If you enjoy a good glass of wine, Santorini will make you very happy. This small volcanic island produces some of the most distinctive wines in the world, not just in Greece, and the story behind them is as interesting as the wines themselves. Plan at least one winery visit into your itinerary. You won’t regret it.

The soil in Santorini

After the cataclysmic volcanic eruption of around 1645 BC, the entire island was buried under lava, ash, and pumice stone. Out of that disaster came something unexpected: soil that turned out to be almost perfect for growing grapes. The vines grow on the eastern slopes of the caldera’s edge, all the way down to sea level near the famous black beaches.

What makes this soil so special is its ability to retain moisture. The volcanic ash absorbs the humidity that builds up overnight, giving the vines just enough water to survive the scorching summer temperatures without irrigation. And because the winds in Santorini are notoriously strong, the vines are trained into a low basket shape, a technique called koulara, which protects the grapes and concentrates their flavors. It’s a farming method that looks almost prehistoric and works beautifully.

The wines of Santorini

The undisputed star of Santorini wine is Asyrtiko ( also spelled Assyrtiko ) which accounts for around 75-80% of the island’s vineyard area. It produces dry white wines with a striking combination of high acidity, high alcohol, and a mineral, smoky character that comes directly from the volcanic soil. Hints of citrus, sea salt, and flint are typical. Traditionally it’s blended with Aidani Aspro and Athiri, though single-varietal Asyrtiko has become increasingly prestigious and is now replanted in other parts of Greece, though without quite the same magic as the original.

For something sweeter, Vinsanto is the one to try. Made from sun-dried grapes, left out for around ten days to concentrate their sugars, it’s naturally sweet, occasionally fortified, and must be barrel-aged for at least two years. The result is a rich, complex dessert wine with aromas of chocolate, honey, dried apricots, and flowers, and a lower alcohol content than you might expect. Mezzo is a lighter dessert wine in the same family, less sweet than Vinsanto and a good entry point if you’re not usually a dessert wine person.

Santorini isn’t known for its reds, but that’s slowly changing. Mavrotragano in particular has had something of a comeback in recent years and is gaining real recognition in premium wine production. Mandilaria is another red cultivar worth knowing, often used in blends.

The wineries of Santorini

There are over 20 wineries on the island, which is remarkable given its size. The major names include Santo Wines, Boutaris, Estate Argyros, Sigalas, Gavalas, Hatzidakis, and Volcan Wines, the latter also home to the island’s Wine Museum. For a more intimate experience, Art Space Winery near Exo Gonia is built into a centuries-old cave and doubles as an art gallery; it consistently comes up as a favorite among visitors who stumble across it.

The Wine Museum

The Koutsogiannopoulos Wine Museum in Vothonas is worth a visit even if you’re not a dedicated wine enthusiast. Set eight meters underground in a naturally carved cave, it takes you through the history of winemaking on the island in a 300-meter labyrinthine chamber. The audio guide covers everything from the Bronze Age to modern production methods, and there’s a wine tasting included at the end.

The museum is open April through October from 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 7pm on Sundays. From November to March hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. Separate tickets for the museum are not available; it can only be visited as part of a wine tasting experience. Standard packages (which include museum entry, an audio guide, and a tasting of 4 wines) start at €30 per person. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Wine tours

If you want to visit more than one winery without spending half the day figuring out the back roads, an organized tour is the smart option. Most run around four to four and a half hours and include stops at three wineries, wine tastings, and a platter of local snacks. Some tours add a sunset stop with caldera views. If that’s your thing, book it early because those sell out fast, especially between May and September.

For something more flexible, private tours are available and worth considering if you have specific interests, such as organic wines, cave cellars, or simply not wanting to share the experience with a busload of strangers. There are also combination options that pair winery visits with a cooking class, which is a fun way to spend a full day.

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