Merhaba,

Feel free to contact us for fun training sessions that include the history, mythology, and sensory analysis of wine, as well as for consulting requests for your company/product/business, paired menu design, or promotional writings that involve creative writing.

About Me

Zeynep Çolakoğlu

Author, Chemical Engineer, MSc.

Born in 1984, she graduated with a master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Ege University. She participated in thesis research at the Institute of Chemical Technologies in Prague. Currently, she practices chemical engineering in the private sector, focusing on hazardous chemicals, international regulations, and licensing.

She took her first steps into literature with the literary magazines Yüxexes Karakalem and 46 Karakalem. Her first storybook, "Mina (Nezih-Er, 2016)," won the III. Kurşunkalem Story Award.

She has contributed with her stories to the anthologies "Karanlıktaki Kadınlar (2018, Bilgi)", "Hayalet Müzik (2019, Artemis)", "İstanbul'un Karanlığında (2020, Karakarga)", "Hayalet Müzik-II: Eskilerin Şöleni (2021, Artemis)", "İnadına Kadınım, Kadınsın, Kadınız (Kekeme Publications, 2022)", and "Dark Gerilim (2023, Dark Istanbul)".

She wrote articles for Kurşun Kalem Literary Magazine and served as the general editor for issues 46 and 47. Her story "Medusa" was translated into English and published in the Trafika Europe 16: Turkish Delight issue of Trafika Europe literary magazine, with the support of the Penn State University Library.

Trafika-Europe-Quarterly/Turkish-Delight

In the book "Korkuyu Bekleyenler (Bilgi Publishing, 2021)", she wrote dark humor stories with the author Hakan Balcı.

Her research books include "Şarap Koyusu (2021, Karakarga)", which explores the mythology, history, intersections with the arts, and chemical structure of wine from a chemical engineer's perspective, and "Maya Büyüsü (2024, Karakarga)", focusing on aromas, sensory analysis, wine styles, and wine pairings.

She wrote articles about wine for the e-magazine of Apelasyon Tasting Association, one of the first tasting groups in İzmir. She organized various events that bring wine culture together with literature and art. She has completed the WSET Wine Qualifications Program, UC Davis: Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques in Wine Analysis, Phytotherapy, Aromatherapy, Wine Production Techniques, Viticulture and Wine Production, and Basic Aroma trainings.

She has organized alternative workshops that combine wine tasting with art, literature, and sensory analysis. Among these were "Wine and Fear," narrating stories with wines with wine expert Umut Öner; "From Vineyards to Verses," depicting periods of Turkish literature with wines with wine expert Ayça Budak and poet Altay Öktem at IWSA; "Wine and Women," an open painting workshop and tasting at Usca Winery; "Tasting Awareness and Meditation," focusing on the sensory and meditative interpretation of wine; and the "Aroma Circle Game," designed to develop sensory techniques and learn aromas.

She continues to organize the "Wine Seminar Series" on the history, culture, chemistry, and tasting of wine with the Social Events Committee of the Aegean Regional Branch of the Chamber of Chemical Engineers, and to highlight the multidimensional nature of the chemical engineering profession with scientific approaches and artistic aesthetics.

Published Books
1. Büyülü Sözlük (survey) / 2013 Marjinal Kitaplar
2. Mina (story) / 2016 Nezih Er yayınları
3. İstanbul'un Karanlığında (story, with Orkide Ünsür) / 2020 Karakarga Yayınları
4. Şarap Koyusu (survey about wine) / 2021 Karakarga Yayınları
5. Korkuyu Bekleyenler (story, with Hakan Balcı) / 2021 Bilgi Yayınevi
6. Maya Büyüsü (survey about wine) /2024 Karakarga Yayınları

Contributed Anthologies
1. Kara Şiir Antolojisi (story, "Hayatın Kamaşırken") / 2013 Kafekültür Yayıncılık/Zeplin
2. Karanlıktaki Kadınlar (story, "Medusa", derleyen: Orkide Ünsür) / 2018 Bilgi Yayınevi
3. Hayalet Müzik (story, "Hayalet Peşimde", derleyen; Özlem Ertan) / 2019 Artemis Yayınları
4. Hayalet Müzik-II: Eskilerin Şöleni (story, "Lorelei", derleyen: Özlem Ertan) / 2021 Artemis Yayınları
5. İnadına Kadınım Kadınsın Kadınız (story, "Yaşam Derisi", derleyen Hande Baba) / 2022 Kekeme Yayınları
6. Dark Gerilim (story, "Ateş Nefesi", derleyen Aşkın Zengin Akkuş) / 2023 Dark İstanbul

Traslation
Prozac Artık Yetmediğinde (translation, with Altay Öktem) / 2014 Marjinal Kitaplar

Editor
Bilme Arzusu (author: Prof. Dr. Beno Kuryel) / 2021 Doruk Yayınları

Magazines

Acedia (music&literature/editorial director, author) - (2002-2008)

Karakalem (literature/author) - (2007-2009)

Heabang (music/author) - (2014-2020)

Kurşun Kalem (literature/author, editorial director of 46-48 issues) - (2016-2018)

E-Zine

Apelasyon (wine/author) - (2013-2015)

Filhakikat (art/author) - (2013-continues)

Lemur (art/author) - (2018-2021)

Darkkitap (literature/author) - (2024- continues