An Australian First
Rich, red and spicy, the Turkish variety boğazkere has been grown in Australia for the first time. In 2014, Australian winemaking consultants Robert Paul and John Runting imported cuttings of one of Turkey’s finest red wine grapes and, in partnership with Tallis Wine, established a nursery in the Dookie vineyard. December 2018 saw the first commercial vintage from the newly established vines. The 2017 boğazkere has a bright, bold colour and fruit characters reminiscent of grenache. Mark Allen of the Australian Financial Review praised the vintage for its “spicy raspberry, cherry and rose petal notes and lingering, fine powdery tannic grip that makes you hungry.” Winemaker Robert Paul recommends pairing it with çiğer kebabı – Anatolian spiced kebabs. This fascinating wine is available at the Tallis Wine cellar door in Dookie, and is already making its way into Melbourne restaurants through Lokum Wines.