Many of the texts we have written and shared in recent years carry a deep sense of excitement. This excitement stems from witnessing the rediscovery of grape varieties that were nearly lost, found by determined grape hunters, placed under protection, and gradually propagated until they could once again be produced and shared with us.

We know firsthand how happy those who undertake this struggle feel. We have seen their excitement as they produce wines from these revived grapes, and their joy when those wines finally reach curious wine lovers. Because we, too, feel these emotions deeply, we see no hesitation in describing this process as a success.

Yet there is another side to this story. Are we, perhaps, falling into a misconception when we define success this way? Have we begun to overlook the importance of simpler, quieter efforts whose purpose is not to resurrect what has been lost, but to ensure that what already exists continues to live?

Bursa: The Great City of Southern Marmara

According to official economic reports, Bursa is the fifth-largest economy in Türkiye. Its status as a major settlement dates back nearly 2,300 years, and it has been under Ottoman influence for exactly 700 years.

For almost two millennia, Bursa has also been a region of wine production. Extending from İznik to the western reaches of Mudanya, and anchored by Mount Uludağ, known in antiquity as Olympos Mysios, the region once found itself in a remarkable position during the phylloxera devastation of late-19th-century Europe, exporting millions of liters of wine to markets suddenly deprived of their own vineyards.

One of Bursa’s rising districts today is Nilüfer. Within it lies Misi Village, now officially called Gümüştepe Neighborhood. Archaeological traces reveal that monasteries once stood here, though only one survives today. For centuries, viticulture was an integral part of daily life in this region.

This importance continued into the Republican era. TEKEL, the state monopoly, facilitated the establishment of a cooperative to regulate grape purchases. We know that until the 1990s, wineries operated here, and that the people of Bursa consumed wines produced in Misi. The village was particularly known for its Muscat grapes, whose reputation extended beyond wine to products such as molasses.

A Visit to Misi Village

With this historical context in mind, we set out for Misi Village, located just fifteen minutes from the center of Bursa. The houses preserved and restored by Nilüfer Municipality, along with similar structures still standing in the village center, allowed us to imagine what the village must once have looked like. After crossing the Nilüfer River via a small bridge, we found ourselves in the heart of the village.

Like many settlements that have undergone similar transformations, Misi Village has sacrificed its vineyards to urban development. It now stands at the final stage of its transition into a fully urbanized environment, where open land has become increasingly rare. We knew there were no licensed wine producers left in Misi. Still, we had hoped to find small vineyards that had managed to survive. When this proved impossible, we searched instead for isolated Muscat vines remaining in private gardens. Even this hope was in vain.

In a place where small-scale wine production still existed as recently as the 1990s, nothing remains today. Within just thirty years, viticulture has disappeared entirely, and the Muscat grapes that defined this village for centuries have vanished without a trace.

Must Success Begin with Loss?

We often speak of “grape hunters” — volunteers who see it as their mission to track down vines that have survived against all odds, sometimes represented by a single remaining plant. Their dedication and resources have made it possible for us to rediscover dozens of grape varieties and taste the wines made from them. Their efforts are extraordinary, and being able to share these wines with fellow wine lovers is, for us, a source of pride.

But must we first lose something completely before we recognize its value? Is there truly no one in the region of Bursa willing to preserve the symbolic Muscat grape of Misi Village through even a small experimental vineyard?

If we limit our appreciation of wine to drinking alone, we accept becoming mere consumers, disconnected from the culture that sustains it. Yet preserving culture begins with protecting its sources. Have you noticed how easily we begin to assume that solutions must come from institutions or individuals outside ourselves, simply because we have grown unfamiliar with our own potential? Nilüfer Municipality has demonstrated its ability to preserve cultural heritage through projects such as the Literature Museum and the Photography Museum in Misi Village. We find it difficult to imagine that such an institution would ignore a sincere and organized request to establish a conservation vineyard dedicated to the Muscat grape. But first, we need people who understand the value of this grape — people who recognize that preserving it is not merely an option, but a responsibility.

A Call to Wine Lovers of Bursa

In these difficult times, small initiatives can create meaningful change. We invite you to take the first step. Organize as a civil initiative. Engage with local municipalities to establish conservation vineyards — first in Misi Village, and tomorrow perhaps in Trilye and beyond. Advocate for these vineyards to produce grapes that can be processed both as wine and molasses, with revenues reinvested into sustaining and expanding the vineyards themselves.

If wines born from these efforts emerge, we will do our part to share their story with wine lovers around the world. Let us help Bursa reclaim the role it held for two thousand years. Let us plant the seeds once again — in İznik, in Mudanya, in Trilye, and in Misi Village.

Our First Step

As a symbolic beginning, we have already submitted an official application to Nilüfer Municipality. In our proposal, we outlined both the cultural significance and the potential economic benefits of establishing a conservation vineyard. We encourage you, as citizens, to submit your own applications as well. The impact of such a step may not be fully visible today. But for future generations, it could prove invaluable.

The question is simple:

Are you willing to be part of it?