In 1987, while the Kavaklıdere Winery’s Akyurt Production Facility was being constructed, work on cultivating the vineyard was also initiated. On the 45 hectares property of the Kavaklıdere Winery, 21 hectares are devoted to the vineyards. A 20-hectare section of the vineyards has been planted with the indigenous Kalecik Karası species of grape that is especially suited to the climate and soil of the area; on the remaining 1 hectare, a collection of 24 different varieties of local and international grapes have been planted for experimental evaluation of their adaptive characteristics.
• Total Vineyard area: 21 hectares
• Grape variety grown: Kalecik Karası
• Location:
Ankara Akyurt Vineyards are situated 900 meters above the sea
• Micro Climate:
Winters are cold; the summers are hot and long facing south west and north east.
• Soil Composition:
Soil is loam and clay -loam.
• Yield:
Average yield is 4000-7000 kg/ hectare in Ankara Akyurt vineyards. Planting density between vines are 3x2m ve 3x1, 5m.
• Pruning and Training Systems:
High training systems on wires with double guyot pruning is applied.
• Harvest:
In order to identify the time to harvest, first of all it is very important to choose a sample plot that will be representative of all the others. If the analysis of a sample (brix, acidity, pH, maturity, etc.) shows satisfactory results, a second sample is taken from the same plot and analyzed. Then it is compared with the first sample analysis and if the results are the same, the plot goes through a taste test. When the taste test is found to be satisfactory the date of harvest is established. When harvesting, it is important to complete the harvest early in the morning before the day becomes hot and to process the grapes as soon as they are picked. The grapes are harvested between the mid of September and mid of October.
• Total Vineyard Area: 11 hectares
• Grape Varieties Grown: Kalecik Karası
• Location:
Kalecik-Uyurca Vineyards in the Kızılırmak basin, 600-750 meters above sea level, mostly with southwest and northeast exposure.
• Micro Climate:
The Kalecik-Uyurca vineyard possesses a micro-climate different than the typical continental climate of Central Anatolia. Because of the milding effect of Kızılırmak river, summers are hot and winters are mild. The annual rainfall is quite low.
• Soil Composition:
While the soil composition near the Kızılırmak basin is generally sandy and pebbly, the soil becomes clay mixed with loam, only loam and calcerous as the distance from the basin increases.
• Pruning and Training Systems:
In all of our vineyards in the region a double guyot system with high traning and cordon pruning are utilized.
• Yield:
An average of 4000 - 7000 kg/hectare is generally obtained in this region and the quality of the wine grapes is ideal. Planting density between vines is 2x1m.
• Harvest:
In order to identify the time to harvest, first of all it is very important to choose a sample plot that will be representative of all the others. If the analysis of a sample (brix, acidity, pH, maturity, etc.) shows satisfactory results, a second sample is taken from the same plot and analyzed. Then it is compared with the first sample analysis and if the results are the same, the plot goes through a taste test. When the taste test is found to be satisfactory the date of harvest is established. When harvesting, it is important to complete the harvest early in the morning before the day becomes hot and to process the grapes as soon as they are picked. The grapes are harvested between the first week of September and first week of October.
Ongoing Viticultural Activities in the Ankara- Kalecik Vineyards and Surrounding Area
Kalecik Karası, Considered as an indigeneous precious wine grape both by Kavaklıdere Wines and Turkish wine making, is originated from Kalecik Region near Ankara. It has, from time to time, fallen victim to a number of biological and non-biological environmental factors, which have caused a great deal of damage to the vineyards and brought them face to face with destruction. Consequently, in 1992 Kavaklıdere Winery, Kalecik and its surrounding villages came together to establish a “Contractual Producer Model” for the purpose of maximizing and improving the production of the Kalecik Karası species of grape.
The work which was started in 1992 at Uyurca Village, with only 3 producers with 1 hectare each has continued to the present time and expanded into central Kalecik and its other villages. Production is continuing with 10 producers on 35 hectares of vineyards. With the technical assistance and distribution of publications in the centrol town and villages of Kalecik, the number of hectares dedicated to growing Kalecik Karası grapes has increased to 400 hectares. While the results of the work carried out in the different vineyards are evaluated one by one during the growing season, the steps of the production phase are also evaluated separately, one by one.
The contractual producers’ model that was started so long ago has become an ultra modern vineyard process. In this way, plant nursery services, equipment for high training systems and technical engineering services are provided to the producer directly and good quality grapes for wine making are obtained.