How Four Rival Wineries in Çal Became Colleagues

In Turkey's Çal district, four previously competing wineries have joined forces to champion the local Çal Karası grape, transforming their rivalry into a collaborative effort. Erdel, Küp, Kuzubağ, and Lermonos established the Çal Bağ Yolu (Çal Wine Road) association in 2023, institutionalizing their partnership to elevate the district's namesake indigenous grape.

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There are many grape varieties, but there are only a few grapes in Turkey that are named after their region. Kalecik Karası, Çal Karası, Antep Karası… This is a grape with a connection to the community.

Their initiative aims to make Çal Karası a topic of discussion among academia, producers, tourism professionals, and the local community. The association, with support from the Çal Governorship, Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, and Çal Municipality, recently hosted the first Çal Karası symposium. The event explored the grape's history, viticulture, enology, the climate crisis, and regional development.

Archaeological expeditions during the event revealed the grape's deep historical roots, with findings of 3,500-year-old grape seeds at Aşağıseyit Höyük and Ekşi Höyük. These discoveries underscore the ancient history of viticulture in the region, often referred to as the homeland of Dionysus.

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Çal Wine Road emerged from a partnership of ideas. The managers of the four companies could see the same point from the same place: We are together for Çal, first we must be together.

Producers express optimism about the future of Çal Karası. Asım Altıntaş noted the grape's strong connection to the community, emphasizing its regional identity. He believes the younger generation is increasingly seeking out local products over imported ones. Hürriyet Yılmaz highlighted the collaborative spirit behind Çal Bağ Yolu, stating, "Çal Wine Road emerged from a partnership of ideas. The managers of the four companies could see the same point from the same place: We are together for Çal, first we must be together."

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Çal Karası has proven to be the strongest against all these negative processes.

Yılmaz also noted the grape's resilience to climate change, having withstood harsh winters and severe droughts. She envisions Çal Karası becoming a recognized international product, a unique terroir-driven wine. Halil Kuzu, who returned to his village to establish a family winery, represents the new generation investing in the region's heritage. The association invites everyone to discover the unique tastes and friendships Çal has to offer.

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Çal Karası is a brand of this land. We can achieve a significant identity change from here.