HUS winery (Şarapçılık) is 8km southwest of Urla centre, just off the Kuşçular road. The vineyards have Syrah and Grenache grape varieties planted on a 2.5-acre area, dispersed with 1.1 x 2.2-meter gaps.
The modern vineyard was founded in 2018 by Juan Pablo Diaz Leon and Ceylan Ertörer Diaz Leon. However, they have continued efforts to restore earlier vineyards planted by the family in 2003 on the same land. In addition to their vineyards, they work with growers in the region and throughout Turkey to source grapes from private plots, such as the Emir from Nevşehir and Syrah from Denizli.
Ceylan’s grandmother had immigrated from Crete to Urla during the population exchange in 1923. The family had started to earn their living by farming on the land given to them in Urla-Hebiller. The next generation does not pursue farming, but Ceylan’s parents, who had grown up with farming traditions, planted vineyards in 1996. Ceylan is the 3rd generation of the family raised in Urla. Juan is from Chile, famed for its wines, and Juan’s family also deals with viticulture. In 2012, Ceylan’s mother passed away, leaving the vineyards she had planted with her own hands unattended. Juan & Ceylan left their jobs and focused entirely on the vineyard.
After the 2019 harvest season, they made a trial production of around 10,000 litres. The winery building, which started construction in 2018, has been completed in the beginning of 2020. Part of the 2019 harvest had been bottled, and the remaining had matured in bottles. Around 13,000 litres were produced in the 2020 campaign season.
In October 2021, at the age of just 34, sadly, Juan Pablo Diaz Leon passed away.
Immediately above the production area is a tasting room, restaurant, and terrace with a panoramic view of the vineyards. HUS describes the menu as cuisine on the Urla peninsula, creating innovative recipes that follow the changing paths of nature, using local and seasonal products. Inspired by the vineyards, they prepare elaborate, original, dynamic menus harmoniously matched with HUS wines. Hus Winery hosts various events, including pop-up menus with guest chefs, celebratory organizations, and corporate meetings.
HUS Wines
Emir 2022 (dry white wine 13.5%) – production of 2,231 bottles
Emir is grown in Nevsehir’s high altitude (1,000m) volcanic, single parcel, non-irrigated old vineyards. It has a firm acidity and mineral character, with citrus and drupe notes. It is a terroir wine that reflects Cappadocia’s soil and climate characteristics. No barrel has been used.
Emir Pieles 2021 (dry white wine 11.0%) – production of 1,278 bottles
Grown in Nevşehir’s high altitude (1,000m), volcanic soil structure, single plot, and old vineyards, they have given Emir a greasy, round texture with the use of shell maceration and egg tank for two months.
“AN” Syrah-Grenache 2022 (dry rose wine 13.0%) – production of 1,260 bottles
It is ecologically grown in their vineyard in Urla Kuscular, in clay loam soils 6 km from the sea. It is a “field blend” rose with rich fruit flavours and a lively acidity.
Syrah 2021 (dry red wine 14.5%) – production of 1,809 bottles
Made from single parcel Syrah grapes growing in the clay loam soils south of Denizli, at an altitude of 850m. It has an elegant, complex texture with a long and lively finish. It has been partially matured in French oak barrels.
Öküzgözü – Boğazkere 2019 (dry red wine 13.7%) – production of 4,028 bottles
Made of local Öküzgözü and Boğazkere varieties grown in marl and red clay soils of Denizli’s Cal region at 950m altitude, it is a balanced wine with lively acidity. It has been partially matured in new 500-litre French oak barrels.
“Supernova” Carignan – Alicante 2020 (dry red wine 12.8%) – production of 2,946 bottles
With this blend, they have brought together Carignan and Alicante, two varieties of grapes that have grown in this terroir for decades but are now almost about to disappear. They named this newborn energy that arises from these stars of the vineyard “Supernova”.
Carinena Juan 2019 (dry red wine 14.9%) – production of 645 bottles
It is produced from grapes grown in 50-year-old low-yielding, unirrigated goblet vineyards at an altitude of 130 meters. Aged for 27 months in 500-litre French oak barrels. It gets its name from Juan Pablo, who believed in the vineyard’s potential from the first day he saw it and put endless effort into it.
Carinena Juan 2020 (dry red wine 13.8%) – production of 1,080 bottles
It is produced from grapes grown in 51-year-old low-yielding, unirrigated goblet vineyards at an altitude of 130 meters. Aged for 20 months in 500-litre French oak barrels.
Carinena Embalse 2020 (dry red wine 13.5%) – production of 1,380 bottles
It is produced from grapes harvested from a 40-year-old, unirrigated goblet vineyard at an altitude of 115 meters. Aged for 15 months in 500-litre French oak barrels.
Carinena Meşelik 2019 (dry red wine 14.5%) – production of 698 bottles
Produced from grapes harvested from a 23-year-old, unirrigated goblet vineyard at an altitude of 190 meters. Aged for 27 months in 500-litre French oak barrels.
Carinena Pie Franco 2019 (dry red wine 14.0%) – production of 712 bottles
It is produced from unirrigated Vitis Vinifera Goblet vines grown at an altitude of 280 meters and aged for 15 months in 500-litre French oak barrels. “Pie Franco” means “without rootstock”.
See also: LikeCesme.com – Urla Wineries