A boutique winery nestled in the
birthplace of winemaking

Tucked away in a verdant Aegean valley with sweeping views, Karnas Vineyards is a family-owned boutique winery and environmentally conscious farm located on the Bodrum Peninsula. Set on endless stretches of sprawling vines, principally of the Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Vermentino variety, the vineyard is known for its award-winning wines produced with traditional and sustainable methods.

Grapes and other delicacies grown at Karnas owe their exceptional taste to the temperate climate of the region, as well as the sea salt, minerals and floral fragrances of the rich soils carried through the wind corridor that lies between the Mandalya and Gokova Gulfs. Alongside the winery, Karnas is home to an artisanal farm committed to sustainable and regenerative farming practices.

Founded by the İşmen family in 2005 Karnas Vineyards is the birthplace of three unique wines that are produced using methods that blend tradition, sustainability and minimal intervention.

Beginning with the pursuit of a new curiosity whilst living in the United States and discovering Zinfandel on visits to California, the İşmen family’s journey evolved into a tireless search for the ideal location to return this dark-skinned grape to the lands where it may well have originated.

Thought to be one of the oldest grape varietals from which wine is still made, although Zinfandel is best known in California, viticulturist historians in actual fact place the roots of the vine on the Mediterranean coasts. Through a search to plant this prized variety in Bodrum, on Anatolian lands known to be the very birthplace of winemaking, the ideal microclimate and fertile soils were found nestled in the rolling hills of Karaova Valley.

Here began the quest to create the “oldest new world wine”, reminiscent of the smooth, aromatic wines kept in the ancient amphorae of Halicarnassus of Caria. After careful cultivation of the vine, the first Karnas products were introduced in 2013, and now also include Syrah, Vermentino and Cabernet Franc as well as table grape, Michelle Pallieri.

The Karnas estate, which spans a total of 20,5 hectares of land, is located in the heart of the Karaova region, just 10 minutes away from Milas-Bodrum Airport and 25 minutes away from the city center.

A scenic drive leads visitors along a winding road through olive orchards and lush vines fringed with mulberry and pomegranate trees, and up to a dusky red main house framed with soaring cypress trees. These grounds are home to over 2500 olive trees including the Memecik, Domat and Gemlik varieties, some young and others hundreds of years old, as well as our prized and majestic 1000 year old tree.

Premium, award-winning & low intervention wines

Led by oenologists Jose and Fulya Hernandez, who both hold oenology degrees from Bordeaux and have consulted at vineyards across the globe – Karnas Vineyards masterfully produces premium wines whose traits are primarily influenced by the unique characteristics of their terroir.

With its clay loam and stony quality, the estate is home to one of the most optimal soil types for winemaking and promotes a slow maturation of the grapes – technologically, phenologically and aromatically – due to a unique microclimate that boasts cool sea breezes. Shoot and cluster thinning methods are applied, resulting in low-yield yet optimum quality grapes for premium winemaking. Once the grapes reach optimal maturation, they are harvested at dawn and transported to the winery during the cool hours of early morning to begin the winemaking process.

Karnas Syrah

On the nose; Red plum, black berries and violas, with hints of smoked notes, spices and chocolate. On the palate; full-bodied with velvety tannins; elegant and robust. Ages well. Planted in 2005. Our esteemed Karnas Syrah 2015 received a Master Class degree in the Turkey Sommeliers’ Selection 2017.

Karnas Zinfandel

On the nose; Red wild berries, rosemary and oregano with hints of licorice, mocha, tobacco and black pepper. On the palate; fruity with fresh flavors of blackberry. Full-bodied, zesty with rounded tannins. Balanced and intense, ages well. Produced from the first zinfandel vineyard in Turkey, planted in 2005.

Karnas White Zinfandel

On the nose; red wild berries, raspberry, citrus notes, rich and aromatic taste profile with a hint of fresh mountain herbs. Intense, bright, fruity, balanced, rounded and long on the palate.