Discover the Wines of Turkey

Turkey is the fifth largest vineyard in the world and yet so few know its wonderful wines!  Vines have been cultivated by the Hittites and Assyrians to the Thracians and Lydians.  Archaeologists point to current south-eastern Turkey as one of the origins of viticulture.

Our tasting of ten wines covers all the major regions and we have secured examples from both grafted and ungrafted vines, tutored by two authorities who will fly from Turkey for the Red Herring event: Ayseli Izmen and Umay Çeviker.

Ayseli Izmen is a graduate of McGill University and holds the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma.  Currently she is studying for a PhD in gastrophysics whilst lecturing at Özyeğin University.

Umay Çeviker is an architect and wine writer.  Alongside his architectural practice, he has spent over two decades researching, documenting and promoting the wines and wine culture of Turkey.  He has contributed to both The World Atlas of Wine and The Oxford Companion to Wine.  He won the Geoffrey Roberts Award from The Vintners’ Company in 2015 for his work in supporting emerging wine regions.

To gain the true character of Turkey, our tasting will be from indigenous vines that received no irrigation.  The majority are ungrafted (which means they are on their original rootstocks).

Cappadocia is known not only for vineyards!

Cappadocia – a land famed for its fairytale rock formations and unique cave dwellings – is also home to vineyards lying on volcanic ash, limestone, clay and schist.  It is the source of ungrafted Emir 2025, a crisp dry white with citrus notes made in Ürgüp.

Sungurlu is the ungrafted vine variety of our second dry white, Ayağibüyük Sungurlu 2024 which comes from Çorum in central Anatolia.  The vines follow Turkey’s longest river, the Kirihrmak.  Fermented for 21 days in stainless steel, half is then matured in ovoid tanks and a quarter each in steel and 225 litre barrels.  Expect bergamot and quince on the nose; the taste has a creamy-texture with concentrated fruit and bright acidity.

Cellar of Heraki Wines

Sultaniye vines aged 40-65 years grown on clay and limestone provide a stunning dry white, Akuarela Sultaniye 2005, made by Heraki Wines at Çal-Kabalar-Kaplanlar in Denizli district.  It was aged on its lees for at least six months and had no oak.  Elegant, with white flower aromas, the palate is fresh with a long delicate finish.

A single sandy vineyard of ungrafted Papaskarasi grapes, all hand-harvested, is the source of Papas Blanc 2025 made at Thrace in the Edirne district.  The wine saw no oak, yielding aromas of fresh apple, banana and pear; a white peachy taste with minerality and acidity gives the wine great balance.

Cellars of Yaban Kolektif

Çavuşlu Karasakız 2024 is ourfirst red, coming from a single vineyard of bush vines from the Karasakiz grape grown on sandy, granite-rich soil.  It was fermented half each in amphora and stainless steel and 23% matured in wood.  Raspberry, pomegranate and red orange aromas balance a palate of red berry fruits and light spice.

Van is known for its different coloured eyed cats, which swim in Lake Van.

The vines of eastern Anatolia are on the course of the Euphrates river.  “1770” Erciş  Karasi 2024 comes from an ungrafted vine of the same name; it is a single vineyard grown on sandy-clay not far from Lake Van which is world famous for its cats!  This dry red was fermented in stainless steel for 31 days and then matured half in amphorae, 30% in neutral barrels and 20% in glass for 12 months.  Red and blueberry aromas, lifted by a subtle floral note, combine with a taste of forest berry fruits and candied cherry.

Heraki Wines

Another single vineyard but from Denizli in the Aegean follows: Akuarela Çalkarasi 2024 from 37 year old grafted Çalkarasi vines.  With no oak influence, expect this light to medium-bodied red to show fresh cherry aromas combined with wild strawberries and rose petals and a delicate, savoury taste.

A refined expression of the Boğazkere grape made Novakula 2022 from the same district as the last wine.  On clay, silt and calcareous soils, part of the wine was aged in 300 litre French oak. Black cherry, wild blackberry and dried Mediterranean herbs are evident on the nose whilst the well structured palate has an elegant long finish.

Selimiye Camii mosque, Edirne

Papas Noir 2025 comes from a single site wine from Papaskarasi grapes grown on sand at Edirne in Kircasalih.  Over 40% was matured for eight months in French oak.  The nose suggests strawberry, tea leaf, bay leaf, ripe sour cherries and violets whilst the lively palate has pomegranate tones and delicate tannins.

The same vine was used for our final red: Papaskarasi Kaleckkarasi 2023, 60% grown in Edirne and the balance in Kizilcikdere, mainly on sand. Cold maceration for 95% for three days preceded fermentation, followed by 41% ageing eight months in French oak.  A wonderful aromatic explosion of strawberry, banana, tea leaf and lingonberry lead to a sour cherry and vanilla palate.

Barrels of Royal Tokaji

Our Knightsbridge venue is St Columba’s, Pont Street SW1X OBD (six mins walk from Knightsbridge Underground).  It was designed by Sir Edward Maufe, who was also the architect for both Guildford Cathedral and Cambridge’s Festival Theatre. It is Grade II listed.

Doors open at 6.30pm; please do NOT arrive earlier (as the Committee needs time to set up).  If you arrive before, there are many wine bars / coffee shops in the vicinity.  The tasting ends at 8.30pm

Dress code: Jacket and tie for men; please advise your guests.

For admission, please first check availability (info below), NOT please to the Membership Secretary.  Once confirmed and paid, either print off the numbered ticket or have it available on a mobile telephone for entry.

Seating is available for those who request it.

Book Offer

The Club has secured six special wine books for members - all at discount prices.  The books available are listed on the Book Offer page available via this link:  Book Offer.  When ordering, please remember to advise which tasting you would like to collect at - 24^th September or 28^th November.

EVENT SUMMARY

Date:      Thursday 24^th September 2026

Time:      6:30pm

Venue:    St. Columba's,  Pont Street,  SW1X 0BD

Dress:     Jacket and tie for gentlemen

TASTING COSTS

Tasting Application

Please check availability first by emailing tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk

HOW TO BOOK

Essential first step: Please check availability by either

• Via the on-line form above  (preferred method)

​           or

• E-mail your tasting application to tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk

Please do not reply to the Membership Secretary or pay until confirmation of a place is received.

Second stage: Once confirmation has been received, please pay online to The Red Herring Wine Club at Barclays Bank plc:

The payment reference to use is:

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 020 8947 5082 or by e-mail to tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk  (NB: NOT please to membership@redherringwineclub.co.uk)

Your booking is secure once payment has been received at which point your numbered ticket will be issued as confirmation.

Unfortunately the Club is only able to reimburse if advised at least seven days before an event.  If you are likely to be late, please ring or text 07754 108662.

Tastings take place approximately monthly and can usually be booked the day after a tasting has taken place.  Payments outside this schedule are discouraged and do not guarantee a place.

Please remember to notify any home or email address changes by emailing details to membership@redherringwineclub.co.uk.

Diary Dates: