Located just to the west of Istanbul, lies Trakya, the piece of land that connects Turkey to the continent of Europe.
Wine has been produced in this region for hundreds of years and the investment in this region is the largest step taken in the name of wine production in Turkey. Although Turkey is not yet really globally recognized for wines, three hours outside of Istanbul lies the Trakya Vineyard Route.

Most of the vineyards straddle the Sea of Marmara and the Gallipoli Straight; however, a few can be found inland as well.

Open from spring to the end of autumn, the vineyards in Trakya are ideal for those who want to combine their love of nature with their obsession for new flavors. All of the vineyards are boutique producers and some of them even have guest houses for those who want to stay the weekend.

Since the wine market is a still a growing venture, the vineyards are very eager to offer tours on their properties. They will walk you through all the steps from the planting of the grapes to the bottling and storing of the final product.

They also offer daily tastings. Almost all of the vineyards employ professional chefs who offer local tastes with a twist.
One hour northeast of the vineyards, you can find the Forest of Longoz. There are plenty of stops along the winding roads to eat and rest. Don’t forget to check out Dupnisa cave, located in the forest. After exploring the cave, buy a cone of ice cream and enjoy the surrounding meadows.


How to get there: Rent a car! (seriously, don’t even try anything else)
When to go: Mid-spring to late

Posted on | 26/06/2018 | Beril Akıncı