Süleyman Demirel University initiates wine production

The school of agriculture at Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta prepares to make a leap forward in wine production. Initially starting with an educational purpose, the initiative is on the way to turning into an industrial project expected to contribute to the development of the region

Antalya –   Known as ”the world of rose,” Isparta, in southern Turkey, is preparing to put a name on the map. Süleyman Demirel University is now offering a model of entrepreneurship by producing wine in the laboratories of its school of agriculture.

  Hoping to make the best use of the breed of grapes cultivated in the Isparta region, the entrepreneurial university has also set its sights on helping local people increase their income. 

  “We, as Sülayman Demirel University, went into wine production with an understanding of producing good quality wine and selling it at a good price. There has already been a ‘wine culture' in Isparta; the problem, however, is that the cultivated grape, which is of good quality, is sold at a cheap price because of the small market size and the lack of technological facilities,” Ali Coşkan, an associate professor at the Süleyman Demirel University School of Agriculture, told the Turkish Daily News.

  The grape is an industrial product with a delicate shelf life, so the local people, who lack adequate facilities to produce wine, make grape molasses out of the high quality grapes instead of leaving them to rot away, remarked Coşkan.

  “Basically, having an educational purpose as a starting point, the wine production within the SDÜ has widened in scope to include a better usage of grape cultivated in the Isparta region in time,” said professor Zeynep Dernek, head of the agriculture economics department of the school of agriculture at SDÜ. The university, which uses its own resources in this new pursuit, can only operate locally with the facilities at hand, which allow the production of a limited amount of wine for now, added Dernek.

Annual production of 4,500 liters

  “We, as SDÜ, initiated the venture, and now it is time to share it with the private sector. We invite entrepreneurs to seriously think of this business, which will prove to be highly promising,” said Coşkan, further noting that they are preparing to apply special techniques next year, which will, they believe, increase the annual rate of production.

  “We also plan the university to engage in both the cultivation and processing of grape by itself in the coming years,” said Coşkan.

  “The annual production amounts to 4,500 liters of wine. The university laboratories allow the production in bigger amounts; however we do not own the license to sell alcoholic drinks and it is hard to get it since the university is not a commercial foundation. It is for the same reason that we do not aim at serious profit margins,” noted Coşkan.

A new program at the university

  Initially aiming to shed light on underdeveloped production techniques in the Isparta region and facilitating local producers to develop in the field, the wine production project by SDÜ also led to the introduction of a new program within the school of agriculture called  “Wine Production Techniques and Viniculture,” which lasts for two years is aimed at educating a more informed generation of wine producers.