Kuşçular, 8015. Sk. No:6, 35430 Urla/İzmir – Tel: +90 232 465 0321 – Winery website Facebook site
Mozaik Winery’s vineyards and the Mahrem Wines are produced in its on-site winery located in Kuşçular, Urla. The vineyards were started from scratch in 2006, with their first commercial harvest in 2010, where they chose to grow several red varietals after careful selection considering the region’s geography and history. The name Mahrem derives from Arabic-Turkish, meaning an “intimate secret”.
The winery is a family-operated business started in 2006 by Ali Emin and Melis Kurtel Emin, whose primary business is horse breeding. While breeding does not occur at the stables, they care for pregnant mares and foals there. Currently, racehorse breeding continues in the Kurtel Stud Farm “Kurtel Harası” farms, established in the provinces of Izmit, Bandırma, Bursa and Balıkesir, where they have over 1,000 racehorses.
Under the supervision of an Italian expert in the science of soil management and crop production and considering the history of Urla, its natural characteristics and their aspirations. They have established a unique quality with special pruning techniques tailored for each varietal and claim to be the only vineyard so far in Turkey with no installed irrigation system.
Adjacent to the stables and the winery production facility is a small tasting house with a picturesque backdrop of mares and their foals, the fields and white fences. Here, they sell a selection of nine of their wines and offer a tasting assortment of five wines, including one white, one rose and three reds. The tasting room does not serve food. As of January 2024, the five wine-tasting cost TL200 (approx. €6). The winery sells individual bottles of their wines on site, which retail at between TL400 (approx. €12) for the Mahrem Derya or Rüya to TL1,990 (approx. €60) for the Mahrem Tannat 2013.
The Mozaik Winery cultivates Syrah, Sangiovese, Corinto, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Marselan, Ekigaïna (a hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon & Tannat) and Rebo (a hybrid of Merlot & Teroldego) grape varieties. Vines are grown organically with little to no manipulation. Some of the grapes mentioned are new varietals with no vinified examples and have already won awards in leading international competitions.
The vineyards cover 14 hectares on a low-lying hill (5-8% slope – altitude 20-35 metres), producing around 60,000 bottles yearly (55,000 in 2022 due to rains in spring). Wines are macerated in steel tanks and then aged for an average of 18 months in French & American oak barrels. All wines are from the estate and are customarily harvested over a period of a month from mid-August. Amongst their wines are Rüya (dry rose – Corinto) and Derya (blanc de noir – Sangiovese, occasionally Corinto added), named in tribute to the owner’s daughters. Mahrem wines can be purchased from boutique vintners and are distributed in Macro Centre supermarkets.
Mahrem Wines
Product notes and descriptions:
Mahrem Sangiovese (Dry red. 13.5% alcohol. Production approx. 20,000 bottles per year) – Fruity and smooth to drink, this wine has created a union with various clones and rootstock combinations over different types of soil.
Mahrem Syrah (Dry red. 14.0% alcohol. Production approx. 6,000 bottles per year) – Every aspect of this rich grape has from its home in Urla, thanks to the proper clone and rootstock choices of the soil. Perfectly eligible for ageing, this wine will invite you to our vineyards with every sip.
Mahrem Ekigaïna (Dry red. 14.0% alcohol. Production approx. 6,000 bottles per year) – A hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, this rare varietal has settled on a perfect balance with its rich character, fresh fruity notes, and beautiful tannins by showing great adaptation to the Aegean/Urla microclimate.
Mahrem Petit Verdot & Rebo (Dry red. 13.5% alcohol. Production approx. 9,000 bottles per year) – As a hybrid of Merlot and Teroldego, Rebo has created a new equilibrium for itself in the non-habitual Urla climate, and this has resulted in a perfect blend with Petit Verdot, which has matured to perfection in Urla.
Mahrem Tannat (Dry red. 13.5% alcohol. Production approx. 1,500 bottles per year) – As a limited edition production, Tannat has shown great adaptation to the Urla climate, and as rarely seen even in its homeland, France, it has resulted in great taste and quality that it deserves to be bottled alone, 100% Tannat.
Mahrem Rüya (Dry rosé. 12.5% alcohol. Production approx. 1,500 bottles per year) – Made from Corinto grapes, the rosé is always fresh with red fruit flavours and relaxingly dreamy. Rüya translates as “dream”.
Mahrem Corinto (Dry red. 13.5% alcohol. Production approx. 8,000 bottles per year) – Like its relative Sangiovese, this wine is smooth and fruity and presents a delicious and enjoyable product.
Miscellaneous Facts:
Melis Kurtel Emin also founded the private Bademler Village College in Bademler Village, Urla, in 2017 and implemented a primary school project.
The label for the Mahrem wines was designed by Zeynep Orbay, a Fulbright Scholar who graduated with the Paula Rhodes Award for Exceptional Achievement in Design and is now a Creative Director working at Wieden+Kennedy.