Narince
Tokat's Elegant Lady
Narince is grown in Tokat, Cappadocia and Central Anatolia.
- Tastes of
- green apple, citrus, white flowers and mineral
- Goes with
- manti, grilled fish and white cheeses
The story
Narince is Turkey's finest white grape—elegant, aromatic, age-worthy. From the hills around Tokat, it produces wines rivaling quality white Burgundy at a fraction of the price.
Insider story
While Turkey's red grapes get attention, Narince quietly produces the country's best white wines. The grape grows around Tokat in northern Anatolia, where continental climate and limestone soils create ideal conditions.
Narince means 'delicate' in Turkish—an apt description of its wines. Fresh when young, they develop honeyed complexity with age, showing Burgundy-like evolution.
The grape's history is ancient. Tokat was a major wine region during the Ottoman Empire; Narince has grown here for centuries.
Modern winemaking has transformed Narince. Where Soviet-era Turkish wine was oxidized and flat, today's producers use temperature control, quality oak, and minimal intervention to showcase the grape's elegance.
Kayra, Vinkara, and Turasan make benchmark Narince. The best bottles rival quality Mâconnais or Côte de Beaune whites at €15-25.
Narince sparkling wine is emerging—the grape's acidity and elegance suit méthode traditionnelle. Early examples are promising.
Technical deep dive
Narince produces elegant whites with good acidity (6-7 g/L), subtle aromatics, and surprising aging potential. Alcohol reaches 12-13.5%.
Flavor profile: green apple, citrus, white flowers, mineral, almond, pear. Aged examples show honey, toast, hazelnut—Burgundy-like complexity.
The grape ripens mid-season and prefers Tokat's continental climate. Altitude (600-900m) preserves acidity; limestone adds mineral character.
Winemaking varies: stainless steel for fresh, aromatic wines; oak fermentation and aging for complex, age-worthy styles. Both approaches work.
The grape's natural acidity allows 5-10 years of aging. Premium bottlings develop like quality white Burgundy.
Clonal selection is limited—most plantings are old field selections with genetic diversity.
Industry secrets
Aged Narince is Turkey's secret treasure. 5-year-old bottles show Burgundy-like complexity at a quarter of the price.
Tokat is Narince's grand cru. Other regions produce the grape but with less character.
Oak-aged Narince rivals quality Meursault in style—rich, toasty, complex. Prices are absurdly low.
Pair with mantı (Turkish dumplings) or grilled fish. The wine's elegance suits refined cuisine.
For collectors
Investment grade C
- Auction records
- No auction presence
- Blue-chip producers
-
- Kayra
- Vinkara
- Turasan
- Pamukkale
- Value picks
- Quality Tokat Narince ($12-25)
- Price trend
- Stable. Unknown outside Turkey.
- Collector’s tip
- Ages 5-10 years. Buy oak-aged versions to cellar—among the world's most undervalued age-worthy whites.