{"id":992044,"date":"2025-12-19T23:56:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/?p=992044"},"modified":"2025-12-19T23:56:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:56:26","slug":"uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Grapes and Vines Are in Safe Hands:"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

TEKIRDA\u011e VITICULTURE and RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT WORK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in September 2024, during the \u201cBir Ba\u015fkad\u0131r Av\u015fa\u201d festival, we met Mehmet Ali, the Director of the Tekirda\u011f Viticulture Institute. We mentioned our wish to visit the Institute and received a warm invitation on the spot. It took us 15 months to finally make the trip, but the experience truly renewed our hopes for the future. With this article, we wanted to share our impressions and also give voice to the devoted team at the Institute, who quietly shoulder a monumental responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>
\n\n\n

A Brief History of the Tekirda\u011f Viticulture Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute was founded in 1930, shortly after the establishment of the young Republic, under the name \u201cAmerican Vine Nursery Directorate.\u201d A quick reminder for readers unfamiliar with the subject: the greatest nightmare in the history of global viticulture is a microscopic insect known as phylloxera. When Europe failed to overcome the devastation caused by this pest, vines with natural resistance\u2014collectively known as \u201cAmerican vines\u201d\u2014were planted, and local grape varieties were grafted onto them to save viticulture. The predecessor of the Tekirda\u011f Institute was created specifically for this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the following decades, the organization was assigned broader tasks and, since 1958, has evolved into a project-based research institution. Today, it stands as a technological hub for viticulture. Initially tied to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, it is now structured under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry\u2019s TAGEM (General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies). What began as a 90-decare property now encompasses approximately 800 decares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viticulture in Turkey: The Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The land we inhabit has an astonishingly rich place in the history of the vine. The domestication of wild grape vines into cultivated vines took place in the geography that includes Southeastern Anatolia. This transformation is estimated to date back 12,000 years. Our ancestors were domesticating vines alongside early grains such as wild wheat and barley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grape cultivation spread across Anatolia and, through migration and ancient trade routes, reached Mediterranean civilizations. Viticulture developed in Europe roughly 1,500 to 2,000 years after its rise in Anatolia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, unfortunately, Turkey is rapidly losing vineyard area. Yet despite this decline, we still rank fifth in the world in vineyard surface area and sixth in grape production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another field in which we lead is grape diversity. A paper presented at an international conference in 2010 listed 1,115 registered varieties in Turkey. Once homonyms (same name, genetically different) and synonyms (different name, genetically identical) were removed, 845 distinct varieties remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, many new varieties have emerged in Turkey. Their genetic analyses have not yet been completed. But the number that stood at 1,115 in 2010 has now reached 1,459. Until scientific clarity is established, it is fair\u2014and cautious\u2014to say that Turkey possesses well over 1,000 grape varieties. This alone is both a treasure and a record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does the Tekirda\u011f Viticulture Institute Do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among all its responsibilities, one mission stands above the rest: finding, preserving, and maintaining the vines of every grape variety identified within T\u00fcrkiye, and passing them on to future generations in a living collection vineyard. It is essentially a living archive of the vine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute is one of the primary guardians of this heritage. Its team works closely with various universities, generating experimental results that are evaluated not only through products but also through academic publications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many grape varieties that emerge from these studies are ones we closely follow. Grapes are the grower\u2019s livelihood, and the rising value of grapes directly improves producers\u2019 incomes and living standards. With its research and guidance, the Tekirda\u011f Institute plays a crucial role in elevating grape quality. Producers, especially in Thrace, frequently consult the Institute, which has become an approachable and trusted advisory center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Economic Value of the Grape<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grape is consumed fresh but also transformed into products with significant economic value. Historically, one of the grape\u2019s most important roles was meeting humanity\u2019s need for sweetness. Refined sugar, which we take for granted today, has existed for only about 150 years. For thousands of years, grapes were dried or turned into molasses to preserve their sweetness for year-round use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine is, of course, another traditional method of preserving grapes, but wine grapes require different characteristics than table or drying grapes. The Institute plays a key guiding role in identifying which varieties are suitable for which uses. Among Turkish varieties, some stand out for their drying potential. Sultaniye is the classic example, and Turkey is the global leader in this category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the final product, everything begins in the vineyard. Terroir, grape variety, and the vineyard care practices all determine quality. This is why the Institute\u2019s role in promoting qualified viticulture across the country is of great importance. Vineyard guidance covers everything from the right rootstock and variety selection to planting, pruning, tending, and harvest timing\u2014an entire process where precision matters. The Institute remains the country\u2019s primary reference point for all these topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Quick Summary of Our Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, we visited the Institute together with architect Umay \u00c7eviker, a passionate supporter of Turkish grape heritage, and investor Metin Harbalio\u011flu, who is entering the viticulture sector. We were guided by two senior members of the Tekirda\u011f team: Tezcan Al\u00e7o and Tamer Uysal. Getting answers to all our questions, hearing firsthand insights about the ongoing studies, walking through the collection vineyards, and feeling the energy of the place was truly exhilarating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were introduced to several grape varieties that have yet to meet the market. Don\u2019t be jealous of the romantic bond we formed with Yayla, Aks\u0131da\u011fan, Al\u00e7o and Tilkibo\u011fan; each one is worth knowing, each one deserving of serious work and attention.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the samples we tasted, there was also a grape you may have encountered at WAYANA: Karamen\u00fc\u015f. It finally appeared this year as a commercial product, but if you trace its story back, you immediately see the tremendous effort Tekirda\u011f Viticulture Institute has invested in this variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also met Tarsus Beyaz\u0131, examined by the Institute following a specific request. Originally grown as a table grape, it has been evaluated from several angles by the technical team, and the result is a white variety well worth discovering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute has built a highly functional tasting room, complete with movable panels between seats to prevent influence between tasters. We also marveled at the production area: a compact laboratory of thirty airtight, temperature-controlled units equipped with miniature 30\u201360-liter tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Essence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our visit on 18 December gave us hope at a time when developments in Turkish viticulture often leave us discouraged. We cannot thank Institute Director Mehmet Ali Kirac\u0131, along with Tezcan Al\u00e7o and Tamer Uysal, enough for welcoming us and giving us their time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest assured: our national vine collection is in safe hands.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEK\u0130RDA\u011e BA\u011eCILIK ENST\u0130T\u00dcS\u00dc G\u00f6rev Ba\u015f\u0131nda! 2024 y\u0131l\u0131n\u0131n Eyl\u00fcl ay\u0131nda d\u00fczenlenen \u201cBir Ba\u015fkad\u0131r Av\u015fa\u201d festivalinde Tekirda\u011f Ba\u011fc\u0131l\u0131k Enstit\u00fcs\u00fc M\u00fcd\u00fcr\u00fc Mehmet Ali Bey\u2019le tan\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015f, Enstit\u00fc\u2019y\u00fc ziyaret etmek istedi\u011fimizi s\u00f6ylemi\u015f ve \u00e7ok s\u0131cak bir davet mesaj\u0131 alm\u0131\u015ft\u0131k. 15 ayl\u0131k bir gecikmeyle bu ziyareti yapt\u0131k ve do\u011frusunu isterseniz gelecek umutlar\u0131m\u0131z\u0131 ye\u015ferten izlenimlerle d\u00f6nd\u00fck. Bu yaz\u0131yla hem izlenimlerimizi payla\u015fmak hem…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":992046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-992044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\u00dcz\u00fcmlerimiz ve Asmalar\u0131m\u0131z Emin Ellerde: - 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\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u00dcz\u00fcmlerimiz ve Asmalar\u0131m\u0131z Emin Ellerde: - Wayana Wine Bar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"TEK\u0130RDA\u011e BA\u011eCILIK ENST\u0130T\u00dcS\u00dc G\u00f6rev Ba\u015f\u0131nda! 2024 y\u0131l\u0131n\u0131n Eyl\u00fcl ay\u0131nda d\u00fczenlenen \u201cBir Ba\u015fkad\u0131r Av\u015fa\u201d festivalinde Tekirda\u011f Ba\u011fc\u0131l\u0131k Enstit\u00fcs\u00fc M\u00fcd\u00fcr\u00fc Mehmet Ali Bey\u2019le tan\u0131\u015fm\u0131\u015f, Enstit\u00fc\u2019y\u00fc ziyaret etmek istedi\u011fimizi s\u00f6ylemi\u015f ve \u00e7ok s\u0131cak bir davet mesaj\u0131 alm\u0131\u015ft\u0131k. 15 ayl\u0131k bir gecikmeyle bu ziyareti yapt\u0131k ve do\u011frusunu isterseniz gelecek umutlar\u0131m\u0131z\u0131 ye\u015ferten izlenimlerle d\u00f6nd\u00fck. Bu yaz\u0131yla hem izlenimlerimizi payla\u015fmak hem...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wayana Wine Bar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-19T20:56:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-19T20:56:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tekirdag2.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\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=\"7 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\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tekirdag2.jpeg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\",\"name\":\"\\u00dcz\\u00fcmlerimiz ve Asmalar\\u0131m\\u0131z Emin Ellerde: - Wayana Wine Bar\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-19T20:56:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-19T20:56:26+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/851ceffa51197e2af70b71c125f2bd04\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Anasayfa\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/uzumlerimiz-ve-asmalarimiz-emin-ellerde\/\",\"name\":\"\\u00dcz\\u00fcmlerimiz ve Asmalar\\u0131m\\u0131z Emin Ellerde:\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/851ceffa51197e2af70b71c125f2bd04\",\"name\":\"Cenap Kuzuo\\u011flu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/509c698570a62b522be70b8c4d2aab53.jpg?ver=1776721493\",\"caption\":\"Cenap Kuzuo\\u011flu\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/992044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=992044"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/992044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":992047,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/992044\/revisions\/992047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/992046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=992044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=992044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wayanatapas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=992044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}