Wine lifeWine history
Urla, Türkiye: an ancient Aegean wine coast, reborn
On the Aegean coast west of İzmir, the land of ancient Klazomenai is wine country again. Urla's history, its grapes and wineries, and why food lovers go there.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
4 min read
The short answer: Urla is a district on the peninsula west of İzmir, on Türkiye's Aegean coast. In antiquity this was the land of Klazomenai, a Greek city whose wine Pliny the Elder knew. Today it is one of Türkiye's liveliest small wine areas, with a vineyard route, revived local grapes and restaurants with MICHELIN stars.
Where is Urla?
A short drive west of İzmir, on the road to Çeşme. WSET calls the Aegean Türkiye's most important wine region, and Urla is one of its coastal areas. The climate is maritime Mediterranean: warm, sunny summers, sea breezes and limestone soils.
An ancient wine coast
- Klazomenai: one of the twelve cities of Ionia, the Greek settlements of this coast. Its ruins lie by the sea at Urla.
- Olive oil, 2,500 years ago: at Klazomenai, archaeologists found an olive oil workshop from the 6th century BC, described as the oldest known in Anatolia. It was rebuilt in 2004–05, so you can see how it worked.
- Wine that Pliny knew: in the 1st century AD, Pliny the Elder wrote that the wine of Clazomenae (Klazomenai) had become the most popular of the Greek wines, now that its makers seasoned it with less seawater. He also placed the Pramnian wine praised in Homer in the territory of Smyrna, today's İzmir.
- Later centuries: WSET notes that under Ottoman rule only non-Muslims were allowed to make and drink wine.
Urla's modern wine story is recent. Urla Şarapçılık (Urla Winery), one of the pioneers and a founding member of the vineyard route, started at the beginning of the 2000s, and others followed.
The Urla Vineyard Route
The Urla Bağ Yolu, the Urla Vineyard Route, links the district's wineries and invites visitors to meet the producers. Its members include Çakır, Hus, İkidenizarası, Mozaik, MMG, Perdix, Urla, Urlice, USCA and Statera. Check opening times and book ahead, especially for lunch.
The grapes
| Grape | Colour | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Urla Karası | Red | A local grape found again on the Urla peninsula and brought back into production by Urla Winery |
| Gaydura | White | An old local variety, also revived here |
| Bornova Misketi | White | İzmir's own Muscat, the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains: aromatic and floral |
| Foça Karası | Red | A native red named after Foça, north of İzmir, one of the grapes being revived |
| Boğazkere | Red | From eastern Anatolia, grown here too: firm tannins |
| International grapes | Red and white | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Nero d'Avola and more |
- Urla Karası
- ColourRed
- What to knowA local grape found again on the Urla peninsula and brought back into production by Urla Winery
- Gaydura
- ColourWhite
- What to knowAn old local variety, also revived here
- Bornova Misketi
- ColourWhite
- What to knowİzmir's own Muscat, the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains: aromatic and floral
- Foça Karası
- ColourRed
- What to knowA native red named after Foça, north of İzmir, one of the grapes being revived
- Boğazkere
- ColourRed
- What to knowFrom eastern Anatolia, grown here too: firm tannins
- International grapes
- ColourRed and white
- What to knowCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Nero d'Avola and more
The local grapes are the reason to come. Cabernet grows everywhere; Urla Karası is Urla's own.
Urla on a plate
- Artichokes: the Urla Artichoke Festival fills the town every spring, usually in late April.
- Olive oil, herbs and seafood: the cooking of the Aegean coast, simple and generous.
- MICHELIN stars: the MICHELIN Guide came to İzmir in 2024, and Urla restaurants such as OD Urla and Teruar Urla have been awarded a star.
A sommelier's tip: artichokes are hard on wine and can make it taste sweet or metallic. A crisp, dry white handles them best. Save the local reds for grilled lamb and meze with more fat and smoke. Curious what a star really means? See what a Michelin star is.
Planning a visit
- Getting there: an easy day trip from İzmir, or a stop on the way to Çeşme.
- When: spring for the artichoke festival and green vines; late summer for the harvest.
- How: two or three wineries in a day is plenty. Book lunch, and book a driver if you're tasting.
More on the Roman writer who knew this coast's wine: Pliny the Elder on wine. And for the region's deepest roots: Mesopotamia and wine.
Questions people ask
Is Urla a wine region?
Yes. It is a coastal wine area of Türkiye's Aegean region, west of İzmir, with its own vineyard route linking around ten wineries.
What grapes grow in Urla?
Local grapes such as Urla Karası, Gaydura, Bornova Misketi and Foça Karası, alongside international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay.
What is Urla famous for?
Wine, olive oil, artichokes and its restaurants, plus the ruins of ancient Klazomenai.
When is the Urla Artichoke Festival?
Every spring, usually in late April.
For wine lovers · next steps