criteria for our selection.
Among the wine information we have from past civilizations, there are almost no sources mentioning the name of the grapes. But Turkey's indigenous grapes have been growing in the same places for thousands of years. Our matchings are also based on this geographical relationship.
Let's take a look at how we made the civilizations and wine selections of the first event:
The Ionians were one of the first civilizations that come to our minds. We also had an extra advantage for the Ionians, who perhaps had the biggest share in laying the foundations of the level of civilization we have reached today: The only wine mentioned in written sources was the moskhatos wine of the Ionian period. In other words, we spontaneously discovered Bornova Misketi wine, as it is known today. We commemorate Volkan Sucukçu, who worked hard to recover this grape, whose existence in our lands has almost disappeared. Perdix Winery produces the Bornova Misketi wine we will taste in its facilities in Urla; one of the best examples of Bornova Misket.
We had multiple options for the second wine, but we chose the wine made from Sultaniye grapes. Although the largest vineyard areas today are in Manisa, the birthplace of the Sultaniye grape has been determined to be Karaburun. We accepted the Sultaniye of Karaburun, formerly known as Mimas, as our common wine with our Ionian ancestors. You already know Sultaniye grapes from your kitchen as small, seedless, brown raisins. Heraki Winery produces the Sultaniye white wine we will taste, one of the best Sultaniye examples.
The Hittites were also the top candidate of the Anatolian civilizations. The Hittites, who came to life in these lands and ruled for a very long time, left us a very rich content regarding vineyards and wine. When we look at the geography where the Hittites lived, we chose the two most suitable grapes that match this geography in terms of their birthplace. The first of these grapes is Sungurlu Beyazı. Although the history of wines made from this grape, whose birthplace is very close to Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites, is thousands of years old, it is a very new wine to join us. We will taste a white wine, true to its name, from Sungurlu White, which was saved from the danger of extinction, which is the bad fate of our country's wine grapes, thanks to a handful of hard-working grape explorers. Yaban Project, which produces this wine, is also the team that saved the grape.
Our second Hittite wine is made from Kalecik Karası, which grows on the banks of Kızılırmak and is one of the most processed red wine grapes in our country. The Kalecik Karası wine we chose is produced by Tomurcukbağ. This producer of ours is an academician. Sabit Bey was an important part of the team that brought Kalecik Karası back to life, which had almost become extinct due to phylloxera ligament disease in the 1960s. Trajan is one of the examples that best reflects the character of Kalecik Karası wine.
The Lycians living in the west of the Gulf of Antalya were the third civilization. During surface research in the region, both wine and olive oil workshops are frequently encountered. Both of the two wines we chose related to the Lycian civilization are produced by Likya Winery, which takes its name from this civilization. Both wine grapes are grown in today's Elmalı region and are currently processed only by this producer. These grapes have only geography in common with the Lycian civilization; there is no connection that we can establish through written sources.
The grape of the first wine, Acıkara, was brought back to life after a long process. It has a very strong pigment structure, it is almost impossible to remove the stain. It produces unique, strong wines with character.
The second wine that we associate with the Lycian period is made from Fersun grapes. With its soft identity, Fersun appeals to a wider audience as it produces soft wines that easily appeal to wine lovers.
The fourth civilization of the first event is The Seleucids, who lived in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Region. They became the rulers of the Macedonian Empire in this region, which disintegrated after the conquests of Alexander the Great that swept the world. There are both workshop ruins and unearthed objects that show wine production in the region. But the main reason for selecting these two wines is the geography: they share the same lands with The Seleucids. Our first wine is a blend made from two grapes born in the Taurus Mountains: Göküzüm and Aküzüm are the components of this wine. The resulting sample is a highly acclaimed white wine produced by Tasheli Winery.
The company that produces our second wine is Selefkia, which takes its name from this very civilization. A unique red wine made from Patkara grapes, whose history dates back thousands of years. Patkara is a grape that 'pops red' because its berries suddenly turn red from green in a day: This is where it gets its name from.
