Harvest time for the famous Bekilli grape that grows without water.

Due to its climate characteristics, grape harvesting has begun in Bekilli, one of the grape production centers in Denizli, where grapes famous for their quality and aroma are cultivated through dry farming.

The grape harvest took place in the vineyard of Hikmet Toku, a farmer from the Yeşiloba Neighborhood in Bekilli district, attended by Denizli Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Şakir Çınar, Bekilli District Governor Muhammet Öztürk, Yeşiloba Neighborhood Mukhtar Halil Karagöz, and personnel from provincial and district directorates.

According to TÜİK data for 2023, Denizli ranks 4th in grape production in Turkey, with 31,205 hectares of land yielding 160,666 tons of product. In Bekilli district, which is an important point for viticulture in Denizli, 8,425 tons of product were harvested from 3,350 hectares of land.

Speaking at the harvest event, producer and Yeşiloba Neighborhood Mukhtar Halil Karagöz stated that the main source of income for the neighborhood, which practices dry farming, is viticulture. Although lavender and thyme are produced as alternatives, Karagöz emphasized that viticulture is indispensable for them, drawing attention to the difficulties of agriculture: “Despite the lack of water, our grapes are very nice in terms of quality and aroma. We aim to contribute to the development of the region by collaborating with experts from the District Agriculture Directorate who support our producers. We want to bring local producers together with the grape harvest event,” he said.

Denizli Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Şakir Çınar, providing information about grape production in Denizli, stated, “Grape cultivation in Denizli is primarily carried out in Bekilli, Çal, Buldan, Honaz, Baklan, and Güney districts, suitable for climate, land, and soil structure. The climate and soil structure of the Bekilli region have suitable characteristics for grape production, and the products grown in the region are processed into molasses and in different sectors. The sectoral viticulture is intense in Bekilli, with a predominant cultivation of Çal karası and İri kara varieties. The harvest, which started in the first week of August, is still ongoing in the district. Sectoral grapes are sold for 15-20 TL, while table grapes are sold for 20 TL,” he said.

Wishing the producers a fruitful harvest season while chatting with them, he emphasized the characteristics and taste of the grapes grown in the dry environment of Bekilli: “Today, we are in Bekilli district of Denizli Province. We participated in an event related to grape harvesting here. We are harvesting together with our producers. Our province ranks 4th in Turkey in terms of grapes and viticulture. In terms of table grapes, industrial grapes, and dried grapes, our country holds an important place.
This region diversifies agricultural activities with products such as grapes, lavender, and thyme. Agriculture makes significant contributions to the local economy. One of the characteristics of Bekilli grapes is that they are grown without seeing water, which increases the sugar content. This is an important factor affecting the quality of the grapes. We joined our producers’ efforts today, we lent a shoulder, and we participated in the harvest with them. I wish it to be beneficial for our province and our country,” he said.

“Bekilli equals grape”
Emphasizing that grape production, famous for its quality and aroma, is indispensable for Bekilli, District Governor Muhammet Öztürk stated, “The beauty of Bekilli grapes lies in a captivating nature and a long agricultural tradition. The scarcity of water resources contributes to these grapes having a special flavor and aroma profile. This situation ensures that the vineyards in Bekilli are limited to being irrigated with rainwater, allowing the grapes to ripen under natural conditions. The centuries-old tradition of grape cultivation has created a grape culture among the local population. Additionally, alternative agricultural activities in the region increase agricultural diversity, while grapes still stand out as one of the most important agricultural products of the region. Although other products such as thyme, wheat, and barley are also cultivated, vineyards and grape harvesting found in almost every neighborhood are an inseparable part of Bekilli’s identity. One of the main reasons why the grapes are so special and high quality is the experiences and dedication of local producers in this field. In short, Bekilli’s grapes offer a unique flavor thanks to the region’s natural characteristics, climate, and millennia of agricultural experience. This is also crucial for the sustainability of rural life and income sources. Therefore, the immediate association of Bekilli with grapes is a beautiful reflection of this.”