Surrounded by distant mountains, Vinkara's 200 acres of vineyards are situated by the Kızılırmak River Basin just outside the quiet and humble village of Kalecik. Planted at 2,000 feet above sea level, Vinkara's vineyards span rocky hills and plateaus strewn with sage trees and other endemic flora and fauna.

Warmed by a continental climate, Kalecik experiences cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers due to its elevation and inland location. Kalecik's annual average precipitation is fairly low at 16-20 inches, with rainfall mostly occurring during the spring and fall. Monthly mean temperatures range from 32.2 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July, with an annual mean of 53.1 °F. Vinkara installed a meteorogical weather station on their vineyard and have been analyzing weather data since 2003.

The Vinkara vineyards experience a unique mesoclimate due to their proximity to the moderating Kızılırmak River and surrounding hills. The combination soils are compromised of sand, clay and limestone with high mineral content. Soils are balanced in PH, rich in calcium and excellent for drainage. Particularly in the summer months, there is great diurnal temperature variation and strong northern winds cool things down and retard vine maturation. The sudden drop in temperature at night preserves the balance of natural acids. The low rainfall eradicates any problems with mildew and forces the vines to work harder by growing deeper roots to seek water. There is no insect disease.

All fruit utilized in the production of Vinkara wines is estate grown on vertical trellis. Grapes are green harvested early in the season, picked by hand, hand sorted and varieties are all fermented separately. Harvest at Vinkara usually begins in mid-September. Natural yeasts are used for select varieties.

Vinkara's guiding philosophy is to introduce and build awareness of indigenous Anatolian grapes and their unique tastes to the world by making wines that are ideally suited to their sites, soils and climate. Vinkara has assembled a multi-talented team, led by Italian oenologist, Marco Monchiero, who shares a respect for the land and a deep-rooted passion for working with local varieties. Unhindered by international grape trends, Vinkara has introduced seven undiscovered wines to the United States : Vinkara Yaşasın, Vinkara Kalecik Karası, Vinkara Kalecik Karası Reserve, Vinkara Narince, Vinkara Narince Reserve, Vinkara Boğazkere Reserve and Vinkara Winehouse Öküzgözü.

Founded: 2003, Gürsel family

Region: Anatolia, no designated appellation

Soils: sand, clay and limestone

Altitude: 2,000 feet above sea level

Proximity to Istanbul: 1 hour by plane, 5 hours by car (320 miles)

Planted: 200 acres