One of the most important motivations for us for founding WAYANA, perhaps the first one, must be our belief in the richness that our country will provide with wines made from an extraordinary variety of endemic grapes. For this reason, we did not prepare a menu that consisted of being just a good wine house. When we set out, it was more important for our menu to have a power that reflected the richness of the country. We still maintain this approach. In fact, one of the reasons why we choose to go one step further and open all wines by the glass is to ensure that this richness is accessible to wine-lovers.

As a natural result of this approach, Ercis Karası wine was one of the developments that pleased us the most. This joy of ours is, on the one hand, nourished by the fact that it is recognized and regained before it disappears, and on the other hand, it comes from the fact that it provides an opportunity for a historical expansion. Since the Erciş Karası grape belongs to the Van region, let's briefly start with Van.

When you look at the map, Lake Van, which appears right before you with its wide area, is located in the Van Lake plain surrounded by high mountains. Continental climate prevails in the region, which is located quite high above sea level (1725 meters). The temperature difference is high both between seasons and between day and night. However, due to the influence of the lake and the mountains surrounding the plain, a milder microclimate area is formed in the plain. One of the valuable plants that comes to life thanks to this microclimate is the Erciş Karası vine.

Erciş Karası has purplish black, round grains. It usually ripens in mid-September, and moderate force must be applied to separate the grain from the stem. It is generally observed that grains with two seeds grow in clusters between 600-700 grams.

In addition to the grapes obtained from the Erciş Karası vine being used in wine production, its leaves are also widely preferred as food stuffing. In this respect, it is included in the group of vines whose leaves are used in food, such as Erciş Karası, Narince, Göküzüm and Yapıncak.

Erciş Karası grape produces medium-bodied, low-tannin wines with higher acid levels compared to the average of red wines. The wines have a light red color that is more like a dark rosé. The full fruit taste is felt on the palate. We believe that we will encounter very good examples of Erciş Black which is processed by only two producers fort he time being.

We also talked about the historical side of the Erciş Karası grape. Grape seeds unearthed, albeit limited, in archaeological excavations show that the history of viticulture in the region goes back thousands of years. In the exterior decorations of the famous church on Akdamar (Ahtamar) Island on Lake Van, the ivy vine plant wanders along the walls. Additionally, on stone inscriptions from the Urartian period in the region, vineyards are mentioned, and it is clearly stated that those who will damage these vineyards will face the wrath of the Gods.

With the power it draws from the depths of the soil, Erciş Karası will continue to give us delicious wines and strengthen our ties with the ancient civilizations of this geography. We invite those who read these lines to taste Erciş Karası wine on their next visit to WAYANA.