PRESS PACK - Arcadia

PRESS 

PACK 

UK PRESS CONTACT 

Sarah Abbott MW 

38 Mill Street 

Bedford 

MK40 3HD 

T +44 (0)1234 245533 

E sarah@swirl-me.co.uk 

W sarahabbottmw.com 

ARCADIA WINERY 

Lüleburgaz Office: 

Hamitabat Köyü 

Lüleburgaz, 

39750 Kırklareli 

Turkey 

T +90 (533) 258 00 55 

ISTANBUL OFFICE 

Kılıçalipasa Mah. Kumrulu 

Sokak No: 42/4, 

Cihangir/Beyoglu, 

34433 Istanbul 

Turkey 

T +90 (212) 292 08 83 

F +90 (212) 251 17 31

arcadia@arcadiavineyards.com 

+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

ABOUT ARCADIA 

VINEYARDS 

Arcadia vineyards is run by father and daughter 

Ozcan and Zeynep Arca. 

Ozcan, who has a Masters from Lancaster University, 

worked in engineering before founding his business in 

luxury tourism. Zeynep studied International Relations in 

Paris. They share a passion for travel, wine, gastronomy 

and culture. Ozcan was a producer at the renowned 

Dostlar Theatre Company in Istanbul, and Zeynep 

worked as a producer for documentaries and music 

videos before joining her father in the family business. 

She also worked numerous wine harvests in France, New 

Zealand, Spain and the USA. 

The Arcadia project began over 10 years ago with a 

search for the right site and varieties. Zeynep persuaded 

two renowned French specialists to join them: Professor 

Dr Alain Carbonneau, Professor at Montpellier SupAgro, 

as viticutural advisor, and Dr. Michel Salgues, former 

CEO of Roederer California, as consultant oenologist. 

Soil samples and climatic data were analysed from 

locations across Turkey. The site selected is in Thrace, 

in the far north-west of Turkey, about an hour and a half 

from Istanbul. Thirty five hectares of vineyards, at an 

altitude of 150 meters, are planted. This location has a 

continental climate, tempered by the Black Sea to the 

east, and Aegean Sea to the west. The terroir gives grapes 

of excellent ripeness, lively acidity and notably bright 

aromatics. The approach to viticulture is environmentally 

sensitive, and winemaking is light handed: the winery is 

designed to use gravity flow and minimise pumping, and 

all wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

The varieties planted include Sauvignon Gris, an old 

and low-yielding clone of Sauvignon Blanc which 

gives deliciously creamy, fresh Sauvignon. Arcadia is 

the first winery in Turkey to cultivate this variety and 

reviews of the first release were outstanding. Other white 

varieties planted are Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and the 

indigenous Narince. Red varieties are Cabernet Franc, 

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the native Okuzgozu. 

www.twitter.com/arcadiavineyard 

Today, Zeynep and her team produce a range of 

exemplary white, rosé and red wines with the emphasis 

on nuance and vitality. They are listed in Istanbul’s finest 

restaurants, as well as in boutique wine stores across 

Turkey. 

This part of Turkey is rich in cultural and historical 

interest, as well as natural beauty, and Zeynep is 

passionate about raising its profile as a destination for 

cultural and gastronomic tourism. A boutique hotel and 

restaurant, with stunning views of the vineyards and 

mountains, are due to open in 2013. 

Arcadia Vineyards are seeking UK 

representation. For further information 

please contact: 

Sarah Abbott MW 

38 Mill Street 

Bedford 

MK40 3HD 

www.facebook.com/ArcadiaWinesAndVineyards 

T +44 (0) 1234 245533 

E sarah@swirl-me.co.uk 

W www.sarahabbottmw.com


+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

WHERE 

WE ARE 

Arcadia is in the north east 

of Thrace. The ancient name 

for this area was Lozengrad - 

‘grape town’. 

It was an important and historic 

viticultural centre, until the 

Balkan and World Wars disrupted 

or destroyed most vineyards. 

We were among the first wine 

producers to replant here in the 

early 2000s; in the years since we 

started, more than 100 hectares 

have been planted or replanted by 

a range of locals and investors. 

Today, Thrace is considered to be 

one of the most exciting, dynamic, 

high quality wine regions of 

Turkey. We are very proud to have 

been among the pioneers of this 

resurrection of an ancient terroir. 

Thrace is bordered by Bulgaria 

on the north and Greece on the 

west, and is surrounded by the 

Black Sea to the north east and 

the Marmara Sea to the south. 

Our vineyards have a broadly 

continental climate, tempered by 

the proximity of the Black and 

Marmara Seas. We have a high 

diurnal temperature range, with 

warm days and very cool nights. 

The prevailing wind comes from 

the north-east, off the Istranca 

Mountains. This brings to the 

vineyards a constant fresh breeze 

which support our commitment 

to sustainable viticulture and 

minimal intervention. The soil is 

mainly sedimentary, of alluvial 

origin, and would once have been 

a sea floor. It is predominantly 

silty clay, with sandstone and 

granite substrates. The vineyard 

is planted in an area with many 

little hills and slopes, at an altitude 

varying from 110 to 150 meters. 


BULGARIA 

EDIRNE 

UZUNKÖPRÜ 

KESAN 

SLOVENIA 

ADRIATIC 

SEA 

CROATIA 

ITALY 

KIRKLARELI 

HUNGARY 

BOSNIA AND 

HERZEGOVINA 

IONIAN SEA 

LÜLEBURGAZ 

MONTENEGRO 

TEKIRDAG 

SERBIA 

ALBANIA 

BULGARIA 

MACEDONIA 

GREECE 

CORLU 

SARAY 

CERKEZKÖY 


SEA OF MARMARA 

ROMANIA 

BULGARIA 

AEGEAN SEA 

BLACK SEA 

ARNAVUTKÖY 

CATALCA 

SILIVRI 

ISTANBUL 

Within Turkey 

TURKEY 

BLACK SEA 

Within Europe


+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

WINE 

SUMMARY 


Arcadia Sauvignon Blanc 2010 

This lively aromatic white has nicely pure varietal character and 

an elegant fruit. 

Bright lemony gold. An aromatic nose of pear, melon, and blossom. 

Crisp and mineral on the palate, with lively grapefruit and melon fruit. 

Moderate alcohol and crisp acidity. Long, dry and refreshing 

on the finish. 

Arcadia Sauvignon Gris 2010 

Exotic, floral aromatics. Bright fruit and a creamy texture, 

typical of Sauvingon Gris, on the palate. Ripe but pure. Finishes long, 

with lovely stony fruit and a rich minerality. 

Arcadia Cabernet Plus Rosé 2010 

Cabernet franc, Merlot 

Light salmon pink. Jasmine, strawberry and cinnamon on the nose. 

Elegant but expressive fruit of nectarine and red berry on the palate. 

Round but fresh on the palate, with a juicy, fruity finish. 

Arcadia Sauvignon Blanc, Narince 2011 

This innovative dry white blends Sauvignon Blanc with Narince, 

an indigenous Turkish variety prized for its mineral but exotic fruit 

and crisp, nuanced acidity. 

Arresting aromatics of quince, white flowers and passionfruit on the nose. 

Excellent intensity on the palate, with lively acidity, expressive fruit and 

a sleek but elegant texture. Finishes long and elegant, with nutty fruit 

and a lightly floral perfume. 

www.facebook.com/ArcadiaWinesAndVineyards


+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

WINE 

SUMMARY 


Arcadia Gris 2011 

Sauvignon Gris, Pinot Gris 

Arcadia Gris combines the creamy aromatic lift of Sauvignon Gris with the sleek, 

nutty perfume of Pinot Gris. The nose is expressive and broad, with notes of 

tangerine, lemon and peach. Generous but fresh on the palate, with balancing acidity 

and moderate alcohol. Long, crisp and elegantly perfumed on the finish. 

Arcadia Cabernet Franc Rosé 2011 

Cabernet franc, Merlot 

An expressive nose of red fruits, almond and flowery notes. Elegant, lively and 

mineral on the palate, with notes of spice and strawberry. Dry and refreshing 

on the finish. This serious rosé can be enjoyed as an apéritif, but is also a versatile 

match for all sorts of food. 

Arcadia Red 2009 

Arcadia Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet France and Merlot, 

aged for 12 months in French oak barriques. 

Bright and intense ruby. Ripe but fresh on the nose, with aromas of sweet spice, 

balsam and red and black fruit. Lovely lift and aromatic definition on the palate, 

with notes of plums, blackberry and blueberry. Full-bodied but balanced, 

with moderate (13.5% alcohol), and full but fine. Finishes with ripe, expressive 

fruit and scented lift. 



+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

WHAT 

THE PRESS SAY 




+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

WHAT THE PRESS SAY (CONTINUED) 




+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

For the investment 

they started eight 

years ago, Zeynep 

Arca Şallıel says 

“We bottled our 

dream” and adds 

that the investments 

will continue: 

“We will turn the 

area into a centre 

for agro tourism.” 

WHAT THE PRESS SAY 

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

Zeynep Arca Şallıel, Chairman of Arcadia Vineyards: 

“We bottled our dream” 

Founding partners of Robinson Club Sarıgerme Park Hotels, Zeynep Arca Şallıel and her father, Özcan 

Arca, have turned an idea they discussed during their wine tasting sessions into a huge investment, and 

founded Arcadia Vineyards. 

You are a family known for tourism investments, 

how did you decide investing in a vineyard and 

produce wine? 

While studying abroad for my International Relations 

degree, the curiosity for the culinary world I had that 

came from my family upbringing became a deeper 

passion. I had the chance to meet the right 

people along the way. In the coming years, 

when I started working in our family business, 

in the field of tourism investment, I had the 

chance to nurture this passion. In time it 

became more than a hobby, an occupation in 

harmony with my profession. And of course, 

wine is an inseparable part of the culinary 

culture. My father Özcan Arca is also very 

passionate about food and wine. So our conversations 

at the end of a work day were always accompanied 

by a nice glass of wine and the conversation always 

somehow came to the hidden potential in Turkey 

for producing world class terroir wines. The idea of 

viticulture and wine production were born as a dream 

during these conversations and at some point we 

decided to act on it and started. Today, eight years after 

this decision, that dream has become an actual business, 

that has given its first fruits. Now we continue forward, 

with an enthusiasm growing at every step. 

Viticulture and agriculture, aren’t they a little 

difficult for a female executive? 

Being a female executive has its challenges in every 

field but it also has its advantages of bringing a new 

point of view, a new angle. Agriculture has its own 

particular challenges in comparison to other fields but 

in terms of advantage versus challenge ratio I would say 

that it is just the same. Viticulture and wine production 

is a very particular field of work: it is an agricultural, 

rural profession but at the same time it is also very 


urban. It is completely related to nature but also very 

urban via the consumption aspect and having an entire 

culture built around it. Having the two together was one 

of the appeals of viticulture for me as an occupation. 

I think that one’s personality is more important in this 

field than one’s gender. Because working in viticulture 

and wine requires a genuine passion and devotion 

towards what you do. 

What was the process you went through, while 

starting this investment, what were your priorities, 

the important points for wine production? 

We started by preparing and educating ourselves, to be 

able to produce high quality wines. We visited important 

wine regions throughout the world, from New Zealand 

to France, and took a closer look at what was being 

done in different places. We have spent a period of 

doing part detective, part wonderer and part winery and 

viticulture manpower work. Than we focused our search 

to particular regions in Turkey. We knew exactly the 

type of wine we wanted to make and we looked for the 

right terroir that could deliver us that wine. The style 

of wine in the quest of which we started this journey 

required very rigorous choices for the establishment of 

the vineyard. Our aim was to produce unmanipulated 

terroir wines that reflect the natural unique tastes of the 

grapes, and remain fresh and full of vitality until the 

day they are drunk. We had a long research period in 

the Aegean and Thrace regions. We got very excited by 

the current location of Arcadia Vineyards, located in the 

middle of Thrace, between the North of Luleburgaz and 

Istranca mountains, with a very interesting geography 

and a very suitable microclimate. We started a scientific 

research period where we gathered soil samples and 

long term weather statistics for several plots we were 

considering. When we put all this information on the 

table, we saw that the current land of Arcadia today was 

the very place we were looking for. 


CEO’s Magazine, April 2011


+ 90 (212) 292 08 83 

We will always 

remain a boutique 

producer 

Zeynep Arca Şallıel 

says that they picked 

the 35 hectares to be 

planted as vineyards 

with “metaphorical 

tweezers” from the 

total of 200 hectares 

of land. She says that 

they have been very 

meticulous while 

establishing 

the vineyards: 

“We have taken more 

than 1500 samples 

for soil analysis 

and we choose the 

vineyard parcels to 

be planted after an 

evaluation of these 

results with experts. 

We will always remain 

a boutique producer 

as we do not want to 

change our approach 

to winemaking. 

Therefore we will 

never produce more 

than a certain quantity 

of wine. We set our 

upper limit to 150 

thousand litres per 

year and we plan to 

reach this slowly, 

in time.” 

WHAT THE PRESS SAY 

ENGLISH TRANSLATION CONTINUED 


What are the 

important factors 

to produce a high 

quality wine? 

First of all, the main 

ingredient for the 

quality of your wine 

would be the soil and 

the climate, than a 

vineyard established with the right choices according 

to the particular soil and climate in question, and later 

the choices you make at the vinification stage. You 

may choose a more conventional style of winemaking 

or a more boutique approach to produce terroir wines. 

We choose the latter. We wanted to establish the right 

balance from the start. This was the first part. Once you 

have these grapes, it is also very important to be able 

to turn them into a wine that will remain true to the 

potential of these grapes. That is why we keep very high 

standards in our winemaking processes and at many 

stages of production we use techniques that we can call 

“hand made”, paying special attention to each wine. 

Did you reach the terroir wine you were aiming 

when you started? 

Today, we can define Arcadia as a terroir in the making. 

Establishing a terroir is a long term process. You need to 

blend in completely with the nature around you. We are 

at the beginning of this journey but we believe we have 

already a great relationship with the nature of our area, 

harmonious and complementary. The results of our first 

vintage have been a great encouragement, we are very 

happy to have reached this quality from the first year on. 

What are your evaluations on the Turkish Wine 

Industry, how is it perceived abroad? 

The wine industry in Turkey is undergoing a great 

breakthrough. There is a very serious, promising 

movement. We see investors who enter the field with 

the right attitude and the right planning, who are already 

getting the first successes of their work. Arcadia is one 

of these projects. As the wine industry, we are going 

through a period where the boutique, regional approach 

is getting stronger. In the world as well, wine industry 

has always flourished by regionalisation, and by 

exploiting their true potential. Now there is a movement 

towards this in Turkey. This is very promising, although 

we are currently way behind where we should be in the 

international scene. Today, very special wines are being 

produced in Turkey and I do believe Turkish wines will 

gain the reputation they deserve in the near future. 

Are you going to have investments other than 

viticulture and wine production? 

Coming from Tourism as we do, we also looked at 

the culinary culture from the tourism point of view. In 

Turkey we have a very rich unexploited potential for 

tourism and the only part that is actually used today is 

the sun and sea. We live in a geography that has a vast 

richness beyond this. We also see that in the world, 

the trends in tourism and the very concept of vacation 

itself is changing and there is a fast increasing demand 

for boutique travelling, and agro, eco and gastronomy 

tourism. Turkey, especially Thrace, has an unexploited 

sophisticated potential for this new type of tourism, as 

well as Cultural Tourism, which is currently the second 

biggest tourism segment in the world. We aim to make 

Arcadia Vineyards a culinary oasis in nature, a centre 

frequented by food and wine enthusiasts where they 

can taste fine wines and local delicacies. The historical 

and architectural works in the area are very important 

cultural values, such as the Edirne Selimiye mosque- a 

Unesco Cultural Heritage Site, and Longoz forest on 

the north of Kırklareli, which is about to be declared a 

biosphere protection site by the same. 

When you put all these together, Arcadia will be a 

centre of attraction, where people will experience the 

country life, have walks, hikes or horse riding tours in 

nature or through the vineyards, relax in a world class 

spa, taste both classical and new interpretations of local 

delicacies, and visit historical or natural sites in the area. 

We have started working on this.

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