MANİSA GRAPE

Turkey has the most suitable climate conditions for vine growing in the world and is the origin of the vine genes. The archaeological findings in Anatolia proved that this culture of vine growing dates back to 3500 BC.

Grape figures, found in different locations of Anatolia points out to the fact that growing grapes has been the part of the culture for centuries.

In the period of Hittites; that is 1800 – 1550 BC; grape growing and wine making was developed and during religious ceremonies these were votive offerings to the gods. Hittites had agricultural laws similar to today’s in order to protect the vine yards. Historical coins with grape figures were used in Western Anatolia.

Grape and wine have always played an important social and commercial role in Western Anatolia. In the Aegean Region of Turkey, like Manisa since the 18th century the major grape production is sultanas, which is a variety of seedless type. It has been a part of Sultan’s diet with its original taste and that is where this type inherited its name from.

Sultanas raisins is grown in the vineyard area of 851,000 square meters on the fertile ground of Gediz basin taking part in Manisa province in the western Anatolia.

Turkey is the biggest Sultanas producer and exporter in the World and ranks among top 5 largest grape grower countries. Turkey manages 38% of the world’s sultanas production and 85% of whole production is exported to many countries in the world.