The truth is that Santorini is the ultimate destination for dozens of types of tourism and one of them is wine tourism. Its vineyard is one of the oldest in Europe and according to research, vines have been cultivated since the 17th century BC.
For thousands of years, a special way of pruning the vines has been practiced in Santorini. Vintners twist the vine around to form a round basket, the so-called couloura. Inside it, the bunches grow and are protected from the strong wind.
Santorini, a popular tourist destination that attracts tourists from Greece and abroad, is undoubtedly the flagship of Greek tourism. In recent years, emphasis has been placed on sustainable development and the promotion of special forms of tourism, such as wine tourism, which favors visits in the autumn months.
Varieties of wine in Santorini
Santorini, therefore, steals impressions and produces unique PDO wines, dry as well as sweet Vinsanto that stand the test of time with the impressive Assyrtiko dominating and leaving its indelible stamp.
Asyrtiko
This is the flagship of Santorini wine. It is vinified alone or in combination with other varieties.
Aidani
Aidani is a white variety that participates in the PDO Santorini blend and also in Vinsanto. It gives wines with a medium body and an oily texture.
Mavrotragano
This is a rare and particularly important red variety of Santorini that gives wines of great claims! You will find excellent red wines from this variety, with a rich body, intense tannins and moderate acidity.
Santorini is known for its vineyards and its wine, which are unique in the world. The wineries of Santorini share with the island’s visitors the secrets and art of wine production. Most of them are located in central and southern Santorini, scattered among the beautiful villages.
Take a Santorini wine tour with us
Organized tours to wineries are a classic activity on the island. Tourist offices include in the itineraries, usually three wineries, in which during the visit, you will have the opportunity to try wine tasting, learn how they produced wine in the past in the canaves, try local delicacies. The winemakers will explain why Santorini vineyards are so unique and why the flavors of Santorini wines are so special.
The types of day trips vary and you can choose the classic morning one, the afternoon one which includes a sunset stop, a more sophisticated one which includes sampling the local cuisine and wine tasting or one for history buffs which focuses on the ancient tradition of wine production in Santorini.
The most famous destinations-villages with their wineries are Pyrgos, Megalochori, Exo Gonia and Episkopi Gonia, Mesaria.
Wine can warm your heart and be inextricably linked to the most important social events of our lives, at the same time it is a powerful weapon in the quiver of the Greek tourist product. Food-conscious wine tourists look for certified, local products, with green specifications from wineries that follow good practices towards the environment.
With over 18 wineries on the island, there is definitely no shortage of places to visit. Striving to make your experience truly unforgettable, in our wine tour we will provide the necessary information so that you can plan your itinerary according to your personal tastes and preferences.
With a history of over 3000 years of winemaking and a wide range of indigenous grape varieties (such as Assyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri, Mavrotragano, Mantilaria), it is no surprise that the wines of Santorini are highly celebrated.
A friendly and welcoming atmosphere awaits visitors at the wineries where they will be provided with a wine expertsommelier that will guide them through their winetasting endeavors and give them insight into the ancient tradition of local wine.
Taste 12 different glasses of santorini wines. The wines are usually accompanied with local specialties and visitors may make purchases if they wish.
Embark on a journey of unlocking the old secrets of local winemaking. Thanks to its distinctive volcanic soil conditions, Santorini is world-renowned for its exquisite wine varieties.Wineries on the island are deeply rooted in century-old tradition and, in fact,local winemakers extend to visitors an open invitation to experience their art.
Wine tourism, gastronomy and culture
Wine tourism on the island is highly developed and is an example for the rest of Greece to follow. Most wineries have specially designed areas, a separate wine tourism department and employ specialized staff. Visitors are offered various tour and tasting packages that marry Santorinian wines with local delicacies and high-end dishes. In addition, there are several companies operating on the island that organize wine tours and integrated wine experiences. On the island there are many restaurants that offer culinary delights of a high standard. Now the wine tourism product of Santorini has gained an international reputation and attracts wine lovers from all parts of the Earth. You can take a tour of Santorini!
Santorinian wines are the bridge between the primary and tertiary sectors, between the land of the island and its visitors. Santorini, over the centuries, has suffered from the eruptions of an unpredictable volcano, but the success of its wines is due to its volcanic soil, as well as to the prolonged sunshine, the wind, the lack of rain and the method of pruning the vines in a coil shape.
The PDO wine-growing zone includes areas of Thira and neighboring Thirasia. The flagship of the Santorini vineyard is Assyrtiko, followed by varieties such as Aidani and Athiri, Mavrotragano and Mandilaria. Santorini has also built a strong name in the field of wine tourism with wineries that can be visited, which, in addition to the crowds of foreign tourists who flock en masse, the domestic traveling public is also entitled to get to know them.
