Kalecik Karası
Also known as Kalecik Karasi
Kalecik, Ankara, Turkey
A light-bodied red from the Kızılırmak valley near Ankara, with silky tannins and red-fruit perfume, nearly lost to phylloxera and neglect before its revival in the 1970s.
Sensory profile
Characteristics
Flavor & aroma
At a glance
Production facts
Prevalence
Niche
Climate
Moderate climate
Ripening
Mid season
Wine styles
Still, Sparkling
Where it's grown
Geography
Shaded areas are the state, province or département(s) containing each region, so they run wider than the appellations themselves.
Turkey
Kalecik, Ankara
The home of the grape: river-moderated vineyards at about 650 metres make light, perfumed reds, rosés and sparkling wine.
Background
Origin & History
Kalecik Karası takes its name from the town of Kalecik, in Ankara province, where the microclimate of the Kızılırmak river and soils rich in marine fossils suit it. It was close to extinction after phylloxera and years of neglect, until Prof. Y. Sabit Ağaoğlu of Ankara University rescued it through clonal selection in the 1970s. Kavaklıdere and later Vinkara built their reputations on it.
Its medium-sized blue-black berries give ruby wines that are light to medium in body, with red fruit, floral perfume and moderate acidity, and hints of vanilla and cocoa when aged in oak. Turks often compare it to Gamay or Pinot Noir. It is made as a dry red, a rosé and a traditional-method sparkling wine, and goes well with lamb and grilled meats.
Lineage
Family tree
Parentage not recorded — Kalecik Karası is an old variety of unknown origin.
No crossings involving Kalecik Karası are documented in the collection yet.