The best wines of Turkey

Discover the best wines of Turkey as well as the best winemakers of Turkey and estates of Turkey to visit. Explore the popular grape varieties of Turkey and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Top wines by regions >Turkey

Top wines of Turkey by region

Looking for a good wine of Turkey among the top wines in the region? Check out our tops of the best red, white or effervescent wines of Turkey. Also find some food and wine pairings that may be appropriate with these exceptional wines. Learn more about the region and the wines of Turkey with technical and enological descriptions.

Great red wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best red wines of Turkey

Want to buy a red wine of Turkey cheap or sell a red wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Turkey

Red wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, veal or pork such as recipes of fondue with broth, piccata with cheese or croque-monsieur.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Turkey

On the nose the red wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of cherry, floral or earth and sometimes also flavors of microbio, oak or spices.

The best vintages in red wine of Turkey

  • 2020With an average score of 4.60/5
  • 2019With an average score of 4.33/5
  • 2017With an average score of 4.29/5
  • 2016With an average score of 4.28/5
  • 2010With an average score of 4.27/5
  • 2013With an average score of 4.23/5

The most used grape varieties in red wine of Turkey

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Merlot
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Petit Verdot
  • Pinot Noir

The best wineries and winemakers for red wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best red wine of Turkey.

Discovering the wine region of Turkey

Turkey, located on the Anatolian peninsula between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, produces more grapes than any other country in the world. However, only a very small proportion of these grapes are made into wine; as a predominantly Muslim nation, Turkey's per capita Alcohol consumption is very low. The lack of wine production in Turkey is highly ironic, as wine historians believe that viticulture and winemaking originated in this Part of the world. Archaeological projects in Turkey and neighboring countries in the Levant have uncovered evidence suggesting that primitive VineBreeding was part of life here more than 6,000 years ago, which explains the abundance of wine grapes (vinifera).

The most commonly used wine grapes in Turkey are those used as table grapes, the only use they could be put to during the seven centuries of Ottoman rule. Ampelographic research has suggested that Turkey is home to between 500 and 1000 distinct varieties of vinifera grapes. Although Turkey's wine history is one of the oldest in the world, the modern Turkish wine industry is very Young. Turkey only began producing wine again in 1925, as a symbol of the nation's modernization and westernization.

The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, established the country's oldest winery. The largest winery in modern Turkey is owned by tobacco giant Tekel (whose name translates as "monopoly"), now a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. Turkey's transcontinental location, between the deserts of Arabia (its eastern neighbours are Syria, Iraq and Iran) and the seas of Eastern Europe (the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea), results in significant climatic variations within its borders. While the western coastal regions have a temperate Mediterranean Climate, with hot, Dry summers and milder, wetter winters, the northern regions (on the Black Sea) have significantly higher humidity in summer and colder winters.

Great white wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best white wines of Turkey

Want to buy a white wine of Turkey cheap or sell a white wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a white wine of Turkey

White wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of home-made white pudding, leek and salmon lasagna or light tuna-tomato quiche (without cream).

Organoleptic analysis of white wine of Turkey

On the nose the white wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, tree fruit or black fruit and sometimes also flavors of red fruit, floral or vegetal.

The best vintages in white wine of Turkey

  • 2005With an average score of 4.30/5
  • 2020With an average score of 4.20/5
  • 2019With an average score of 4.04/5
  • 2008With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2016With an average score of 3.97/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.95/5

The most used grape varieties in white wine of Turkey

  • Chardonnay
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Roussanne
  • Marsanne
  • Narince
  • Viognier

The best wineries and winemakers for white wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best white wine of Turkey.

Discover the grape variety: Sauvignon

Sauvignon Gris is a grape variety that originated in France (South-West). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches and small grapes. Sauvignon Gris can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Jura, Beaujolais, Armagnac, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey.

Great sparkling wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best sparkling wines of Turkey

Want to buy a sparkling wine of Turkey cheap or sell a sparkling wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a sparkling wine of Turkey

Sparkling wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of veal paupiettes with forestry sauce, basque piperade or duck leg confit in cider.

Organoleptic analysis of sparkling wine of Turkey

On the nose the sparkling wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or earth and sometimes also flavors of microbio, oak or red fruit.

The best vintages in sparkling wine of Turkey

  • 2016With an average score of 3.92/5
  • 2011With an average score of 3.90/5
  • 2013With an average score of 3.80/5
  • 2014With an average score of 3.70/5
  • 2015With an average score of 3.56/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.36/5

The most used grape varieties in sparkling wine of Turkey

  • Chardonnay
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Kalecik Karasi
  • Emir
  • Pinot Noir
  • Yapincak

The best wineries and winemakers for sparkling wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best sparkling wine of Turkey.

The word of the wine: Hautain (en)

Pruning of the vine in height.

Great pink wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best pink wines of Turkey

Want to buy a pink wine of Turkey cheap or sell a pink wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a pink wine of Turkey

Pink wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, mature and hard cheese or lamb such as recipes of spit-turned boar leg (oven) with "automatic watering"., cream and ham ravioli or pan-fried lamb heart.

Organoleptic analysis of pink wine of Turkey

On the nose the pink wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, non oak or earth and sometimes also flavors of vegetal, spices or citrus fruit.

The best vintages in pink wine of Turkey

  • 2008With an average score of 3.90/5
  • 2020With an average score of 3.80/5
  • 2018With an average score of 3.79/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.75/5
  • 2019With an average score of 3.70/5
  • 2016With an average score of 3.65/5

The most used grape varieties in pink wine of Turkey

  • Kalecik Karasi
  • Grenache
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Calkarasi
  • Öküzgözü
  • Karasakiz

The best wineries and winemakers for pink wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best pink wine of Turkey.

Discover the grape variety: Pinot noir

Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Great sweet wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best sweet wines of Turkey

Want to buy a sweet wine of Turkey cheap or sell a sweet wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a sweet wine of Turkey

Sweet wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or spicy food such as recipes of autumn beef bourguignon, lamb stew with melting peppers or stuffed round zucchini.

Organoleptic analysis of sweet wine of Turkey

On the nose the sweet wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of earth, oak or tree fruit and sometimes also flavors of tropical fruit, non oak or spices.

The best vintages in sweet wine of Turkey

  • 2000With an average score of 4.30/5
  • 2013With an average score of 3.86/5
  • 2001With an average score of 3.80/5
  • 2009With an average score of 3.79/5
  • 2015With an average score of 3.75/5
  • 2017With an average score of 3.75/5

The most used grape varieties in sweet wine of Turkey

  • Misket Cherven
  • Shiraz/Syrah
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Sultaniye
  • Muscat Blanc

The best wineries and winemakers for sweet wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best sweet wine of Turkey.

The word of the wine: Blanc de blancs (champagne)

Champagne made only from the Chardonnay grape. The expression has been somewhat overused by the intensive use made of it by certain large distributors of white table wines (or sparkling wines) who were thus seeking to promote their product.

Great natural sweet wines of Turkey

See the top 100 best natural sweet wines of Turkey

Want to buy a natural-sweet wine of Turkey cheap or sell a natural-sweet wine of Turkey at the best price on the market? Find out which ones are popular and which ones to keep in your cellar for a few more years.

Food and wine pairing with a natural-sweet wine of Turkey

Natural sweet wines from the region of Turkey go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef such as recipes of venison stew to be prepared the day before.

Organoleptic analysis of natural-sweet wine of Turkey

On the nose the natural sweet wine of the region of Turkey. often reveals types of flavors of oak.

The best vintages in natural-sweet wine of Turkey

  • 2016With an average score of 4.10/5
  • 2011With an average score of 4.10/5
  • 2017With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2018With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2015With an average score of 4.00/5
  • 2014With an average score of 3.80/5

The most used grape varieties in natural-sweet wine of Turkey

  • Tannat

The best wineries and winemakers for natural-sweet wine of Turkey

A wine route planned in the region of Turkey? Here are the wineries to visit and the winemakers to meet during your trip in search of the best natural-sweet wine of Turkey.

Discover the grape variety: Petit Verdot

Petit Verdot noir is a grape variety that originated in France (southwest). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches and small grapes. Petit Verdot noir can be found in several vineyards: South-West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Rhone valley, Provence & Corsica, Loire valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais, Armagnac.

News from the vineyard of Turkey

Decanter magazine latest issue: January 2022

Inside the January 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES: Aperitifs: how to do them well The art of starting it right, with drinks tips from Kate Hawkings Vintage preview: Chablis 2020 Andy Howard MW picks 33 of his top wines from a classic year in the region Producer profile: Château Angélus Jane Anson visits one of St-Emilion’s four finest grand cru classé estates Bordeaux & Burgundy vintages for Christmas Panos Kakaviatos & Charles Curtis MW select the perfect vintages and appe ...

Group of winegrowers seeks UNESCO recognition for ungrafted vines

The Francs de Pied (Ungrafted Vines) group, which last met two weeks ago at Pasquet’s Liber Pater winery in the Graves, consists of a growing circle of vignerons who work with ungrafted vineyards planted to native varieties. The list includes Francs de Pied president Loïc Pasquet himself, vice-president Egon Müller (Mosel), and secretary Andrea Polidoro of Cupano (Montalcino) and Contrada Contro (Marche); as well as Gocha Chkhaidze of leading Georgian winery, Askaneli; Thibault Liger-Belair (Bur ...

Column: Christmas Day drinks – a ‘real-world’ guide

Christmas, famously, is not about religion any more. But as a Decanter reader, you’ll also know that it’s not about giving, family or food either. No, it’s about drink. The one time of year when we get to open the good stuff without anyone questioning what we’re doing. And of course, there’s no shortage of advice as to what form those bottles should take. Every year, hacks in newspapers, magazines and websites tell us how to make the big day go with a bang. But these don’t correspond with the re ...

Discover other regions and appellation of Turkey