Kavaklıdere (winery)

Kavaklıdere is the one of the oldest and largest private-sector wineries in Turkey.^[1] Founded in 1929 by the And family in Ankara, the company is named after the city's Kavaklıdere neighborhood, where its first vineyards were established.

As of 2025, Kavaklıdere manages over 650 hectares of vineyards across seven distinct sub-regions in Anatolia and exports approximately 20% of its production to international markets.^[2] The company is notable for pioneering the production of premium wines from indigenous Anatolian grape varieties such as Kalecik Karası and Narince, and for becoming the first Turkish winery to acquire vineyard estates in France under its subsidiary, **Maison Kavaklidere**.^[3]

The winery was founded by Cenap And (1894–1982) and his wife Sevda And. After marrying in Switzerland, the couple settled in Ankara, the newly declared capital of the Turkish Republic. Recognizing the viticultural potential of the area's dry climate and continental terroir, Cenap And purchased dry vineyards and neglected land in the Kavaklıdere district in 1928.^[4]

In 1929, they established the Kavaklıdere Wine Factory (Kavaklıdere Şarap İmalathanesi). While using grapes from their own land, they also sourced fruit from local farmers in the region. During the construction of the facilities, they were aided by a Hungarian fermentation expert named Balaj, who was in Ankara working on the construction of the Ziraat Bank headquarters. Balaj provided critical technical knowledge regarding traditional European winemaking and storage techniques, helping Kavaklıdere establish quality standards early on.^[1]

The company's management strengthened when Sevda And’s brother, diplomat İnsan Tunalı, resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join the family business. To ensure succession, Tunalı adopted Uğurlu Tunalı, who joined the company in 1943 and later became a pivotal figure in its technical modernization after graduating from Ankara University's Faculty of Agriculture.^[4]

Following the deaths of the founding generation in the mid-20th century, the company faced a period of stagnation due to inheritance disputes. However, stability was restored under the leadership of the Tunalı and Başman families.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the rapid urbanization of Ankara engulfed the original vineyards in the Kavaklıdere neighborhood. In response, the company moved its production facilities in 1987 to a new, 50-hectare modern complex in Akyurt, a district located 35 km outside the city center. This move increased production capacity to 40,000 hectoliters and allowed for the installation of modern stainless steel fermentation tanks and bottling lines.^[1]

In the 2000s, Kavaklıdere launched the "Anatolian Wines" project, aiming to elevate the status of indigenous Turkish grapes to international standards. This strategic shift involved significant investment in terroir analysis and clonal selection.^[2]

This era saw the establishment of two flagship estate wineries:

• **Côtes d'Avanos (2003):** Located in Cappadocia, carved into the natural volcanic tuff rock to ensure consistent temperature control without energy consumption.
• **Pendore (2005):** Located near Kemaliye in the Aegean Region. This winery uses a "gravity-flow" architectural design, where grapes are moved through the winemaking process via gravity rather than pumps, preserving the integrity of the fruit skins and juice.^[5]

In a major step toward globalization, Kavaklıdere became the first Turkish winery to invest in French viticulture. In 2016, it acquired **Château La Croix Lartigue** in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, followed by the acquisition of **Château Claud-Bellevue** in 2019. These estates produce wines under the "Maison Kavaklidere" umbrella, combining Bordeaux terroir with Turkish ownership.^[3]

Kavaklıdere cultivates grapes in varying climatic zones across Turkey, allowing for a diverse portfolio of wine styles.

• **Ankara (Akyurt & Kalecik):** The continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers is the spiritual home of the Kalecik Karası grape. The winery's efforts in the 1990s are largely credited with saving this variety from near-extinction.^[2]
• **Cappadocia (Gülşehir):** The **Côtes d'Avanos** vineyards are situated on volcanic tuff soil enriched with minerals. The region's high altitude (900–950 meters) and lack of phylloxera allow for the cultivation of vines on their own roots (ungrafted), producing white wines with high acidity and minerality, particularly from the Narince and Emir varieties.^[6]

• **Pendore (Manisa):** A high-altitude microclimate (up to 450m) in the Aegean, focusing on international red varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alicante Bouschet. The name "Pendore" is derived from the ancient Lydian village "Paysage de Pendore," meaning "Five Villages."
• **Güney (Denizli):** Known for its chalky and clay soils, this region produces robust reds and crisp whites, contributing heavily to the winery's "Selection" and "Egeo" series.

• Located near the Euphrates river, these vineyards produce the indigenous red powerhouses: **Öküzgözü** (known for fruitiness and acidity) and **Boğazkere** (known for high tannins and aging potential).^[2]

The winery produces 66 different wines under various labels, segmented by production method and price point.

• Icon & Château Wines:
  • Côtes d'Avanos: Single-vineyard wines from Cappadocia (Narince, Chardonnay-Narince, Tempranillo).
  • Pendore: Single-vineyard estate wines from the Aegean (Syrah, Öküzgözü).
  • Maison Kavaklidere: French Bordeaux blends (Château La Croix Lartigue).

• Premium Series:
  • Prestige: Mono-varietal wines aged in French oak barrels (Kalecik Karası, Boğazkere).
  • Egeo: A blend of Aegean terroir and international grapes.
  • Selection: Produced since 1987 in honor of the company's 60th anniversary, typically blending Öküzgözü and Boğazkere.^[1]

• Table Wines:
  • Yakut: A dry red blend of Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, Carignan, and Alicante. It is widely regarded as the most recognized and best-selling red wine brand in Turkey.
  • Çankaya: The white counterpart to Yakut, primarily made from Emir, Narince, and Sultaniye grapes.
  • Lal: A popular dry rosé made from Çalkarası grapes.

The Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation (SCAMV) was established in 1973 by the founders to foster polyphonic music in Turkey. The foundation utilizes the historic Kavaklıdere winery building (Cenap And's original house) as its headquarters. It is the organizer of the Ankara International Music Festival, a member of the European Festivals Association.^[7]

• Turkish wine
• List of wineries in Turkey
• Kalecik Karası

• Official Corporate Website (in English)
• Maison Kavaklidere (France) Official Website (in English)
• Turkish Wine: A Rising Star With Ancient Roots at Turkish Airlines Blog
• Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation (in English)