Vineyard
Work began in 2005 with the aim of establishing a modern vineyard in the Hançalar neighbourhood of Çal, in Denizli province. Following this initial phase, the first vines were planted in 2007. Çal lies on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 850 metres, through which the Büyük Menderes River flows, taking its name from the river god Meandros.
The vineyards are rooted in clay, loam, and calcareous soils, with a marked difference between day and night temperatures, averaging 18 to 20 degrees. Spread across approximately 50 hectares, Kuzubağ’s vineyards have been cultivated in accordance with good agricultural practices since their establishment. Over the past two years, the estate has also transitioned to organic viticulture. Through pruning and bunch thinning, grapes are grown according to a low-yield philosophy that prioritises quality.
“A family winery that is both modern and rooted in tradition, Kuzubağ seeks to honour Çal’s thousands of years of viticultural history.”
In planning the vineyard, row spacing was set at 2.8 metres and vine spacing at 1 metre, in accordance with the existing machinery. This results in approximately 2,800 vines per hectare. The rows are oriented north to south and trained using a high trellis system. Wooden posts and galvanised wires are used throughout, and irrigation infrastructure has been installed across the vineyard, making it possible to irrigate the entire site when needed.
In planning the vineyard, row spacing was set at 2.8 metres and vine spacing at 1 metre, in accordance with the existing machinery. This results in approximately 2,800 vines per hectare. The rows are oriented north to south and trained using a high trellis system. Wooden posts and galvanised wires are used throughout, and irrigation infrastructure has been installed across the vineyard, making it possible to irrigate the entire site when needed.
The vine material was sourced from France and Italy, while local varieties were supplied from within Turkey. Particular importance was given to Çal Karası, the region’s native grape. Two different Çal Karası saplings, developed through clone selection and trial production at the Manisa Viticulture Research Institute, were procured, and a 0.8 hectare Çal Karası vineyard was established using a trellis system for the first time in the region. Since 2007, the varieties grown at Kuzubağ have included Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Çal Karası, Kalecik Karası, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Acıkara, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Narince, and Sultaniye.
