Santorini: Wine Tasting & 3 Wineries with Volcanic Vineyard

Three Wineries, One Afternoon: How Santorini's Volcanic Soil Tastes

You get picked up from your hotel, visit three traditional wineries on volcanic soil, taste 10–12 wines including Assyrtiko and Vinsanto, walk through an actual vineyard, and eat local cheese and olives between tastings. The group stays under ten people, so the pace is yours, and the driver brings you back by late afternoon. Book ahead for April–November departures.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Santorini's wine culture without arranging transport, winery reservations, or timing yourself — the guide handles the logistics and the story, leaving you to focus on the taste and the soil beneath your feet.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned private vehicle, visits to three traditional wineries with cellar access, a walk through a volcanic vineyard, tastings of 10–12 Santorini and Greek wines, and local cheese, olives, bread, and tapas served alongside the tastings. A professional local guide leads the small group throughout.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santorini wine tasting tour

• Meet local guide in Santorini
• Visit first traditional winery
• Explore winery cellar and vineyard
• Taste 10-12 local wines
• Enjoy local cheese and olives
• Visit second winery and cellar
• Learn about Santorini viticulture
• Visit third winery and cellar
• Sample more wines including Assyrtiko
• Tour ends after 4-4.5 hours

The Experience

The first thing your guide does is hand you a glass of Assyrtiko before you've even stepped into the vineyard, and it hits different when you're standing on the actual volcanic soil that made it. That's the opening move on this 4-hour wine tasting in Santorini's countryside — three traditional wineries, 10 to 12 wines, and a walk through the vines themselves so you understand why the grapes taste the way they do. The group stays small, usually between two and ten people, which means there's room to ask questions without feeling rushed.

You'll start at Argyros, the estate on the outskirts of Episkopi-Gonia about 5.5 kilometers southeast of Fira, where the tasting room opens onto views of the caldera and their own vineyard spreads out below. Their Assyrtiko is what most people come for — it's the signature white of the island — but they also make Aydani and a Mavrotragano that scored 93 points from Wine Advocate. Then there's Avantis Estate, where the winemaker Apostolos Mountrikas started experimenting with ancient techniques in 2021 to pull out what he calls the pure personality of Santorini: wines that taste like the volcano, the sea breeze, the sun-baked stone. The third stop changes depending on availability, but the pattern holds — you taste, you learn, you taste again, and somewhere between the second and third winery the island's story starts making sense through the glass.

Between tastings, local cheese, olives, dry bread, and tapas come out, so you're not drinking on an empty stomach and the flavors actually land. The pickup happens from your hotel or Airbnb — if your place isn't on the standard list, they'll arrange a nearby spot within walking distance — and the driver holds a sign with your name. If you're arriving by cruise ship, the meeting point is at the cable car upper station, since the Old Harbor isn't accessible by car. The whole thing runs April through November, and the timing is flexible if they have availability, so you can work it into your schedule instead of the other way around.

What makes this different from a generic wine tour is the volcanic vineyard walk itself — you're not just tasting what the soil produces, you're standing in it, seeing how the vines grow in that black earth, understanding why Santorini's wines taste mineral and sharp and nothing like what you'd get from anywhere else. Your guide is local and professional, which means they know the winemakers, the history, and the small details that turn a tasting into something you actually remember.

Top questions

What wines will I taste?

You'll taste 10–12 wines, typically including Assyrtiko (the main white), Nykteri, Vinsanto, Aydani, and Mavrotragano. The exact selection depends on what each winery has available on the day.

Is pickup included?

Yes. The tour includes pickup and drop-off from any car-accessible hotel or Airbnb in Santorini. If your accommodation isn't on the standard list, contact the provider after booking and they'll arrange a nearby pickup point.

How long is the tour?

The tour is 4 hours. The exact timing is flexible depending on availability.

What's included with the wine tastings?

Greek cheese, olives, dry bread, and tapas are served alongside the tastings. Transport by air-conditioned private vehicle is included.

Can cruise ship passengers book this tour?

Yes. Cruise passengers are picked up at the cable car upper station (the meeting point for tendered arrivals). Confirm your pickup location when you book.

What's the group size?

Tours are shared groups of 2–10 people, depending on your preference.

When do tours run?

April through November. Departures are available most days, and timing is flexible if availability allows.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour includes a walk through a vineyard on volcanic soil. It's suitable for all fitness levels, but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Can I bring children?

Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. Wine tastings are for adults, but children can accompany the group.

What if my hotel isn't on the pickup list?

Contact the provider after booking with your accommodation details. They'll arrange pickup from a nearby car-accessible location within a short walking distance.