"When the Özbek family began planting vines, their neighbors told them they were committing a mortal sin and would face divine retribution.
"They said it was wrong, against Islam, to produce wine. They said our soil would dry up and it would no longer rain or snow. But that was more than 10 years ago," said Cengiz Özbek.
"Then they saw how much money we started to make. Now they too are planting vineyards," said the 37-year-old farmer, his weather-beaten face cracking into a smile."
"The old imam here was against the vineyards, but he left and was replaced by a younger, more pragmatic man who says it is a matter for the individual's own conscience," said Özbek."
"Atatürk -- who kept a wine cellar and was known for his love of the potent aniseed-flavored national tipple, rakı -- wanted to transform Turkey from a poor, religion-dominated society into a modern, European nation with European tastes."
"Turkey is the fifth biggest producer of grapes in the world, but only two percent are used in wine production."
Taxes, religion weigh on Turkey's wine industry - Turkish Daily News Mar 23, 2006
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