You can taste the famous Santorini wines with a tour by Santorini Tours. For many years, the main – and most expensive – “product” of Santorini was the caldera. But the verdict came from the market itself. The island was suffocatingly full and the vineyards gave it a different air and perspective. When investing in quality, gastronomy plays a leading role. In this context, Santorini began to tell us its story through aromas of wines with the power of volcanic soil and the character of a variety that thrives on an island hit by the winds.
At the same time, great winemakers arrived on the island and became seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking. Santorini wines are one of the most popular in Greece and with remarkable sales abroad, while everything shows that we are still at the beginning.
If you consider that Santorini is the first wine tourist destination in Greece with so many organized and visitable wineries, good restaurants and a whole network that moves around them with tastings, etc., the future is auspicious. Seize the opportunity to see the caldera and to taste Santorini wines and products by booking a Santorini Wine Tour.
The four famous Santorini wines
Assyrtiko
A variety with a special character – you either love it or you hate it. In the microclimate of Santorini gives a wine with minerals, high acidity and exuberant body, which matches the volcanic character of the island itself. It is the basic Thera variety (corresponds to about 80% of grape production) and is the basis of OPAP Santorini wine production. Assyrtiko is one of the most important white varieties and is one of the strongest papers of the Greek vineyard for a possible career abroad. Try Thalassitis Vareli and Santorini of Sigalas (with or without aging in barrel, respectively) to find out how Assyrtiko is ideally expressed.
Nykteri
The white, dry, high grade (can not be below 13.5%), traditional aged wine of Santorini from Assyrtiko. It was named so because the vine growers harvested the grapes in the morning and processed them on the same day, so that they were pressed until late at night and the whole processing was done at night, when the temperatures are lower. Another version is that due to the heat, they started picking grapes almost at night. It is served cool and accompanies grilled fish and traditional dishes of the island (tomato meatballs, fava beans, etc.). The exuberant Night of the Cooperative (SANTO) is ideal to discover the charm of this particular wine. You can book a private wine tour or a private tour and food experience with us!
Vinsanto
It is the pride of the island, the traditional sun-dried wine OPAP Santorini with its honey color, golden highlights and special aroma, with a concentrated taste of ripe figs, raisins, plums, etc. In 1853 Lois Lacroix wrote of it: “No sweet wine can compare with the white Santorini Vinsanto.” It is made from sun-dried grapes that are spread out in the sun for one to two weeks. The older it gets, the more balanced its sweet elements are and the better it becomes – proof of the extremely aged Vinsanto of Silver and also the Vinsanto of Sigalas.
Mavrotragano
We would say that it is the current trend of Santorini. Although the island was never famous for its red wines, Mavrotragano seems to be starting a new era. This is a grape with small and very tasty rogues, many tannins and a special taste. We could say that it has the aromas of Pinot Noir and the taste of Cabernet. Because it has strong tannins, it needs aging to soften. Paris Sigalas insists on this variety because it exists only in Santorini. Thus, his own Mavrotragano is the best version we can try.
Book a wine tour in Santorini
The wineries of Santorini can be visited and include tours of the vineyards, facilities and underground cellars. Santorini stands out as one of the most important areas with products of Designation of Origin in Greece, thanks to the variety and quality of the wines it produces. In Santorini is the oldest vineyard in the world, which dates back to prehistoric times and has an area of 12,000 acres. The method of pruning is called ‘bun’ because of the shape of the basket given to the vines in order to protect the fruit from strong winds.
The most famous Santorini wines are Nykteri, white dry wine based on the Assyrtiko variety, Vinsato, white or red sweet wine, which was also the wine of the Holy Communion in the Russian Orthodox Church and Brusco, which dates back to the time. of Latin rule and has high acidity, which is due to its rough taste.
Santorini wines are characterized by strong aromas and flavors and high alcohol levels. Santorini has a long tradition in viticulture, at least 3500 years. Santorini’s unique climate in combination with the composition of the soil have made the varieties that are vinified to give wines with a special personality.
