Volcanic soil, basket-trained vines, and 3,500 years of winemaking. A practical guide to drinking well on Santorini.
Santorini makes wine unlike anywhere else on earth. The combination of volcanic soil, near-zero rainfall, brutal wind and the kouloura (basket-shaped) vine training method produces a white grape — Assyrtiko — that is mineral, salty, and capable of ageing for decades. If you visit the island and skip the wineries you've missed half the story.
The grapes you'll meet
Assyrtiko
The flagship. Bone-dry whites with high acidity, citrus, and a saline minerality you'll taste nowhere else. Pair with anything from the sea.
Vinsanto
Sun-dried Assyrtiko (and a little Aidani) aged in oak for a minimum of 24 months — usually much longer. Amber, sweet but not cloying, with notes of dried apricot and walnut. The PDO Vinsanto from Santorini is one of the great dessert wines of the world.
Mavrotragano & Mandilaria
Two indigenous reds, almost extinct 20 years ago, now coming back. Mavrotragano in particular produces structured, age-worthy reds you'll only find on the island.
Wineries worth your time
Santorini has 18 active wineries. Visit 2–3 in a day, never more — your palate gives up after that. Our recommended itinerary for a first-time wine tour:
- Art Space (Exo Gonia) — winery inside a working artists' gallery in restored caves. Small production, beautiful setting, generous tasting.
- Venetsanos (Megalochori) — the most architecturally striking winery on the island, perched on the caldera. Best place for sunset.
- Estate Argyros (Episkopi) — fourth-generation family producer, oldest vines on the island (some over 200 years), benchmark Vinsanto.
- Santo Wines (Pyrgos) — large cooperative, less personal but the panoramic terrace at sunset is hard to beat for one drink.
- Hatzidakis (Pyrgos Kallistis) — organic, idiosyncratic, beloved by sommeliers.
What a wine tour costs
Joining a group tour: €80–€120 per person for 3 wineries and 12 tastings with a driver. Private wine tour with hotel pickup, driver-guide, 3 wineries and bottle of water in the car: from €390 for two guests, roughly €130 per person when split among 3–4 people. Tasting fees at the wineries are usually included in tour prices.
Tips from 25 years on the island
- Eat before you go. There is rarely food at tastings beyond a few crackers.
- Book wineries in advance from June–September. Walk-ins get turned away.
- Buy the bottles you love at the winery, not at the airport — selection is wider and prices similar.
- Vinsanto travels exceptionally well; Assyrtiko also fine in checked luggage.
- If you're driving yourself, designate a driver. Greek drink-drive limits are strict and police set up checkpoints around the wineries.
Common questions about santorini wine tour
How much does a wine tour in Santorini cost?
Small-group wine tours start around €80–€120 per person for three wineries with a driver. Private wine tours with hotel pickup and a dedicated guide start around €390 for two guests and scale up for larger groups.
How many wineries should you visit in a day?
Two or three. Each tasting is four to six wines; by the fourth winery your palate is fatigued and you stop enjoying the wine. Most professional tours stick to three.
Do Santorini wineries need reservations?
Yes, from June through September especially. Walk-ins are routinely turned away at the better wineries because tasting room capacity is small. Booking through a tour operator handles this for you.
What is Assyrtiko wine?
Assyrtiko is the indigenous white grape of Santorini, grown in volcanic soil with no irrigation. It produces dry whites with high acidity, citrus character and a distinctive saline minerality, and is recognised as one of the great white grapes of the Mediterranean.
Is Vinsanto worth buying?
Yes. Authentic Santorini Vinsanto (PDO) is sun-dried Assyrtiko aged in oak for years, with very small production. A 500 ml bottle costs €30–€80 at the winery and is one of the great dessert wines of the world. It also keeps for decades after opening if recorked.
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