Ep. 686 Tugba Cimenci | Voices

Welcome to the Italian wine podcast. I'm Rebecca Lawrence, and this is voices. In this set of interviews, I will be focusing on issues of inclusion diversity and allyship through intimate conversations with wine industry professionals from all over the globe. If you enjoy listening, please consider donating to Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps us cover equipment, production and publication costs, and remember to subscribe and rate our show wherever you tune in. This episode is proudly sponsored by Vivino, the world's largest online wine marketplace. The Vivino app makes it easy to choose wine. Enjoy expert team support door to door delivery and honest wine reviews to help you choose the perfect wine for every occasion. Vivino download the app app on Apple or Android and discover an easier way to choose wine. Welcome to the Italian wine podcast. This is the voices with me, Rebecca Lawrence. This week, I'm joined by entrepreneur and Italian wine lover, Tabba Chimeci. Welcome to the podcast Talkba. Thank you. Hi, Rebecca. Thank you for having me here. I'm one of the fans of Italian wine podcast. Specifically when we have the professor. She ends. I don't want the conversation to be ended. So for me, it's amazing to talk in Italian one podcast with you. We're so happy to have you. So I like to start these conversations by asking my guests to introduce themselves to our listeners, giving them a little bit of background about who you are and what you're currently doing. Yeah. For sure. As you know, I'm from Turkey. I'm an engineer, but I want professional who decided to follow her heart two years ago and moved to Italy to go deep in Italian wine world. I got my MB degree in wine, and then w said level two certification. Actually, I will go further with level three and deep the main feature. And lastly Italian wine ambassador course in verona, which was one of the best experiences in my life. I'm actually a trader and, now starting to present Italian wines in Turkish market and hopefully later on in other markets like far east where I have longer years of business experience. So you didn't obviously start immersed in the world of wine. Like you say, you're been an engineer, and you've worked in steel, as I understand. So how did you come to do the Ven Italy International Academy course, what drove you to take this course specifically? Okay. I decided I decided to to became an Italian wine ambassador, because that's that's my biggest passion. I love to do it. And also, I see in the industry that there are a lot to do. So I'm excited to use my experience and business point of view while developing myself with the educations. One is my passion, but I can say Italian wines are my biggest passion. I think this land is a gift from god and luckily Italians got it. And actually, I'm thankful to the Italians that they are protecting it at their best. As said Italian wines are my biggest special. I want to know every single detail about them. From how the multicultural started in Italy to the details of every single variety. We have, you know, more than six hundred varieties, and this is already a strong motivation to get excited. If you really love wine, I wanted to be any timeline ambassador because I want to represent these wonderful wines in the best way with my knowledge, passion, and professionalty, every single one deserves to be represented with the same enthusiasm, I think. Your passion definitely comes across. I mean, I've participated in video twice with you now, and you're always just so enthusiastic. It's just lovely. Yeah. Thank you. So, of course, you mentioned that you've participated in the global m VA program at Bologna Business School, where I actually occasionally teach the WSUT, so beautiful school. Can you tell us a little bit about the experience you had as part of this global program and why you chose, the MBA at Bologna? Yeah. Actually, a that's that's that's right. I got my diploma from following your business school. And, when I say I got an MBA degree in wine, people are getting surprised and asking how Actually, in this program, you learn how to manage the wine business. I already got an MBA degree in marketing, but this is something more special and focused on one goal. So it was not only the technical side, like, we had together as a Wsat course, but also more about meeting with the top level professionals in the industry and creating a network while understanding the dynamics and learning the management and the business side of the industry. So why I choose bologna? Actually, bologna is more related with the food as you know, the region. But only a business school is so strong in wine industry and having a white network in the industry. So that was the reason that I chose Bologna business school for doing my, MBA degree in life. I think it's really exciting that you've managed to combine your in-depth knowledge of Italian wide. So with something like Via, the great varieties, the regions, the soils, with this business perspective, because I think this gives you a real edge in the market that you you have both sides. You have the complete wine geek, but also the business skills both in, you know, management and in marketing. I think it's a really impressive approach to make sure you have both things when you're representing Italian wines in another market. Yeah. Absolutely. Actually, this was the my goal and my target when I started this journey actually. So I wanted to talk to you a little bit about Italian wines in the Turkish market. Obviously, this is a market you know very well. And it's interesting because Turkey has a strong market for its own domestic wines, which is producer of great wines, what is the response to Italian wines like in the Turkish market at the moment? Yeah. Turkey is a wine country, actually, despite the general belief that we do not drink wine. Which is opportunity. I want to say one more time to the listeners that we drink a lot of wine in Turkey. As you know, the the wine domestication started in Turkey in that area thousands of years before it started in Italy. So in the history of white work has an important role. So we have our autochtenous varieties and as well as international varieties and even some Italians like San Jose in Turkey. So in less twenty years, wine started to be more popular than it was in the past, as you know, we have another nation of alcoholic drink, which is also made from grapes. And it is so strong in the market. It's culturally. And I think this is the reason why wine has been the second preference in the past, but as said, it started to get back its deserved value in the last twenty years. We have very good and strong producers which produce very good wines and they want prices all over the world. Regarding your question about Italian wines in Turkey, actually they are not the first choice in Turkey, as you said, domestic wines are preferable, while French wines also preferable when it comes to fine wines. Italy is the second country in number of imports to Turkey, but it still has a long way to go. That's actually one of the strongest reasons that I wanted to be, an Italian wine ambassador because Turkish market needs one to know and to learn real value and importance of Italian wines. That's really interesting. I hadn't realized that, yeah, but French wines were so strong in Turkey as well. That's because like you say, there is this large domestic market and And related to that, you are actually a brand ambassador for the Turkish wine challenge. What what does this involve? Tell us a little bit about this. Yeah. For sure. This is actually another exciting point for me. But previously, I want to to ask for you that this the the French wines that you're surprised about French wines. I think also this is related with the taste that developed during time because we have a lot of international varieties as, like, they are French, but the international varieties, like, a Verizon immune level in Turkey. The the production is a lot. So maybe it's created a awareness maybe. I completely agree that because this is something that's already familiar because it's already existing in Turkey and wines are being made, from these, you know, international grapes. That does make sense, like you say, that then there would be a pull towards the French wines because maybe there is a taste profile that's understood, whereas with Italian wide so much of the market tends to be the autogenerous grapes rather than the internationals. And therefore, maybe that's a little bit more different, a little bit more unusual for for Turkish drinkers to kind of reach outside of the comfort zone. Definitely. Definitely. It's like these. I actually. That is one of the strongest reasons that why French wines are preferable, in Turkish market. So for Turkish wine challenge, so it is a very exciting project. It will be the first international wine competition in Turkey with a very famous jury and more than two hundred participant producers from Turkey, from Georgia, from Lebanon, and from Italy. The producers will have a chance of meeting with the new distributors, industry professionals, importers, while their wines will be judged by an international jury. And as the Brandon Basadore, I'm representing the team here in Italy and trying to catch Italian producers, which would like to attend the organization and want to open need doors for themselves in Turkish markets because not only it is not only one-sided thing that Italian wise are not super super popular in Turkey, but also Turkish market is not super popular for Italian producers. So this can be a a matching point or starting point for both sides. That's a really exciting project. Like you said, it's just gonna open doors into markets. Perhaps producers haven't considered which will mean that, you know, maybe a producer is the first of their type to be represented in the market, which will give them an edge in that market and an introduction to completely new consumers that they could then build upon and grow. So I think that sounds like a very exciting prospect for Italian producers looking to export into a new market. Yeah. Definitely. Definitely. You are right. So is there a particular grape or wine that first made you fall in love with Italian wine? Yeah. Actually, first Italy stole my heart. Actually, this is the this is the beginning point, then it's culture, language, and everything she has. But, aside the complexity, the diversity, and the deep history hundred Italian wines make me so excited and reinforces my love to them every single day. But there is a starting point for sure, and it is. Years ago. Yeah. It's so interesting. Years ago, once somewhere afternoon. I was in the office and I suddenly decided to go for a trip in Sicily. I got my tickets booked to hotels, and I it was only two days after, I found myself on the plane to Catania. And this non planner, the free girl trip lasted for ten days and where I met Katarato for the first time in my life. And I just fell in love. That's the only explanation. And that was the beginning of everything. So Catoratto gave the first dose, and I'm still drunk with the love of Italian moments. That's so lovely because so many people come to Italian wide through, you know, what people think of as the classics. So maybe amarone, but to come through it through Colorado and and the sisley kind of the culture and the love of that there, that's so unusual and yet so lovely. Because I have this vision of you just in the vineyards enjoying the wine on this solo trip. Yeah. Yeah. Actually, during my trip. Actually, I climbed to to Aetna as well and learned about, the the boutique culture around Aetna. And it also touched my attention a lot. Like, I mean, wow, it's so interesting then when I came back to Turkey and everything started about Italian wine started to to search, to start to learn then. I found myself in Italy in learning Italian wines. So what about now? Because you've just participated in Via here in Verona where you've been tasting hundreds of wines, is there anything new that you're enjoying in Italian wines? Because like you say, there are so many varieties. There's always something to discover. What's your newest love in Italian wine? Yeah. That's a good question. Actually, I don't want to classify the Italian wines that I love most. I love these because, like, I love them all, but If I need to select one, there is an unchangeable number one, which is amarone for me, still, and I am one of the biggest fans of San Juise, but my new favorites. I just need to discover them, which are in in the red varieties, which are Luca and Sccopattino. I am totally in love with two of them. And for the whites, I can count verricio Fiano and Grilo as a top three. And we discovered together. Actually, I think, most of the my colleagues in the in the Via course, we discovered together Dorello, which, just like blow my mind away. And, for the sparkling functor Court and Delta Land are my favorite. And for the sweet wines, I am a very, very big supporter and fan of Shaquetra. Oh, Shaquetra. That's a great choice. Not many people think of Chacitra when they're thinking of sweet wines of Italy. They they go immediately to Pantalarilla or Vincento, but also for me, Chacitra is just such a such a surprise when you taste it. Yeah. It it is something like blowing your mind away. So I I loaded the balance of the sweetness and the acidity of Chakra. And it it it is just, for me, I I I also like, the other sweet wines in Italy, but for me, she could try is number one. Now now I want a glass of Shaqatara with my with my with my afternoon. So before we wrap up, I have to ask you, what's next? Where are you headed on your Italian wine journey? Yeah. For the education side, I plan to get my w set degrees, level three, and the feature in the future, the diploma, my timeline ambassador journey is still going on as you know. And, after the course, actually, I also decided to start a summer education in autumn to improve our testing skills and knowledge, because I think, I need a little bit more professional point of view for my testing skills. And, for the other side, I will be representing Italian wise in my country, and try to create awareness and create a room for them, which they deserve already. Hopefully, later on in other markets like Far East, as that, especially in China, where I am more strong in name of networking. So these will be the next steps in my wine journey, which will take a lot of time but I am so excited to to start all of them. Feels like you've got a lot of work ahead, but it's gonna be incredibly rewarding. Yeah. That's true. Ted, thank you so much for joining me on the Italian White Podcast today where can our listeners find you online or on social media? Actually, on social media, I am using only Instagram. So, actually, they can check and follow when the last vino account, when they're lost, which's written with a, not o, wonder, Laswino. So where I'm actively presenting Italian wines, and actually, I I love having a diverse follower presentation, not only from Turkey and Italy, but from the other countries, which makes me happy to tell them about my journey in Italy and Italian wines and to producers because, I'm always trying to to visit local producers as much as I can and trying to show their wines and present new Italian wines, new varieties, new grapes for the the people who don't know or who are not aware of Italian wines that much, even Italy, not too many people, part from why professionals know about Italian or talk to the scrapes. So, I love sharing my experiences there. So just follow Wanda last week. No. Guys, go and check out what Talk is doing on Instagram She's got some beautiful photos, great descriptions of the wines. So, but thank you so much again. Thank you so much to you, Rebecca. It's nice to to be here with you. And, I will keep listening Italian one podcast for sure. Thank you to everyone for listening. Don't forget to follow us on social media, subscribe, and of course you can donate on the website to make sure we can keep these great conversations flowing. Listen to the Italian wine podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. We're on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, email, IFM, and more. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show If you enjoy listening, please consider donating through Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps cover equipment, production, and publication costs. Until next time. Hi, everybody. Italian wine podcast celebrates its fourth anniversary this year, and we all love the great content they put out every day. Changing with Italian wine has become a big part of our day and the team in verona needs to feel our love. 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