On March 20th, a message arrived at WAYANA’s WhatsApp from Giovanni. He was planning a bachelor party in Istanbul and wanted a wine tasting as the centerpiece of their trip. The date was set for April 27th.
That Monday afternoon, we hosted five young Italians. As the host—often a generation older than my guests—I guided them through the heritage of Anatolian viticulture. Amidst the laughter and discovery, I asked Giovanni the crucial question: “How did you find us?”
His answer was a masterclass in modern travel: He didn’t use a guidebook; he used a prompt.
The Search Criteria: Giovanni had asked ChatGPT for a very specific experience:
Urban & Accessible: “In the city, to keep logistics and transport costs low.”
Authentic & Boutique: “Focusing on local Turkish wines, not the mainstream.”
Unique Experience: “Something beyond the ordinary.”
The Result? The AI analyzed the digital landscape and pointed them directly to WAYANA, recognizing our dedication to preserving Anatolia’s indigenous grape varieties.
What This Teaches Us:
- The Power of Data: Our digital footprint isn’t just a name on a map. By consistently sharing deep content about varieties like Papaskarası or Hatti wine culture, we become the “semantic match” for sophisticated AI queries.
- Urban Expertise: You don’t always need to travel to the countryside for an authentic “terroir” experience. Bringing the soul of the vineyards into the heart of the city is a major value proposition for the modern traveler.
- The Universal Language of Quality: When five Italians—hailing from the world’s most famous wine regions—decide to finish their tasting by ordering an extra bottle of Erciş Karası Rosé, it proves that local Turkish grapes have the character to compete on any global stage.
Digital assistants discovering us is not a coincidence. At WAYANA, we serve 500 wines from 154 Turkish producers. We bring together 75 different indigenous grape varieties of Türkiye at a single table. And perhaps the most unexpected part: every one of these 500 wines is available by the glass.
Discovery is no longer about searching. The new model is built on systems that interpret your intent and match you accordingly.
WAYANA is not just a place — it is a natural outcome of this new way of discovery.
On your next trip, don’t search. Write a prompt.
