{"id":991602,"date":"2025-04-29T20:38:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T17:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/?p=991602"},"modified":"2025-05-26T14:18:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T11:18:24","slug":"lidya-antik-bag-rotasi-tadimi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/lidya-antik-bag-rotasi-tadimi\/","title":{"rendered":"LIDYA ANCIENT VINEYARD ROUTE TASTING"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Tiring but Incredibly Joyful Event:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW THE TASTING IDEA WAS BORN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>

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While WAYANA\u2019s new event series, \u201cProducers at WAYANA,\u201d was in full swing, we suddenly witnessed the birth of a brand-new vineyard route. It was March 2025. We had already announced TURASAN as our March guest, but April\u2019s event was still a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I heard the news, I immediately called G\u00f6knur G\u00fcndo\u011fan, the project\u2019s communications coordinator.\nI said, \u201cWe would love to host your vineyard route for our April event and contribute to your visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, this could only happen if the producers on the route agreed. Fortunately, all seven producers were already represented on the WAYANA menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00f6knur passed our message to Ercan Boztepe, founder of Sobran Vineyards and coordinator of the route, and soon we received a green light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We eagerly rolled up our sleeves to work on the best way to introduce this newborn vineyard route to our guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TASTING CONTENT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A perfect framework emerged, fitting seamlessly with our format: In the first part of the tasting, we paired one wine from each of the seven producers with a dish from WAYANA\u2019s kitchen. In the second part, we offered two additional wines from each producer in an open tasting format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since we already had close working relationships with the producers, selecting and sourcing the wines went smoothly. We carefully balanced the priorities of the wineries with the expectations of our guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We finalized the pairings, shared them with the producers, and completed our preparations with their approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE DAY OF THE EVENT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interest was so overwhelming that what was initially planned as a single session expanded into two\u2014an additional evening session had to be added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the event day, we were joined by representatives from the wineries, who graciously co-hosted the gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the welcoming speeches, G\u00f6knur G\u00fcndo\u011fan and Ercan Boztepe shared the story of the Lidya Ancient Vineyard Route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the wine presentations, Yasemin Ta\u015fl\u0131ca from Pendore Vineyards and Ercan Boztepe from Sobran Vineyards told the stories of their wineries and wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second half of the event was even livelier. Conversations deepened, and guests started planning their trips to explore the new route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same vibrant atmosphere carried through to the evening session. By the end of the day, it was clear to everyone that the Lidya Ancient Vineyard Route was a must-visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABOUT THE LIDYA ANCIENT VINEYARD ROUTE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, the Lidya Ancient Vineyard Route is not just a wine tour\u2014it is a journey through a land rich in ancient heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth mentioning that the route\u2019s name was suggested by our dear friend Murat Yank\u0131, a guide and wine expert whose expertise ensured the perfect name was chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route\u2019s secretariat has also prepared a compact yet highly effective guidebook that immediately conveys the spirit of this unique wine and culture synthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the highlights is that three of the Seven Churches, so significant in Christian history, are located along the route. This offers Christian visitors a rare opportunity: a journey back through time, intertwined with wines that hold ceremonial importance within their faith\u2014a truly irresistible invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ROTAYI DENEY\u0130MLEYEN B\u0130R\u0130S\u0130 G\u00d6Z\u00dcYLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lidya Ancient Vineyard Route is not suited for spontaneous, walk-in visits.\nDistances that may appear short on a map can be misleading, something I experienced firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After planning the April 27 tasting event, I felt it was essential to visit the wineries myself before presenting the route to others.\nRather than visiting as a tourist, I traveled as an observer\u2014since I already knew the wines, there was no need for additional tastings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXPERIENCING THE ROUTE FIRSTHAND<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After departing from Istanbul, my first stop was Yan\u0131k \u00dclke in Kula, where I was warmly welcomed by Burak Bey, the production manager.\nWe discussed how they host guests and explored the vineyards and facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, I headed to Pendore Vineyards. While Yan\u0131k \u00dclke and Pendore are neighboring estates, the drive between them took nearly an hour\u2014a reminder that in real life, \u201cnext door\u201d can be quite far!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pendore is part of Kavakl\u0131dere, Turkey\u2019s largest wine producer. Thanks to Erdal and \u00d6nder Beyler\u2019s detailed guidance, I continued my journey, traveling about another hour to reach Heraki and Sobran Vineyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heraki ve Sobran Ba\u011flar\u0131\u2019n\u0131n \u00fcretimi bir organize sanayi b\u00f6lgesi i\u00e7inde. Heraki\u2019nin sahipleri Fulya ve Jose ile ge\u00e7irdi\u011fimiz yakla\u015f\u0131k bir saatten sonra bu kez Fulya\u2019n\u0131n rehberli\u011fiyle Sobran\u2019\u0131n ba\u011f evine gittik. Buras\u0131 hem Heraki hem de Sobran Ba\u011flar\u0131 \u015faraplar\u0131n\u0131n tad\u0131mlar\u0131na ev sahipli\u011fi yapacak yer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their production facilities are located inside an organized industrial zone, a result of regulations I will comment on later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a wonderful hour with Fulya and Jose from Heraki, Fulya guided me to Sobran\u2019s tasting house, where both Heraki and Sobran wines are showcased.\nThe final stop for the day was Nif Vineyards, about 1.5 hours away.\nThere, Onur Bey showed me around and kindly hosted me for dinner.\nNif Vineyards, with its long-standing hospitality experience, requires little additional preparation for visitors.\nThe following morning, I visited Kastro Tireli, where Onur Bey once again offered a warm welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about their work with two local grape varieties.\nThe journey ended at Selendi Vineyards in the village of Sarn\u0131\u00e7, where we were lucky enough to meet the management team and tour the facilities with beloved Sabahattin Bey, who has been part of Selendi from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A BRIEF NOTE ON OPERATING WINERIES IN TURKEY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allow me a short digression to highlight a key regulatory challenge faced by Turkish wineries.\nIn quality wine production\u2014as in any kind of production\u2014the distance between raw material and production facility is crucial.\nTraditionally, most fine wineries worldwide use a \u201cch\u00e2teau model,\u201d producing wines at facilities located adjacent to their vineyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was also true in Turkey\u2014until a gradual regulatory change between 2004 and 2010 mandated that production licenses for wineries could only be granted within organized industrial zones.\nThis policy effectively decided that producing a food item (even one containing alcohol) among factories making plastic, paper, footwear, or textiles was more appropriate than producing wine at the vineyard itself.\nI remain hopeful that this regulation will eventually change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are my key takeaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n