Ipek Leni Candan

In the mountain village of Saint Nicolas, Valle d’Aosta, lies Maison Vagneur, a one-hectare winery producing fewer than 2,000 bottles a year. Run entirely by Palma Faggiano, it is a true labour of love. She focuses on Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Traminer, and Syrah, crafting single-vineyard wines that reflect purity and terroir at 900m altitude. Walking the vines with Palma and tasting her wines in the vineyard was an unforgettable glimpse into her passion and dedication.

As harvest season begins in the Aegean, I return to the wine region of Urla to visit two producers shaping its future. From Hus’s vibrant, low-yield Cariñena to Urla Wines’s rare native grapes found nowhere else, discover how this historic peninsula is cementing its place on Turkey’s wine map — and why the Urla Wine Route should be on every wine lover’s list.

Next time you’re looking for a Cabernet Franc with a twist, think of Turkey.