Turkey
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The wine markets in Turkey
- Wine production is concentrated in the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, Marmara, Thrace and Anatolia.
- Production is mainly of table wines, sweet wines, and sparkling white and rosé wines.
- Grape varieties used: Emir, Sultaniye, Narince, Bogazkere and Semillon.
- Production is increasing constantly to meet increasing demand. About 57 million litres were produced in 2004.
Wine imports - 852 116 litres in 2004.
- The United Kingdom heads the exporting countries with 34.3 % of the market, mainly owing to imports of whisky, followed by Germany and Italy.
- France is the eighth largest supplier, with 3.8 % of the market (mainly sparkling wines).
- The home market is protected by high (up to 400 %) import duties and complicated administrative procedures.
Wine exports - Turkey’s main customers are Irak, Germany and Northern Cyprus.
Wine consumption
- Consumption is low owing to religious interdiction and average standard of living.
- 49.6 million litres were consumed in 2004, i.e. 0.69 litre per person.
- Turkey is one of the few Moslem countries to have a wine-lover’s association, the Istanbul Wine Friends Association, founded in 1991, that organising wine tastings. The Ankara Wine Club was founded in 2000.
The sparkling wines market - Production is by large producers (Kavaklidere, Doluca, Sevilen and Pamukkale).
- Production areas: Ankara, Tekirdage and Izmir.
- 483 377 litres were produced in 2004.
- Technique used: carbon dioxide injection.
- Grape varieties: Emir and Semillon.
- Turkey has no wine-growers properly speaking. Wine is produced by wineries, about a dozen of which dominate the market.
- Sparkling wines are seen as being rather “feminine”.
- Consumption of sparkling wines is low; only 484 511 litres were consumed in 2004, 27 327 litres of which were imported. These wines are mostly drunk at end of the year celebrations and at special events.
Language used for correspondence: English.
Source: Economic mission to Istanbul - February 2006
