THE STORY OF A PASSION COMING TO LIFE…

Looking for a quieter life after becoming overwhelmed by city living, Ayda Kalelioğlu and her husband Uğur Kalelioğlu began a life close to nature in Urla in 1998—just as they had long dreamed of. In 2003, they took the first step toward establishing the winery they had imagined during their university years by purchasing their first vineyard. Along with their friends, they produced their first amateur wine from this very vineyard. Driven by her passion for doing everything in the best way possible, Ayda Kalelioğlu, with the support of her family, friends, and loved ones, set out to learn the art of winemaking from the best in the field.

She first attended a certification program in France, and later was accepted into a master’s program at Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, which admits only 25 students per year. After completing her master’s and returning to Turkey as an oenologist, Kalelioğlu created a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot blend that was selected among the best in Turkey at the “2013 Master of Wine Weekend Istanbul” event.

Today, the family continues to pursue their dreams and wine production at the vineyards and winery they established on land they purchased in 2015, located at 400 meters altitude near the village of Gödence in Seferihisar, Izmir.