Chateau Nuzun Winery, Thrace, Turkey

One of my favorites and a pioneer in red wines in Thrace.

Chateau Nuzun is a boutique winery located in the Thrace region of Turkey, about 100 kilometers west of Istanbul in the village of Cesmeli just outside of Tekirdag. The winery was established in 2004 by the husband-and-wife team of Nazan and Necdet with a vision of producing premium quality organic wines that showcase the unique and generous soils of the Thrace region. The vineyards are a mere 5km from the Marmara sea and benefit from the cooling summer winds and the winter rains as they are not irrigated vines. The soil has some clay mixed in along with primarily gravel and sand

Their 7 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir vineyards planted in March 2005 are the focus of their organic and minimalist viticulture practices, Most of the vines are CS and Merlot with only small percentages of Syrah and Pinot noirThey focus on quality grapes and letting the wine demonstrate that quality in the winery built in 2008.

Their initial vintage in 2009 was from just 75kg of grapes per 1000m2 (donum) aged in French oak for 14 months. In 2010 their vines production increased to 300kg per donum and they produced varietals of CS, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir as well as a blend of the four. Their production has increased each year and they have added new blends, including local grapes such as Öküzgözü, but they continue to produce monocepages of the 4 primary Bordeaux varieties. In 2013 they added to their Chateaun Nuzun a new blend named Chateau Nuz.

I first started to pursue their wines in 2016 after drinking this very wine - the Chateau Nuz blend, noting it a great value, bold, with lots of yummy oak, needing time to breathe, but strong extraction with excellent palate and finish. I realized they were one of the few producers who actually maintained their stocks, releasing them only when they felt they were ready for consumption resolving a common issue here - wine that isn't stored or cellared properly- resulting in 5+ year old reds that are less than their potential. My wife especially adores their strong but sophisticated usage of oak, noting the wines that have a California Cabernet-like feel.

Together, they have built Chateau Nuzun into one of Turkey's most respected boutique wineries, with a commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices and a focus on producing wines that express the distinct character of the region.

If you are interested in visiting this winery - feel free to contact me or join one of these daytours to Thrace leaving from Istanbul.

Here's a glance at their wine tasting room and production facilites.