An highlight of an #EWBC pre-conference trip for me was a visit to Gali Winery on the historic Gallipoli Peninsula. After Spaswinefood's travel through Turkey we returned to Istanbul to take part in a number of pre-conference activities. One activity included a two-day trip to Thrace wineries. Even though I had already visited Gallipoli Peninsula Historic Park on a prior occasion, I very much appreciated the opportunity to visit Thrace wineries.
Gali Winery
Gali Winery in the Dogan Arslan district was our first stop winery stop in Thrace. Gali, a young winery, released its first wine, Gali 2009 in November, 2011. While at Gali we toured the winery, the 24-hectare vineyard, tasted wines at the winery and in a bunker. This was followed by a wonderful lunch with wine.
The Gali Winery and Vineyards is located where the Gallipoli Peninsula joins the mainland. From the vineyards you get stunning views of Aegean and Marmara Seas, Dardanelles and the Gulf of Saros. Given the owners' enthusiasm and the winery's location, this boutique winery has great wine making potential. Both the terrain and sea winds contribute to the unique micro climate in this area. An Harper's article discusses the unique micro climate on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The Gali Winery and Vineyards is located where the Gallipoli Peninsula joins the mainland. From the vineyards you get stunning views of Aegean and Marmara Seas, Dardanelles and the Gulf of Saros. Given the owners' enthusiasm and the winery's location, this boutique winery has great wine making potential. Both the terrain and sea winds contribute to the unique micro climate in this area. An Harper's article discusses the unique micro climate on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
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Nilgün and Hakan Kavar in their Gali vineyard © Spaswinefood
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Scenic Gali Vineyards
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| Gali Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
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| Wine bloggers capturing the spectacular views from Gali Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
Not only are Gali's vineyards located amid awesome natural beauty but they are not far from the Gallipoli Peninsula Historic Park. In fact there is even a WW II bunker on the property. During our visit we tasted a wine in the bunker. Yes, it was a first for me.
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| WWII bunker, Gali Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
Turkish hospitality
After touring the winery and vineyards we had a fabulous lunch at the Kavar's home. Here are some of the wonderful dishes we had:
The dessert was my first introduction to the traditional Turkish cheese dessert. There was also a Wine Poached Pear dessert.
Lunch was not only delicious but it was a relaxing lunch. It was also an opportunity to sample Gali wines with food.
After touring the winery and vineyards we had a fabulous lunch at the Kavar's home. Here are some of the wonderful dishes we had:
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| Lunch at Gali © Spaswinefood |
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| Aubergine dish at Gali lunch © Spaswinefood |
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| Bean dish at Gali lunch © Spaswinefood |
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| Traditional Turkish cheese dessert at Gali © Spaswinefood |
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| Wine Poached Pears for dessert at Gali © Spaswinefood |
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| Gali Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010 © Spaswinefood |
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Gali Winery © Spaswinefood
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| Gali Wines in Travel + Leisure © Spaswinefood |
Enthusiasm amid challenges in the Turkish wine industry
Recent articles, such as a Business Week article by Elin McCoy, a New York Times article by Andrew Finkel, attendees at the Izmir conference, note the growing enthusiasm for wine making in Turkey, as does the Gray Report. All three authors however, acknowledge the unique challenges that the Turkish wine industry faces. I not only experienced this same enthusiasm, at the conference, but first hand in Thrace and throughout the country. When EWBC announced that the Digital Communications Conference 2012 was going to be in Izmir, Turkey it took little to convince me that I should go. I was excited to explore the rebirth of wine in today's Turkey. In fact we arrived in Turkey prior to the conference to explore on our own Spaswinefood happenings throughout Turkey.
Gali was a wonderful introduction to a new Turkish winery. In addition to visiting Gali Winery, during our trip to Thrace we also visited Suvla, Gülor and Doluca. Although Gali and Suvla are new Thrace wineries Gülor and Doluca are well establish wineries. Wines of Turkey lists the wineries found in Thrace. Both Turkey's rich wine history and the diversity of indigenous grape varieties makes Turkish wines a must for wine lovers. I would recommend that you try the wines being produced by Thrace wineries, such a Gali. I discovered my favorites and I hope that you will too. Check out my travels in Turkey and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
November 2012
Istanbul, Turkey
©Spaswinefood
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