The red grape variety comes from Turkey. Synonyms are Ada Karasi, Adakarassy, Avsa Adasi, Avsa Island, Balikesir, Erdek and Noir des Îles. It must not be confused with the varieties Çalkarasi, Horozkarasi, Kalecik Karasi or Papazkarasi, despite the fact that the synonyms or morphological similarities seem to indicate this. This late-ripening, high-yielding vine is susceptible to powdery mildew and needs plenty of sunshine. It produces colourful, aromatic red wines with soft tannins and ageing potential. The variety is mainly cultivated on the island of Avsa in the Sea of Marmara. There are also smaller stocks in the two provinces of Balkesir and Tekirdag in the Marmara region. In 2016, a total of 89 hectares of vineyard area were designated in Turkey with an increasing tendency (statistics Kym Anderson).
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