Eastern Anatolia Wine Route
Eastern Anatolia is where Turkey's most characterful indigenous grapes originate.
Chapter 4 of Silk Road Wine Trail · Turkey
The stops
- Tour · Price: low Elazığ Vineyard Heartland Visit the birthplace of Öküzgözü (Ox-Eye), one of Turkey's most prized red grapes. Family vineyards surrounding Lake Hazar produce intensely fruity wines from vines planted at 1,100m elevation.
- Tour · Price: low Diyarbakır Ancient Wine Caves Explore wine caves carved into the basalt walls of one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Christian Armenian winemakers operated these cellars until 1915.
- Adventure · Price: low Lake Van Island Monastery Vineyards Take a boat to Akdamar Island in Lake Van to see the 10th-century Armenian cathedral surrounded by abandoned monastery vineyards. The monks produced sacramental wine here for 1,000 years.
- Tasting · Price: moderate Mardin Stone House Wine Tasting Taste Boğazkere and Öküzgözü blends in a restored sandstone mansion overlooking Mesopotamian plains. A sommelier-led experience exploring wines from Eastern Anatolia's emerging producers.
- Adventure · Price: low Şanlıurfa Vineyard Trek Trek through vineyards near the legendary birthplace of Abraham. Local tradition says wine was first made here - whether true or not, viticulture dates back 10,000 years at Göbekli Tepe nearby.
- Tour · Price: low Euphrates River Valley Vineyard Visit terraced vineyards along the Euphrates River canyon, some of the most dramatic vineyard landscapes in Turkey. Family-run operation producing rustic reds from ancient vine cuttings.
- Tour · Price: low Eğil Historic Wine Cellars Discover restored wine cellars from the Armenian era in this riverside town. Local cooperative has revived winemaking using traditional Boğazkere grapes from organic vineyards.
- Adventure · Free Hasankeyf Cave Dwellings & Wine Heritage Explore 12,000-year-old cave dwellings that once housed wine cellars carved by Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Note: Much of old Hasankeyf has been flooded by dam construction, but relocated sites remain accessible.
The story
Öküzgözü ('ox eye') and Boğazkere ('throat grabber') produce powerful, tannic reds that have been grown here since antiquity. This is Turkey's least-visited but most authentic wine region.
Plan the trip
Insider tip Try the local kebabs with your wine - Eastern Turkish cuisine pairs perfectly with the bold local reds.
Getting there and around
- Car required
- Yes
- Parking
- Free at wineries. Cities have mix of free/paid parking.
- Nearest airport
- Elazığ Airport (EZS) - 15 min to city center
- Drinking and driving
- Hire driver for entire trip. This region requires experienced local guidance.
- Other airports
-
- Diyarbakır Airport (DIY) - for southern route
- Van Ferit Melen Airport (VAN) - for eastern extension
- Without a car
- Very limited. Private driver essential for full experience.
Where to stay
- Base yourself in
- Elazığ
- Why there
- All three wineries within 20 km. Gateway to Eastern Anatolia wine region.
- Booking tip
- Book flexible - weather and logistics can force changes.
- Nightly range
- ₺500-2000 ($15-60)
Recommended stays
- Budget
- Elazığ city hotels - basic but clean
- Luxury
- Limited luxury options - consider Cappadocia before/after
- Mid-range
- Grand Haldı Hotel - best in town, central
- Vineyard stays
- None available - this is undeveloped wine tourism territory
What it costs
- Includes
- Accommodation, transport, tastings, meals, site entry
- Meals
- ₺100-300 per day
- Per person
- ₺3,000-6,000 ($90-180)
- Ways to spend less
-
- This is budget-friendly Turkey - everything is cheap
- Hire driver through hotel - often the best local connection
- Street food (kebabs, lahmacun) is exceptional and cheap
- Combined flights to multiple eastern airports can save time
- Tasting fees
- ₺50-150 per winery
Booking and timing
- Lead time
- 1-2 weeks for wineries, day-of for most sites
- Closed days
- Wineries may close unexpectedly. Call ahead always.
- Peak season
- May-September best. Winter can bring snow to high areas.
- Best time of day
- Nemrut sunrise essential. Wineries flexible.
- Group size
- Self-guided or small groups only. No organized wine tours.
Where to eat
- Lunch
-
- Elazığ kebab houses - local lamb specialties
- Diyarbakır liver kebab - regional specialty
- Dinner
-
- Harput Konağı (near Elazığ) - historic mansion restaurant
- Diyarbakır old town restaurants - incredible Kurdish cuisine
- Winery restaurants
-
- Limited - most tastings are wine-only. Pack snacks.
If your time is short
- If you only have one day
- If it rains
- Focus on Elazığ wineries - all have indoor facilities
- Skip if time is short
Mistakes to avoid
-
- Don't underestimate distances - this is a big, rugged region
- Don't expect English everywhere - learn basic Turkish phrases
- Don't skip Mount Nemrut - worth the early morning
- Don't visit without a local driver - essential for logistics and language
- Don't compare to western wine regions - this is frontier territory
Worth stopping for
-
- Mount Nemrut: Arrive 30 min before sunrise. Statues face east.
- Vineyards: Late afternoon light on red clay soil is stunning
- Diyarbakır walls: Best at golden hour when basalt glows
- Lake Van: Sunrise/sunset with mountains behind are epic