Homer's Wines, The Urla Wine Trail, Aegean, Urla, Alacati, Ephesus, Bodrum

This 10 Day Wine Exploration will start in Istanbul and then explore the Urla Wine Trail near Izmir and then continue south through Ephesus to the beautiful harbor of Bodrum. This is the Izmir/Aegean portion of the full 17 day tour for those who prefer a shorter tour focused on Urla, Alacati, Ephesus, and Bodrum, and wish to learn about the 3000 year history of wine in Turkey while also visiting the UNESCO historic sites and major attractions.

Our Italian trained Sommelier guide, Murat Yanki, will lead the elite group throughout. 

Arrival will be to Istanbul and it’s ancient monuments, from the mosques to the Roman influenced architecture and an introduction to wine from local experts as well as your first Turkish wine tastings with our guide and Sommelier. Next, we’ll fly to Izmir and immediately after landing we'll visit an outstanding winery for lunch and tasting near the airport on the ancient road from Smyrna to Ephesus. We'll visit another winery this day that features the much acclaimed Bornova Misket, an explosive, flavorful white wine said to be the same as drunk by Homer in Smyrna 3000+ years ago.  While staying at a luxurious seaside resort on the Aegean, the next few days will explore the Urla Wine Route and the 15 wineries spread out in this mountainous unique peninsula in the Aegean, where wine has grown for thousands of years.  After these days near Urla, and after a short stay in small boutique winery hotel in the hills, the trip will continue south through Ephesus heading to the fantastic ancient city (now sea resort and marina) of Bodrum  with stops at Priene, Miletus and Didim and the amazing Bodrum castle museum focusing on ancient shipwrecks. A short 1 hour flight back to Istanbul on day 9 ends the tour in Istanbul.

Common international varietals include:
Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Cabarnet Franc, Pinot Noir, Marselan, Malbec, Tempranillo, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay, Vioginier, Rousanne, Marsanne, Semillion

Common local varietals include:
Bogazkere, Okuzgozu, Barburi, Kalecik Karasi, Papazkarasi, Karasakiz, Karalahna, Kuntra, Calkarasi, Bornova Misket, Sultaniye, Emir, Narince

This tour is perfect if you:

1. Have been to Turkey before and 

• Are looking to go deeper into the progressive exploding wine and culinary scene. Join us to combine archaeology with Turkey's ancient but very modern wineries.
• Want to visit regions outside the normal tourist path including Thrace, the Wine Island of Bozcaada, and the progressive Alacati Wine Peninsula and Ancient Bodrum.
• Enjoy a mix of wine tastings, excellent meals, laid back country estate hotels, beaches and ancient sites, with time enough for excellent spa treatments (Thrace tour) at the wineries.
• Enjoy short distances, excellent hotels, lots of wine tastings with sommeliers, wine related archaeological sites, amazing locations and undiscovered wine varietals.

2. Or are a wine and food aficionado who wants to

• Tour and taste with an Italian qualified Sommelier
• Rediscover ancient history of wine, obscured over the last 100 years in Turkey and now experiencing a reawakening.
• Learn about Turkey viticulture the world's fourth largest producer of grapes.
• Learn about hidden archaeological connections to wine.
• Discover the unique grape varietals of Turkey, as well as their expressions of some of the Mediterranean’s beloved varietals. 
• Meet the interesting, fun and diverse owners and winemakers of Turkey’s blossoming wine market in their vineyards and wineries.
• Experience a very high value winery tour. 
• Enjoy the agricultural and culinary abundance of Turkey.
• Delight in luxury hotels.