Our Nuclear Family
Şeyla
She was born in Istanbul in 1969. She studied Economics at Boğaziçi University and later got her master's and doctorate in Environmental Sciences from the same university. She has been an environmental economics consultant for 30 years.
She got into wine after going to training sessions in Spain, France, and the USA, and traveling around the world to vineyards. In 1999, she wrote "Meeting Wine," the first book for wine lovers in Turkey. After that, she wrote "Turkish Wines," which had four editions, and "The Guide to Turkish Wines" in 2008 to introduce Turkish wines to people outside the country.
From the 1990s, she's been organizing courses and talks about wine and writing articles about it in different magazines. For more than 20 years, she's been tasting some of the best wines in the world with her husband and 15 other wine lovers at the Istanbul Wine Tasting Society, a group they started together.
Çağatay
He was born in İzmir in 1966, growing up as the son of a military officer, which led him to travel across Turkey. Later on, he pursued his undergraduate and master's degrees in International Relations at Ankara University's Faculty of Political Sciences, and then went on to earn his doctorate in Business Administration from Istanbul Technical University.
Between 1990 and 2013, he served in various departments of the Istanbul Stock Exchange. His groundbreaking work in "Retirement Financing" earned him first place in Milli Reasürans' Scientific Work Competition in 2000, as well as the TÜGİAD Economics Award in 2001. He also chaired the Social Security Commission in the 9th Development Plan and played a crucial role in establishing the Individual Pension System within the Ministry of Labor.
Despite receiving tempting offers to continue in this field, he had other plans for the future. Throughout his professional life, his curiosity for wine led him and his wife to explore many of the world's leading wine regions.
Recognizing the exceptional quality achieved by Sarafin wines, he set his sights on producing even better ones. Evaluating the Gelibolu Peninsula as the most suitable region for viticulture in Turkey, he purchased 12 hectares of vineyard land in 2000. The following year, he planted 30,000 vine stocks of A clone quality. His goal was to produce organic wines that would captivate the palates of the most discerning wine lovers worldwide and make the name ERGENEKON synonymous with excellence in winemaking.
To achieve this ambition, he transitioned from being a weekend warrior to working full-time in the magnificent natural surroundings of Gelibolu National Park in 2013. His meticulous care for each vine resulted in thick-stemmed vines yielding the highest quality grapes. He firmly believes that from his boutique vineyard, Chateau Ergenekon, will emerge Turkish wines that will make waves globally.
In summary, he is content and fulfilled pursuing his passion.
Emir
Born and raised among the vineyards, Emir’s childhood was steeped in amateur winemaking at home and, in later years, in the newly established family cellar. His journey through viticulture and enology in Europe began at the age of 17 and continued with his graduation from Hochschule Geisenheim University’s International Wine Business program, followed by advanced studies at the Vinifera EuroMaster program in Montpellier and Bordeaux.
Upon returning to Turkey in April 2025, Emir devoted himself tirelessly to the vineyard and cellar, contributing to the winery’s future with unwavering commitment. His return marked a pivotal moment for the estate: in the same year, the winery achieved a historic milestone, earning two gold and one silver medal.
Zlata
Originally from Ukraine, Zlata studied food technology at the National University of Food Technologies, where she built a strong foundation in fermentation, production, and the science behind beverages. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in wine as well as in the business and financial side of the wine industry.
Her journey later brought her to Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany, where she studied wine business and international markets. It was there, surrounded by vineyards, that she met Emir during their studies, sharing a common passion for wine and winemaking.
Today, Zlata is both Emir’s fiancée and an important part of the estate and family. With her technical background, international perspective, and passion for wine, she contributes actively to the development of the winery, working closely in both the vineyard and the cellar while helping shape the estate’s future.
Yasal Uyarı!
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