USCA Şarapçılık is a boutique wınery producing approximately 45,000 bottles of wine per year with traditional production methods and chateaux-type production techniques in their Urla winery. Each year, they turn out ten different wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Viognier, Chardonnay, Öküzgözü, Bornova Misketi and the ancient Foça Karası grapes grown in their vineyards.
Kuşçular, 8033. Sk. No:1, 35437 Urla/İzmir – Tel: +90 232 759 0099 – Winery website
USCA Şarapçılık
USCA purchased the vineyard in the village of Payamlı, Güzelbahçe, in 2002 and established vineyards in the locality of Kocadağ, Urla, the following year. The first production was in 2006, and in 2007, they developed the USCA corporate identity and branding. In 2010, additional vines were planted, and the first commercial harvests and productions were in 2012 and 2013 with four bottle varieties.
The name “USCA” derives from an uncommon synonym of the Turkish word “akılca” (wisely) for the mind philosophy of pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BC, born in Klazomenai), the faculty of intellectual apprehension and intuitive thought. The Shakespearian sonnets inspired the wine names; the founder, Serpil Şener, was reading at the time, with the sonnets reflecting the characteristics of their wines. Relevant lines of the poems are attached to the bottles, and a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets is on the tasting table.
USCA Şarapçılık Wine Tasting
The winery offers “classic” (4 wine) and “premium” (6 wine) tasting with a fixed selection of their wines in the main tasting room or group cellar tastıngs by reservation (Tel: +90 536 683 7881). Classic and premium tastings can be readily enjoyed while the winery is open. Highly informative “narrated tastings” are available at fixed times with a presentation explaining the determined wines’ production stages, palate, and food pairings. As of January 2024, the classic and narrated tastings are offered with four wines at TL300 (approx €9) or six wines at TL400 (approx €12).
The tasting wines (as of January 2024) are Classic: Sonnet 116 Chardonnay & Viognier, Sonnet 73 Syrah Claret, Sonnet 58 Öküzgözü & Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonnet 76 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot. Premium: Sonnet 116 Chardonnay & Viognier, Sonnet 73 Syrah Claret, and Sonnet 58 Öküzgözü & Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonnet 66 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Syrah, Sonnet 23 Syrah & Foça Karası, and Sonnet 76 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot.
USCA Wines
The winery sells its wines by the bottle, ranging from (as of January 2024) TL400 (approx €12) for the Sonnet 35 Sweet 2020 to TL1,300 (approx €40) for the Sonnet 76 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Reserve 2019. Distributıon is limited to specialist wine shops in Turkiye, quality restaurants and the Macrocenter supermarket in the centre of Urla.
USCA Sonnet 116 (White wine) Chardonnay & Viognier
The wine is a light golden yellow colour. It starts with floral aromas such as acacia flower and chamomile on the nose and continues with aromatic structures such as peach, apricot, pineapple, and mango. On the palate, rich citrus aromas are felt. The “sur lie” technique integrates creamy and biscuit-like aromas, and the wine is aged for seven months in French oak barrels.
USCA Sonnet 73 (Rose wine) Syrah
It is dark pink, has ruby schools and is bright. With strawberry, raspberry and cranberry notes on the nose, “floral aromas such as acacia and flowers…” On the palate, these red fruits become intense flavours with light touches of tannin. The shell style of “Claret” was not made with 36 hours of maceration in style.
USCA Sonnet 58 (Red wine) Öküzgözü (80%) & Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
It has ruby-colored shimmers. On the nose and palate, aromas start with live forest fruits. Red fruit flavours continue along with solid acidity. The palate is soft and rounded.
USCA Sonnet 66 (Red wine) Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (45%) & Syrah (10%)
It has a clear, bright, ruby colour. The aromas start with lively red forest fruits on the nose, clove on the palate, spicy tones accompanied by black pepper, and intense red and black forest fruit aromas. While transforming into a palate, it ends with plum tones at the finish. It has a round, lively, and velvety palate. It was aged in oak barrels for six months.
USCA Sonnet 23 (Red wine) Syrah (55%) & Foça Karası (45%)
It is dark red and has purple shimmers. Aromas that start with violet, spice and smoked tones on the nose. It reaches a robust, full-bodied palate with red and black berries and spices aromas. It is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.
USCA Sonnet 76 Reserve (Red Wine) Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) & Merlot (20%)
It has a bright, deep red colour and ruby highlights. Aromas start with violet, vanilla, smoked, and spice tones on the nose and continue on the palate with notes of fresh black forest berries, coffee and chocolate. It has a balanced, elegant and long finish. It is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
USCA Sonnet 35 Tatli Kirmizi (Red wine)
It is a glossy, dark burgundy colour. On the nose, it starts with black forest fruits and intense spice tones. On the palate, it is enriched with jam flavours such as roasted hazelnut, coffee, ripe plum, and black mulberry. It was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
See also: LikeCesme.com – Urla Wineries