“Every oenologist desires to make their own wine one day,” begins Fulya Akıncı-Hernandez.
“But as usual, we make someone else’s wines as consultants. We may reflect our unique style up to a point, but the winery owner’s decisions and commercial concerns ultimately come first.” She then adds that she has been dreaming of making her own wines for years but might not have dared if it hadn’t been for José’s enthusiasm and determination. The extraordinary story of the Akıncı-Hernandez couple starts with devoting their attention to the terroirs and grapes of Türkiye and culminates in the establishment of Heraki after two years of José Hernandez travelling and researching the vineyards to determine his own contracted vineyards. The name Heraki, a true example of cultural fusion, is derived from the couple’s surnames. José and Fulya draw a unique producer profile by doing what they have studied and professionalised without engaging in any other sector. Heraki, a small and modest brand characterised as a family garage winery, excels in crafting pioneering products for the industry.
The oenologist duo outlines their aim as winemaking from indigenous grapes and old vines in Turkish terroir and a homage to the country’s ancient viticultural history. In terms of style, they strive for wines that reflect the terroir, preserve the identity of the grape, and are as intervention-free as possible. The production series started with the Boğazkere grape and continued with Sultaniye and Çal Karası varieties. The series expanded to include the Karasakız grape as part of the Heritage Vines of Türkiye project, and the Gök and Patkara varieties followed later in 2024. José’s unbiased and objective approach to Çal Karası or Sultaniye as a non-Turkish expert is is invaluable for Heraki and Turkish winemaking. The fact that he does not evaluate a local grape as “table grape, therefore won’t produce any good wine” makes a big difference. Rather than owning vineyard areas, Heraki works with contracted old vineyards and supports farmers and youth employment. By highlighting village names on their labels, the winery endeavours on making these regions more attractive for local and international consumers. Thus, they firmly believe that the best chance to get a spotlight on the world stage is by accurately portraying local grapes and their homeland. Heraki Wines is near Sobran and Yanık Ülke Vineyards in Alaşehir, Manisa, two fellow producers on the Lydia Historical Wine Route. They represent Türkiye and Turkish grapes in the best possible way abroad.
