Thrace Vineyard Route: Viticulture, Wine Production, and Must-See Vineyard Houses

When we consider escaping the city for a few days, classic destinations like Ağva, Sapanca, Maşukiye, and Büyükada often come to mind. However, if you're a nature lover, you've likely already explored these places multiple times. If you're looking for new and different routes near Istanbul, we recommend the Thracian Vineyard Route.

Located approximately 2-3 hours from Istanbul, the vineyards of Thrace have a history spanning thousands of years. It is only recently that these vineyards have opened up to travelers. The formation of the Thracian Vineyard Route, established by local vineyard owners coming together, has only been in the spotlight for a few years.

You can plan a weekend on the Thracian Vineyard Route to enjoy time among the beautiful vineyards and gain deep knowledge about wines. This nearby route offers a fresh exploration outside the city.

Tekirdağ Vineyards: 

If you're thinking about a day trip and don't want to spend too much time on the road, you can start by visiting the vineyards in Tekirdağ, learning about the vineyard routes and the grapes. For accommodation suggestions in Tekirdağ, you can visit this link: https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/tekirdag-hotels

Barbare Vineyards: Situated on a 230-acre area near the town of Barbaros in Tekirdağ, this location benefits from the perfect combination of sun and wind, allowing some of the world's most delicious grapes to thrive. Grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre are cultivated with low yield practices and are processed in the onsite winery to ensure they retain their flavor during transport.

If you want to closely follow the journey of grapes and wine, you can stay at the Barbaros Vineyard House Hotel within the vineyard and enjoy delicious meals at the hotel’s restaurant. If you visit in spring, you'll see the vineyards blossom; in summer, you'll taste the flavorful grapes; and in autumn, you can watch the journey of grapes becoming wine throughout the day. Phone: 0538 440 89 63

Barel Vineyards: Located in Karaevli Village of Tekirdağ, Barel Vineyards were established by the Akın family in 1997. With a mild climate, varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah are transformed into delicious wines in the same vineyard-based winery. From April, Barel Vineyards are open to visitors from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and also feature a restaurant on-site. Barel Vineyard House: 0545 322 18 04

Şato Nuzun: Founded in 2008 by Necdet and Nazan Uzun on a 146-acre estate, Şato Nuzun vineyards practice entirely organic viticulture. Located on a windy hill, the vineyards also generate their own energy with two wind turbines and solar panels. The vineyard is open to visitors in two sessions on Saturdays and Sundays, but an appointment is required beforehand.

Şarköy Vineyards

 If you want to venture a bit further from Tekirdağ and explore Şarköy, known as a summer spot for Istanbul residents, consider adding the following vineyards to your route.

Melen Vineyards: The culture of viticulture in this area dates back to Ancient Greece, where wines produced here were historically shipped to Egypt and Russia in amphorae. The region is also famous for its monasteries, with the only remaining monastery, St. Ioannis Monastery, located within the Melen Vineyards. The grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Shiraz. Visits to Melen Vineyards occur in groups of ten, starting with a historical presentation at the monastery, followed by lunch with views of the Marmara Islands, and concluding with walks through the vineyards and olive groves. The resting stop is at Melen Cafe, which is open until midnight starting from May.

Kırklareli Vineyards 

If you have two days to spend exploring vineyards and relaxing in nature, you might consider the Kırklareli Vineyards, one of the farthest vineyard routes in Thrace. 

For accommodation suggestions in Kırklareli, you can visit this link: https://www.kucukoteller.com.tr/Kirklareli-Otelleri 

Vino Dessera Vineyards: The vineyards not only boast delicious grapes and wine but also have an interesting founding story. The Dönmez family initially planned to plant walnut trees as a heritage for their first grandchild, but soon realized the land was better suited for vineyards, thus beginning their viticulture journey. The varieties found at Vino Dessera Vineyards include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Öküzgözü, Barbera, Sangiovese, Narince, Muscat, Shiraz, and Cabernet Franc. You can visit Vino Dessera Vineyards between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM to learn about grape harvesting, maintenance, and varieties. Directly behind the vineyards, the "Kazı Evi" museum is located, showcasing the relics of the first Thracians who settled in the area at the Lower Pınar Mound.

Arcadia Vineyards: One of the first and largest vineyards established during the Republic era, Arcadia Vineyards derives its name from the region's ancient name, Arcadiapolis. It is the only vineyard in Turkey that grows the Sauvignon Gris and Pinot Gris varieties. Other grape varieties cultivated here include Sauvignon Blanc, Narince, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Öküzgözü, and Papaskarası. Arcadia Vineyards avoids using chemicals that leave residues and is also a gastronomy center with numerous fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and oak trees. During your visit, you can explore the vineyards, participate in the grape harvest, and enjoy walks among fruit trees, gathering wild sorrel and mushrooms under controlled conditions. Staying at the hotel located at the foothills of the Istranca Mountains, which is also part of Arcadia Vineyards, can extend your delightful discovery. Arcadia Vineyard Houses: 0533 514 14 90

Gallipoli Vineyards

 If you want to get to know both the region's vineyard culture and its history in your spare time, and if you have a few days available, the best route for you is Gallipoli Vineyards. Our recommendation for staying in Gallipoli Eceabat is Hotel Caeli. 

For Accommodation Recommendations in Gallipoli, you can visit this link: https://www.boutiquesmallhotels.com/gallipoli-hotels 

Gallipoli Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes are grown in Gallipoli Vineyards, which overlook both the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. To visit Gallipoli Vineyards, it's important to make a reservation in advance. If you choose to visit Gallipoli Vineyards as a group, you can taste Trakya lamb, and if it's in season, you can also taste the famous sardines and oysters of Çanakkale. Additionally, within the vineyards, you have the opportunity to see the remains of positions from World War II, situated on an ancient city. 

Suvla Vineyards

Among the Thrace Vineyards, Suvla Vineyards are one of the vineyards with the most diverse grape varieties. In the 640-acre organic vineyards, international grape varieties such as Roussanne, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Noir, Merlot, Marsanne are grown, while local grape varieties such as Kınalı Yapıncak and Karasakız, unique to the peninsula, are also cultivated. Suvla Vineyards, which have won numerous national and international awards, have been ensuring the entry of hundreds of tons of wine into the market every year since 2010, and they represent our country's name successfully in the international arena. Suvla Vineyards, with an extremely modern production center, offers more of a vineyard lifestyle experience rather than just a vineyard tour from 09:00 to 22:00. After learning about grapes and grape harvesting in the vineyards, you can taste local delicacies along with Suvla wines in the restaurant section.