WINE ROUTES OF TURKEY

In this tour we will discover one of the oldest lands of the world for the culture of wine. We do this by making a tour on a classical route of Turkey which allows us to see the major sites of the country like Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Cappadocia.

Day 1 : Istanbul
City of art and history synthesis, Istanbul is exceptionally situated on both sides of the Strait of the Bosphorus that separates Europe from Asia. In turn called Byzantium and Constantinople, and in spite of the proclamation of Ankara as the new capital, the old city of the sultans is still the biggest one, the biggest port, the economical financial and cultural center of the country. Istanbul ranks high in the World Heritage.We visit The most prestigious places from Byzantine times within the fortification walls, the historic centre comprising Hagia Sofia, Underground Cistern, the Church of St. Savior in Chora, The Church of Pantocrator now called Molla Zeyrek Mosque that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
We will also explore the beauties of Istanbul with a cruise on Bosphorus.
Lunch is taken in a local restaurant with wines produced from grapes known since Byzantine times. We take dinner in a nice restaurant of Istanbul with specialties from Ottoman Cuisine applied to tastes of modern food lovers. Food and wine pairing will be done by our wine specialist.
 

Day 2 : Istanbul
We explore the Ottoman treasures of the city. We first go to visit the masterpiece of Ottoman architecture built by great architect of 16th century Sinan; the mosque of Soliman the Magnificent. We then continue with another seal of Ottomans to world architecture; The Blue Mosque built in 17th century at the time of Sultan Ahmet 1st , therefore called Mosque of Sultanahmet by Turks. At the end of the morning we go to Eminonu district to explore thousands of flavours in Spice Bazaar where we also taste our Turkish coffee at the location of the first coffee shop of the world founded in 16th century.
Lunch is taken in local restaurant.
In the afternoon we visit Topkapi Palace which is now a museum where are exhibited very precious objects from the times of sultans.
Dinner is accompanied by wines of Turkey produced from the blend of Turkish and International grape varieties.
 

Day 3 : Istanbul - Sarkoy- Canakkale  (Strait  Of Dardanelles )
In search for Byzantine Wines.
Morning drive to sarkoy (3 hours ) capital of viticulture in Turkey.We go to Hoskoy village ( Ganos in Byzantine period ) and we visit Melen Winery which is the only small scale wine producer in the village which produces delicious wines using also special red and white grape varities.
Wines to be tasted : Melen Papazkarasi, Melen Gamay, Buyulubag Adakarasi,
Visit French type vineyards. Discover also Papazkarasi and Adakarasi grape which is typical of that region.We taste wines produced from these grapes.
Lunch ,then drive to Gallipoli peninsula . Cross Dardanelles strait by ferry to step on Asian continent. Overnight in Canakkale.
Another wine region is Tenedos (Bozcaada) Island on Aegean Sea. Local grapes of Bozcaada are : Karalahna, Kuntra in Red, Vasilaki in white
Wines to taste : Corvus Kuntra-Karalahna, Corvus Karalahna, Corvus Cavus
 

Day 4 : Troy – Olive Coast –Pergamon - Foca- Izmir
Visit the ancient site of Troy. The excavations of Troy (Hisarlik) led by German Henrich Schliemann from 1870, then in collaboration with Wilhelm Dorpfeld in 1882 (and later led by Carl Blegen from Cincinnati University between 1932 and 1938), revealed nine main settlements (Troy I to Troy IX) in different layers from 3000 BC until 400 AD, that is to say from the Early Bronze Period till the Roman Period. Troy was also known as Ilios* or Ilion, a name which can be found in the Iliad, Homer's epic poem where he immortalized it through mythological characters: Helen, the spouse of Menelaus, king of Sparta, was abducted to Troy by Paris who had fallen in love with her. Troy became the stake in the ten year-lasting Trojan war between Achilles and the Achaeans led by Agamemnon. According to Archaeoligical evidences, Troy VIIa was destroyed around 1200 BC, at the same period as the Iliad's Troy.
Then continue to the Aegean coast.Stop at Ezine one of the most famous cheese producing regions of Turkey.
Then drive through mount Ida where trojan prince Paris lived according mythology.
Arrive at Kucukkuyu ,visit the only Olive Oil Museum of Turkey.
Lunch in Edremit, on the olive coastline. Then drive to Ayvalik,capital of olive oil production in Turkey ,visit an olive oil factory, taste different sorts of olive oils.
Continue to Foca , the beautiful town on the Aegean coastline , the inhabitants of which migrated to the southern shores of France, Marseilles specifically, not only founded that city but also introduced viticulture in France by 6th century B.C. The region is also famous for its local grape called ‘ Foca Karasi ‘. (Black of Foca)
We taste wines produced from this grape variety.
Overnight and Dinner in İzmir.
 

Day 5 : Izmir – Ephesus - Pamukkale
In the morning we visit Ephesus , one of the best preserved archaeological sites in the world.
En route visit Nysa, little known ancient city but considered as the birthplace of Dionysos , God of wine according Greek Mythology. We visit the beautiful ancient theater of Nysa on the stage wall of which there are reliefs depicting the life of Dionysos.
During the lunch, we will taste the wines made from the two local white grapes, ‘Sultaniye’ known as Sultana in the world and mainly consumed by eating as dried grape , and ‘Misket ‘ a grape full of perfume known also as Muscat in many places. We then continue to Pamukkale.
Dinner with wines produced by Pamukkale Winery which benefits from one of best terroirs of Turkey for producing easy-to drink wines.
 

Day 6 : Pamukkale - Konya
Visit the travertine zones of Pamukkale and roman ruins of Hierapolis, known for one of the biggest necropolis of ancient times. We then drive to Konya and have lunch there as well.
Visit Mevlana Museum,the old convent of whirling dervishes, a religious order established in 13th century in Konya in which music and dance was a way to worship God.
We go to the Archaeological Museum of Konya, which is small but very rich for the number of sarcophagi of roman times as well as almost 4000 years old wine vessels. Dinner and overnight in Konya.
 

Day 7: Konya - Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia along the Silk Road. On the way to Cappadocia in the middle of the steppe we make a short stop to visit the Caravanserai of Obruk Han and the beautiful little known as lake of Obruk.
For lunch we proceed to a village where we taste some of Cappadocian Specialties in a family run restaurant.
We make a short walk through the rock formations of Cappadocia. In the afternoon we visit the old Greek Village of Sinasos presently known as Mustafapasa where we can see great examples of stone workmanship on the facades of houses built in 19th century .
We then proceed to Turasan’s Zeynep Vineyards founded in 2001 to grow international and autochthonous grape varieties of Turkey. We visit vineyards and we get information about the growing process. We then go to Turasan Winery to see its rock carved wine cellar and to be informed about the process of wine making. We taste some of Turasan wines.
Some wines to taste during tasting session and lunch:
White wines: Turasan Emir , Seneler Narince, Misket Domisek
Rosé: Turasan Rosé,
Red Wines: Turasan Okuzgozu-Bogazkere, Turasan Kalecik Karasi
 

 

Day 8: Cappadocia
Our day starts with a short walking through fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
We then go to discover the beautiful rock carved churches in Goreme Valley.
We visit Goreme Open Air Museum with churches carved in volcanic tuff of Cappadocia like St. Basil Church, Chuch with apple, St. Barbara Church, Dark Church.
Lunch is taken in a restaurant carved in the rock of Cappadocia with a menu based on homemade dishes of the region
We proceed to Zelve and Pasabag where the most amazing formations of fairy chimneys can be seen. We further proceed to the underground city of Kaymakli which is carved 8 floors under the ground.
The day ends with a seminar on the history of wine by Mr. Yanki, wine teacher and searcher on wine history.
 

Day 9: Cappadocia
Our day starts with a very pleasant walking in Kizilcukur, through old traditional vineyards. This trekking will help us enjoy the amazing natural landscape of Cappadocia and very beautifully decorated rock-carved dovecotes of the region.
On our way we will also visit the Church with Grapes which gives us a very good idea about the history of wine in Cappadocia. Our walking will end in one of the little known villages: cavusin. We discover the village and have lunch on a vineyard or in a typical restaurant.
In the afternoon we follow the banks of Red River (Kizilirmak) to reach Avanos and stroll in its streets. Avanos is also considered as a city of art with its traditional pottery which puts the city in a special position for carrying wines in Hittite times in clay pot jars until the capital of Hittite Kingdom, Hattusas.
We then go to Uchisar ares to visit old wine cellar of Kocabag winery carved in volcanic tuff. Our final tasting takes place in a wine cellar in Uchisar.
Wines to taste:
White wines: Kocabag Kapadokya, Kocabag Uchisar (Emir)
Red wines: Kocabag Kapadokya, Kocabag okuzgozu, Kocabag Bogazkere

 

Day 10 : Departure transfer to Istanbul for fly back home