{"id":991918,"date":"2025-10-04T00:04:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T21:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/?p=991918"},"modified":"2025-10-04T00:04:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T21:04:57","slug":"likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/","title":{"rendered":"LIKYA TASTING: \nSTORIES OF FORGOTTEN GRAPES COMING TO LIGHT"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Our PRODUCERS AT WAYANA event series has become an important bridge that brings wine enthusiasts into direct contact with producers. When we first imagined the concept, we were unsure how it would be received, and to be honest, we were curious ourselves. But the dream we built and the results we encountered turned out to be a perfect match. We are truly happy about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPRODUCERS AT WAYANA\u201d Event Format<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a PRODUCERS AT WAYANA event, we don\u2019t just taste the wines of the guest producer. If the producer is present, we hear the story, philosophy, experiences, and goals in their own words. If attendance is not possible, we spend time with the producer beforehand so we can act as their voice and representative during the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is held in two parts. In the first part, six wines chosen by the producer are paired with six selections from WAYANA\u2019s tapas portfolio. If no suitable match exists, we create a brand-new tapas from scratch. This section is guided: both the wines and their stories are shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the second part, we showcase 6 to 8 additional wines from the producer\u2014those not featured in the first part\u2014in an open tasting format. This also gives participants the chance to have personal conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event is designed to lay the foundation for a strong bond between wine lovers and producers.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>

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September 28 \u2013 Likya Tasting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we reached out to Likya Wines for the September edition, founder Burak \u00d6zkan was abroad, but we agreed on the date. We quickly decided on the content of the first part and left the second part for later. The first part was dedicated to Likya\u2019s prestigious Arkeo series, which included both unfamiliar new vintages and wines made from grapes being bottled for the very first time. We waited for the wines to arrive before planning the tapas pairings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once we had the set in hand, we did a quick tasting. Five of the wines matched perfectly with existing WAYANA menu items, but the sixth required a new design. We adapted a dish from Gaziantep cuisine\u2014Vi\u015fneli Kebab (Sour Cherry Kebab)\u2014to highlight the cherry notes in the wine, and the pairing worked beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Day of the Event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the date drew near, we called Burak \u00d6zkan and told him that since it was harvest season, we would understand if he couldn\u2019t attend. Yet in the middle of that intense period, he came all the way from Antalya to join us for both sessions of the tasting. This gesture meant a lot to us, and once again we are deeply grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We opened the event with an introduction, then passed the stage to Burak. He spoke at length about the philosophy behind his relationship with grapes, the founding of Likya Wines, their journey with forgotten grape varieties, and the challenges and milestones along the way. Summarizing his insights for you feels like a responsibility we owe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likya Wines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burak \u00d6zkan made a conscious choice to become a wine producer. There was no family tradition of viticulture before him. Growing up in Antalya, he sensed that the region\u2019s rise as a tourism hub created an opportunity for a wine brand that could become part of the city\u2019s gastronomy.\nHistorically, viticulture did exist here, but during the Republican era, Elmal\u0131\u2014at 1100 meters above sea level\u2014was not considered suitable for vineyards. Burak chose not to be swayed by such claims. In the 1990s, vineyard investments began, and because French grapes were in demand at that time, the first plantings included these varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Turning Point in Turkish Winemaking: 1990s and Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From that period onward, the Turkish wine sector began to stir with new energy. Established producers renewed themselves, while entrepreneurs from other fields entered the sector. The market\u2019s initial need for international grapes soon turned into an overcrowded field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh Energy at Likya: Doruk \u00d6zkan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every enterprise needs both a maker and a seller. Producing the world\u2019s best wine doesn\u2019t mean it will sell on its own. (Thousands of producers still refuse to accept this, but that\u2019s another story.) One of Likya\u2019s biggest advantages was the arrival of Doruk \u00d6zkan, who focused on sales and marketing while Burak concentrated on production. Likya\u2019s success today rests on this powerful family partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rediscovering Forgotten Grapes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burak tells of a pivotal moment when a local shepherd, known as \u201cRamazan Abi,\u201d introduced him to the Ac\u0131kara vine just two kilometers from Likya. Cuttings were taken, nurtured like infants, and multiplied\u2014launching a struggle that would last years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes roughly ten years for a new vine to prove itself. At the end of that time, whether the grape is suitable for winemaking remains uncertain. Some of Likya\u2019s revived grapes turned out to be table grapes rather than wine grapes. Valuable, yes, but not commercially viable. Still, this too is part of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burak calls his quest for grapes \u201cgoing hunting.\u201d He describes it this way:\n\u201cI don\u2019t actually believe in coincidence. When I leave home, I tell my wife, \u2018I\u2019m going hunting.\u2019 Village elders, headmen, shepherds\u2014they\u2019re my most important guides. Just as I move in search of grapes, I believe the grape too strives to reveal itself to me. It\u2019s a meeting both sides desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, Burak\u2019s words evoke the metaphor of Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s cat\u2014an existence caught in the paradox of being and not being, waiting to be defined by observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likya Arkeo Series Wines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burak \u00d6zkan also guided the tasting of his own wines throughout the event. We jotted down a quick note to remind ourselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first wine was a surprisingly beautiful white called Likya I\u015f\u0131\u011f\u0131. It stands in the same league as Emir, one of our country\u2019s most characteristic white wine grapes. The next three wines \u2014 Likya Ate\u015fi, Tesad\u00fcf, and Alt\u0131nc\u0131 His (made from the grape Germi Siyah\u0131) \u2014 were low-acid reds, suitable for drinking slightly chilled. In the near future, climate change will make these wines increasingly sought after. The last two wines, Arya \u00d6zkan and Ac\u0131kara, were intense reds with strong tannins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DNA analyses have been conducted on all of the grapes used to make these wines, and it has been scientifically confirmed that they are unique, indigenous varieties. This means they will be registered in our country\u2019s records, further enriching our grape portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Word<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Likya Tasting did us all a world of good. Because we need to hear good things, to receive hopeful news. Burak \u00d6zkan\u2019s mission of \u201cgrape hunting\u201d enriches not just him and Likya, but all of us.\nNext year, Jos\u00e9 Vouillamoz, the world\u2019s leading authority on grape genetics, will visit Likya. His presence will demonstrate the immense value of the Taurus Mountains as an endemic treasure and Likya\u2019s key role in revealing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has Burak finished his work now that he has revived so many grapes? (By the way, he\u2019s close to twenty varieties already.) Of course not. The grape-hunting virus is in his blood, and he believes this is his path to immortality.\nWho could possibly stop him?<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>

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\u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA etkinlik serimiz \u015farap merakl\u0131lar\u0131yla \u00fcreticilerin do\u011frudan ili\u015fki kurmas\u0131n\u0131 sa\u011flayan \u00f6nemli bir k\u00f6pr\u00fc g\u00f6revi \u00fcslendi. Konsepti ilk hayal etti\u011fimizde nas\u0131l kabul g\u00f6rece\u011fini bilemedi\u011fimiz i\u00e7in biz de merak i\u00e7indeydik do\u011frusu. Ama kurdu\u011fumuz hayal ve kar\u015f\u0131m\u0131za gelen sonu\u00e7 do\u011frusu \u00e7ok uyumlu oldu. Bunun i\u00e7in \u00e7ok mutluyuz. \u201c\u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA\u201d Nas\u0131l \u0130\u015fliyor? \u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA etkinli\u011finde konuk \u015farap \u00fcreticisinin…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":991919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-991918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nL\u0130KYA TADIMI: G\u00dcN Y\u00dcZ\u00dcNE \u00c7IKAN \u00dcZ\u00dcMLER\u0130N \u00d6YK\u00dcLER\u0130 - Wayana Wine Bar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"L\u0130KYA TADIMI: G\u00dcN Y\u00dcZ\u00dcNE \u00c7IKAN \u00dcZ\u00dcMLER\u0130N \u00d6YK\u00dcLER\u0130 - Wayana Wine Bar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA etkinlik serimiz \u015farap merakl\u0131lar\u0131yla \u00fcreticilerin do\u011frudan ili\u015fki kurmas\u0131n\u0131 sa\u011flayan \u00f6nemli bir k\u00f6pr\u00fc g\u00f6revi \u00fcslendi. Konsepti ilk hayal etti\u011fimizde nas\u0131l kabul g\u00f6rece\u011fini bilemedi\u011fimiz i\u00e7in biz de merak i\u00e7indeydik do\u011frusu. Ama kurdu\u011fumuz hayal ve kar\u015f\u0131m\u0131za gelen sonu\u00e7 do\u011frusu \u00e7ok uyumlu oldu. Bunun i\u00e7in \u00e7ok mutluyuz. \u201c\u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA\u201d Nas\u0131l \u0130\u015fliyor? \u00dcRET\u0130C\u0130LER WAYANA\u2019DA etkinli\u011finde konuk \u015farap \u00fcreticisinin...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wayana Wine Bar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-03T21:04:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-03T21:04:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/6-12-Ekim-Likya-Tadimi.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Wayana Wine Bar\",\"description\":\"Wayana Tapas\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/6-12-Ekim-Likya-Tadimi.jpeg\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":2048},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/likya-tadimi-gun-yuzune-cikan-uzumlerin-oykuleri\/\",\"name\":\"L\\u0130KYA TADIMI: G\\u00dcN Y\\u00dcZ\\u00dcNE \\u00c7IKAN \\u00dcZ\\u00dcMLER\\u0130N \\u00d6YK\\u00dcLER\\u0130 - 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