Turkish Wine Discovery: Private Thrace Winery Tour From Istanbul

Turkey may not be known for its vineyards, but it actually has a winemaking culture going back thousands of years. Anatolia is one of the cradles of winemaking, and the northwest corner of the country, Thrace, is where a new generation of producers is turning that heritage into some very unique and interesting wines. While in Istanbul, it is well worth sampling the local vintages, many of which are made from indigenous grapes that are not typically exported. For an authentic taste of the Turkish wine scene, our private driving excursion offers a rare opportunity to visit 2 of Thrace's celebrated wineries and taste a wonderful selection of wines you won’t find anywhere else.

On your private full-day wine tour, you will:

• Spend a day discovering Turkish wine with a local expert guide;
• Enjoy convenient pick-up and drop-off in Istanbul and comfortable private transportation;
• Embark on a scenic route through the Thrace wine region;
• Learn more about Turkey’s vast and diverse terrain and how it impacts the flavours and complexities of the wines it produces;
• Visit 2 different wineries to learn all about the country’s incredible viticulture;
• Begin with an award-winning winery in Kırklareli, a border province next to Bulgaria, spanning the Yıldız Mountains and the Black Sea coast;
• Taste some of the finest wines the estate has to offer;
• Continue to the Tekirdag region to visit a winery known for producing organic wines from classic grape varieties like Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah;
• Stroll through the vineyards tasting various blends along the way, before sitting down to lunch with wine pairings.
  

After a seamless hotel pick-up, you’ll leave Istanbul behind for rolling vineyards, forested hills, and the Marmara coast, with a local expert guide and a comfortable private vehicle at your disposal. Heading northwest through the Thracian countryside, your guide will introduce the landscape you are crossing and explain how Turkey’s remarkable range of terrain, from coastal slopes to mountain foothills, shapes the flavours and character of its wines. 

The first stop is an award-winning estate in Kırklareli, a border province beside Bulgaria that stretches from the Yıldız Mountains to the Black Sea coast. This is a quiet, green corner of Turkey that few visitors reach, and the winery reflects it, producing estate-grown wines in a minimal-intervention style, including some distinctive blends you won’t find elsewhere. You’ll tour the property to learn how the wines are made, then settle into a tasting of four wines that show what the region can do.

From there, you’ll continue to the Tekirdağ coast, where the vineyards run toward the Sea of Marmara. Here you’ll visit a winery known for its organic wines, made from classic varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet, and Syrah, and for its sweeping sea views. Rather than tasting indoors, you’ll walk the vineyards with a winemaker, sampling six wines along the way and hearing firsthand how the land and the climate come through in the glass. It is a relaxed, engaging way to taste, with plenty of insight into the choices behind each bottle.

The visit ends at the table, with a light lunch and wine pairings, giving you the chance to see how Turkish flavours and local wines complement one another. Afterwards, your driver takes you back to Istanbul and your hotel, with time to reflect on a day that offers a different view of Turkey.

This may not be Napa or Tuscany, but that is precisely its appeal. Discover small producers, lesser-known grape varieties, and a side of Türkiye that few travellers get to see, brought to life by local wine experts. For those who enjoy wine with a story behind every glass, this is a rewarding day trip beyond Istanbul.