No:40, Gödence Yolu Cd., 35430 Urla/İzmir – Tel: +90 232 776 6366 – Winery website
The MMG Winery is a family business. They make “night harvest” grapes such as Bornova Misket, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Viognier, and Kara Misket, which it produces on 50 decares of land in Kalkerli and Kepir Kayalık. The total production is approximately 20,000 bottles per year with traditional methods, including gravity transfer and manual pressing. The name MMG derives from mead (the ferment of honey), and the wines are branded under Şatomet Boutique Wines Company.
In addition to the tasting hall, there is a 200-cover bistro restaurant for organising dinners and special occasions, and the ŞatoInn Restaurant with a seating arrangement of 70-covers at the MMG Facilities.
The MMG Winery has vineyards located in 2 regions.
(1) Ovacik Mah., Urla: This region, which is 40 decares and 12-15 years old, is at an altitude of 120 meters, with plenty of lime and stony, and waterless agriculture is carried out in the north/south direction. It is in the finishing system, and 700kg of product is taken per acre. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Bornova Misket and Chardonnay grapes are grown.
(2) Bademler Mah., Urla: There are 30 acres of vineyards within the 100-acre winery land at an altitude of 300m. The vineyards with calcareous land structures are cultivated in the north/south direction without water in the cultivation system. The vineyard was established after they lost their 3,000 olive trees in a large fire in 2012. The Bornova Misket in this region was rescued from being dismantled and destroyed at the age of 20 years from the Menderes region and transported to Urla. Their vineyards, which are 26 years old, have adapted very well to the area. Syrah grapes, which they saved from being uprooted and destroyed at the age of 9 years, are now 16 years old. In the same region, brought from the mountain villages of Masina are grown four different clones of Kara (black) Misket, from which they make their rose wines. In addition, our Viognier and Mourvedre vineyards are also in this region.
On harvesting, the grapes are collected by hand at night and are separated from the stem, and the production is started within the same hours. Gravity sends the grapes separated from their stems to the lower floor. All varieties are cold fermented for 25-30 days on average. For red grapes, there is an additional 10-15 days of maceration (keeping the grapes with seeds, pulp, etc.). Whites are squeezed by a closed press method, and reds are pressed with a traditional open basket press. No other agents are used during production except SO2 and yeast.
Professor Dr. Metin Güner started winemaking as a hobby in 2002, and later, the production became institutionalised with the support of all family members. They produce approximately 20,000 bottles per year using traditional production methods in 10kg crates. In addition to conventional methods such as manual pressing, gravity transfer, bottling, labelling and packaging are all done by human power.
Their white dry wines, especially those produced from Bornova Misket, were selected 1st in the 2011 and 2012 harvests by Mr İsa Bal (Turkey’s esteemed Master Sommelier) for two consecutive years. Their wines are only available in 5-star hotels and restaurants and retailed in the MMG winery.
MMG Wines
Bornova Misket (Semi dry white wine) Bornova Misket
Colour: Bright golden yellow. Fragrance: Citrus, rose, melon, pineapple, white flowers. Taste: Fresh aroma with high persistence, intensely balanced and elegant. Drinking temperature: 8-10ºC.
Syrah (Dry red wine) Syrah
Colour: Blackish dark plum. Fragrance: Intense and complex with liquorice root, ripe black fruits, and spice. Taste: Deep, full and lasting on the palate with rich, intense mature tannins.
Drinking temperature: 16-18ºC. It is matured in 300-litre French oak barrels.
Dark Blush (Dry rose wine) Kara Misket
Colour: Dark salmon. Fragrance: Rich with intense rose and strawberry aromas. Taste: Light and balanced. Drinking temperature: 6-8ºC.
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot (Dry red wine) Syrah , Caberent Sauvignon & Merlot
Colour: Dark burgundy with ruby highlights. Fragrance: Red berries and spice. Taste: Complex with aromas of ripe black fruits and spices. Drinking temperature: 16-18ºC. Barrel: Matured in 300-litre French oak barrels.
Mourvedre, Syrah & Melot (Dry red wine) Mourvedre, Syrah & Merlot
Colour: Fuchsia highlights, dark cherry. Fragrance: Red berries and violets. Taste: Complex with dark red forest fruits and aromas of spices. Drinking temperature: 16-18 C. Barrel: Matured in 300-litre French oak barrels.