• Total vineyard area: 200 hectares
Since 2001, the area covered by these vineyards has increased from 1500 hectares to 1910 hectares.
• Grape Varieties Grown:
Bornova Misketi, Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Montepulciano, Sangiovese grapes are grown.
• Location:
The Kavaklıdere Pendore Vineyards are between 190 and 450 meters above sea level. The Pendore vineyard is divided into 2 sections, 1 and 2. Pendore 1 is 190 - 350 meters above sea level and Pendore 2 is 400 - 450 meters above sea level. The majority of the vineyard is oriented to face a southerly direction.
• Micro Climate:
The region where the Kavaklıdere Pendore Vineyards are located is special. It is a transitional region, on the edge of the area that produces pomegranates, olives and figs. The micro-climate in the Kavaklıdere Pendore vineyards combines features of the continental climate of Middle Anatolia Mediterranean climate. The Pendore 1 section displays a Mediterranean climate while the climate of Pendore 2 leans toward the continental climate found in Middle Anatolia. When going from here to Salihli in the west, a change in climate can be felt immediately.
• Soil Composition:
North east and east of Pendore vineyards are surrounded with on fault lines covered by volcanic mountains which developed at the end of the tertiary geological period.
The soil structure is variant. It is clay loam, clay sand and calcerous. The colour of the soil ranges from pale brown to deep brown.
• Pruning and Training Systems:
The vines are trained on wires. Double and single guyot pruning systems are utilized.
• Yield:
Grape varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Öküzgözü, Boğazkere, Bornova Misketi produce, on average, 4000 to 7000 kg/hectare. Planting density for the vines are 3x1 m and 2x1m.
• Harvest:
In order to identify the time to harvest, first of all it is very important to choose a sample plot that will be representative of all the others. If the analysis of a sample (brix, acidity, pH, maturity, etc.) shows satisfactory results, a second sample is taken from the same plot and analyzed. Then it is compared with the first sample analysis and if the results are the same, the plot goes through a taste test. When the taste test is found to be satisfactory the date of harvest is established. When harvesting, it is important to complete the harvest early in the morning before the day becomes hot and to process the grapes as soon as they are picked.
The newly harvested grapes must not be allowed to sit under the hot sun for long. They should be quickly transferred to cold storage to await delivery to the processing facility.
The grapes are harvested between the first days of August and 20th of October.
• Pendore Nursery Activities:
In 2005, to help overcome the difficulties in obtaining healthy grapevines in Turkey, Kav-Vin Ltd., in a joint venture with the French company Duvigneau, was established. Since then, the company has been growing new grape vines using this modern tubular open-root plant nursery system.