The red grape variety originates from Turkey. Synonyms are Feidia, Fidia, Fidia Mavri, Kara Sakiz, Karakiz, Karassakyz, Kuntra, Makbule, Mavrupalya, Pheidia, Phidia and Sakiz Kara. The name means "black chewing gum".
The ancestry (parentage) is unknown.
The late-ripening vine is generally resistant to vine diseases, drought and heat. It produces low-acid red and rosé wines with soft tannins and red fruit flavours.
The variety was once widespread and was mainly used for the production of raki. Today, it is mainly cultivated on the north-east Aegean island of Bozcaada (Greek: Ténedos), as well as in the east of the Turkish mainland. In 2016, however, only four hectares of vineyards were reported (Kym Anderson statistics).
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