Santorini Wineries

Cyclades

Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.

The Gavalas Winery on SantoriniThe Gavalas Winery on Santorini

Wine-making is not an activity that many people associate with the Greek islands, but several islands are noted for their wines and vineyards including Crete, Samos and Santorini. All three have a long history of winemaking, with Crete being very highly-rated recently by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Samos makes some of the best dessert wines in the world and provides the grapes to Metaxa for making their unique Greek brandy-style spirit.

Santorini Wineries

The Canava Roussos winery in Episkopi is the oldest of the current wineries on Santorini, looked after now by the 4th generation of the same family. There's a free winery tour but naturally a charge for the wine-tasting. 

Volcan Wines is between Messaria and Kamari and in addition to the self-guided tour there are wine-tastings and an underground wine museum.

Sign for a Wine Museum on SantoriniSign for a Wine Museum on Santorini

Boutari is one of the best-known names in Greek wine and they have one of the best winery visits on Santorini. The presentation here will teach you a lot about Santorini wines generally, and Boutari makes a great variety of wines, which you can sample. You'll find it in Megalohori, where you'll also find the much smaller but charming Gavalas Winery.

Near Pirgos there are some more wineries to visit, including the Argyros Estate in the village of Mesa Gonia, east of Pirgos. They aren't open for visitors but will show you around and give you a tasting if you phone them in advance (tel: 22860-31489). The same applies to the Hatzidakis Haridimos Winery which is on the road that leads from Pirgos to the Profitis Ilias Monastery (tel: 22860-32552).

The Hatzidakis Winery on SantoriniThe Hatzidakis Winery on Santorini

Santorini Wines

There has been wine-making on Santorini for as long as records exist, but it became especially popular when the Venetians ruled the island and began exporting Santorini wines to Italy and other parts of Europe. The famous Italian sweet wine Vin Santo gets its name from Santorini, and you can try a similar wine on Santorini itself where it is called Vinsanto.

Vinsanto Wine from SantoriniVinsanto Wine from Santorini

The volcanic nature of the soil is good for producing crisp white wines, and when you're visiting Santorini you'll notice grape varieties you may not have heard of before. The three most popular Greek white grape varieties on Santorini are Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani. In fact about two-thirds of the island's vineyards are planted with Assyrtiko, so you'll see that on a lot of menus.

The two most popular Greek red grapes on Santorini are Mandalieria and Mavrotragano. You'll also find some blended wines, some rosé wines, and some wines made from imported vines that have more familiar names to visitors.

The Underground Santorini Wine MuseumThe Underground Santorini Wine Museum

Santorini Wine Tours

You can organise your own visits to Santorini's wineries but you will need a car as they are spread out around the island. This is one case where we'd recommend joining an organised tour, so that you don't have to worry about drinking and driving. 

The tour companies also know the best options. Two of the wineries have great views of the caldera, so taking a sunset wine tour ensures you end up at one of these places for a wine tasting with spectacular views. 

See Our YouTube Video of Santorini

If you're happy to pay a little bit more you can also have a private tour, otherwise you can book a small group tour, which usually lasts a half-day. Another option is to do a general island tour which includes a stop at one of the wineries on the way. There are also gastronomy tours which include wineries, breweries, restaurants and food producers.

One thing to be aware of is that Santorini wine tours are increasingly popular and because they are limited in size they tend to fill up quickly. If it's something you really want to do, book that tour as soon as you arrive. Your hotel or any travel agency will be able to help.

Where to Stay on Santorini


Some other Santorini pages

  • What Is Metaxa?

    What is Metaxa? Metaxa is an amber Greek spirit combining brandy made by distilling wine, sweet wine from Samos and a secret recipe of Mediterranean botanicals.

  • Where to Eat in Athens and Piraeus

    If you're wondering where to eat in Athens and Piraeus we have a few suggestions including some favorites around the Acropolis, Omonia Square, and Syntagma.

  • Zacharioudakis Winery

    Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.

  • Zakynthos Winemaker

    Antonis Maroudas is a Zakynthos winemaker who lives on the 'wine road' and is one of the people who make Zakynthos.

  • How to Make Petimezi

    How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.

  • Hotels on Santorini

    Hotels on Santorini, Greece, in the Cyclades, range from luxury choices to good cheap accommodation in Fira, with caldera views.

  • Greek Retsina

    Greek retsina is a dry white wine made and drunk all over Greece with a distinctive pine and resin flavour that people usually either love or hate.

  • Greek Ouzo

    Greek ouzo is an aniseed-based aperitif made all over the country but especially on Lesbos, tasting like a Greek pastis or arak and usually drunk with water.

  • Greek Feta Cheese

    Greek feta cheese is the most popular cheese in Greece, usually made from sheep’s milk, with a soft texture and salty taste and used to top off a Greek salad.

  • Greek Alcoholic Drinks

    Greek alcoholic drinks include distinctly Greek drinks such as ouzo, Metaxa, retsina, raki, tsikoudia and tsipouro, but also Greek wines and Greek beers.

  • Goules Taverna Crete

    The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.

  • Fun Things to Do on Santorini

    This list of fun things to do on Santorini include visiting an old tomato canning factory, listening to Greek bagpipes, and enjoying some local beers.

  • Crete Olive Oil Tour

    For a Crete olive oil tour Greece Travel Secrets visits Biolea, one of the few olive oil factories on Crete that you can visit.

  • Corfu Food and Drink

    Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.

  • Corfu Beer Festival

    The First Corfu Beer Festival took place in Arillas in North West Corfu and celebrated the beer of Bavaria and of Corfu, in the Ionian islands of Greece.

  • Corfu’s Special Cuisine

    Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.

  • Corfu Olives

    Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.

  • Best Cocktail Bars in Athens

    Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

  • Athens to Santorini

    There are lots of flights from Athens to Santorini as well as a ferry service from Piraeus, with flights to Santorini leaving from Athens International Airport.

  • Athens Food Tours

    Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.

  • Athens Eaters Guide

    Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.

  • Athens Dining Guide

    This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.

  • Athens Culinary Tours

    Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.

  • Greek Food and Drink

    Greek food and drink is a highlight of any visit and Greece Travel Secrets brings you info about food and drink from all over Greece, from Athens to Zakynthos.

  • What Is a Greek Salad

    What is a Greek Salad – a Greek Salad is made up of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, green pepper, olives, and feta cheese.

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