7 Best Santorini Wine Tours: Uncover Island’s Hidden Secrets

🍷🍇😊 Are you looking for the best Santorini wine tours?

Santorini is a magical place with breathtaking views, delicious food and wine – it’s no wonder the island is a bucket list destination for most adventurers.

If you plan on visiting this stunning Greek island, don’t miss out on exploring some of its wonderful wineries. With its unique volcanic climate producing such excellent wines, taking part in one of Santorini’s renowned wine tours is an absolute must-do experience for any wine-loving traveller who wants to get the most out of their trip.

Partaking in a Santorini wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and as wine enthusiasts, we had a great time learning about the wine-making heritage of the island and tasting its most famous produce!

In this post, you will find reviews of the 7 best wine tours in Santorini, and the one we took, which we highly recommend.

Is It Worth Doing A Wine Tour In Santorini?

Taking a Santorini wineries tour is an absolutely incredible experience, one that is totally unmissable for those who enjoy wine.

You will get to explore some of the island’s finest vineyards, learn about Santorini’s long wine-making heritage that goes back to the 17th century BC and taste the unique flavours of mineral-rich local wine.

This is also an excellent opportunity to appreciate the local culture and craftsmanship that goes into each and every bottle. The wine tour will also be a perfect introduction to the island and will give you an idea of what wine you like and which wine to order with dinners during your stay.

The Santorini wine tasting tour is also a great way to celebrate something special, such as a birthday or anniversary. We did it as part of celebrating my birthday, and honestly, I can’t think of a better gift than a fun activity and making memories together (as cheesy as it may sound, it’s true!).

Wine Tours Santorini: At A Glance

Santorini is one of the best destinations for enjoying wine tasting due to the island’s rich wine-making culture. If you’re interested in the history of wine-making on the island, further down, there is a whole section giving more details.

All the Santorini wine tours recommended in this article are highly rated and come with a hotel pick-up and drop-off from most places on the island, so you can freely enjoy your wine and not worry about driving.

Most tours last for about 4-5 hours and include an English-speaking guide, a tour of the wineries and wine tasting paired with local snacks and cheese. The tours in the last section combine wine tasting with other activities, such as a cooking class, beer tasting or food tasting.

Top Pick: Santorini Wineries Tour We Did

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

This wine tasting tour Santorini offers the best value for money and includes 12 wine tastings in three different wineries. The tour size is capped at 10 people, so you can enjoy it in a small group.

This is also the exact Santorini wine tour we took and loved, so we can confidently recommend it to our readers.☺️ We loved how friendly the guide and the driver were and that we could take as long as we wanted at each stop. We also really liked the selection of wineries that also included a smaller, lesser-known one.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

After being picked up from your hotel in Oia, Fira or anywhere else on the island, an air-conditioned minivan will take you to the first stop, only a few minutes drive from Oia. During the drive, your guide briefly introduces the island and its history of wine-making.

The first stop is at Koutsogiannopoulos – The Santorini Wine Museum, where you get to learn even more fascinating facts about the island’s wine and taste the wine itself. After the museum, there are two more winery stops, followed by the final stop at the blue dome in Firostefani village for sunset.

Best Private Wine Tours In Santorini

If you’re looking for the best Santorini private wine tours, this section is for you.

#2 Budget Private Wine Tour Santorini

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

This tour is a great budget option for a private tour that includes a visit to Santo Winery, which has the most spectacular setting of all the wineries in Santorini. We visited Santo Winery separately and were really blown away by the caldera views it boasts.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

After the hotel pick-up, you will drive in a private minivan to the Koutsogiannopoulos Wine Museum, where you self-tour its cellars and learn about the island’s wine-making heritage. You will also have your first wine tasting here.

After the museum, you will visit the fancy Estate Argyros for further wine sampling. And the last stop of the tour is at the incredible Santo Winery, which is the biggest and most famous winery on the island. The tour last 3 to 4 hours.

#3 Best Santorini Wine Tour For Wine Connoisseurs

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

If you’re a wine connoisseur with a deep passion for wine and want a tour with a professional sommelier, then this is the perfect tour for you. This private tour has various starting points between 10 am and 4 pm, so you can combine it with another activity. And this is also an excellent tour for cruise ship passengers.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

After the pick-up at your hotel, airport or at the top of the cable car in Fira (for cruise passengers), you will be transported to the first winery while having a chat about the island and its wine with the knowledgeable sommelier. This tour includes three stops: Gaia Winery, Art Space Wine Museum & Art Gallery, and Venetsanos.

At each winery, you will get a tour of the winery and learn about the techniques used and the wine produced. And, of course, you will taste the wine accompanied by locally produced olives, cheeses, salty nuts and bread sticks. At the last stop, you will also enjoy a tapas platter.

This is the best wine tour Santorini has to offer for passionate wine connoisseurs and an excellent opportunity to talk and learn from a wine expert! The tour lasts around 4 hours.

Best Santorini Sunset Wine Tours

If you’re looking for a wine tasting Santorini is renowned for that includes sunset, here are the top picks:

#4 Private Santorini Wine Tour With Sunset In Oia

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

This private wine tour Santorini has to offer is the perfect choice for cruise ship passengers because, in addition to wine tasting, it includes sunset drinks at a cocktail bar in Oia. If you’re only in Santorini for a day, you must experience its magical sunset!

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

After being picked up either at your hotel or a designated meeting point, if you’re a cruise passenger, your guide will give you a brief overview of the Santorini wine and its unique volcanic climate that make the wine so special. The tour then stops at the wine museum and includes a cellar tour, a wine tasting, and a Venetsanos Winery for another wine tasting.

The last stop is at Sun Spirit Cocktail Bar in Oia, where you will experience the divine Santorini sunset while sipping a wine of your choice.

#5 Best Wine Tour In Santorini For Wine Connoisseurs + Sunset

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

If you’re a passionate wine enthusiast who wants to learn from a knowledgeable expert and enjoy the magnificent Santorini sunset, then this private wine tasting in Santorini is for you. In addition, this tour is fully customisable, so you can choose the wineries you want to visit or trust the experts to select them for you.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

The tour lasts 5 hours and has multiple and flexible starting times, between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm. After the pick-up at your hotel or an agreed meeting point, you will be driven to the first winery for a tour and wine tasting coupled with local cheeses, olives and bread. During the tour, the sommelier will introduce you to the fascinating world of Santorini wine and answer all your questions.

The tour typically ends at Santo – one of the best wineries in Santorini Greece, and the perfect sunset spot boasting epic caldera views.

This sunset wine tour Santorini has to offer is best for wine connoisseurs and enjoying the Santo Winery.

Best Combo Wine Tasting Tours Santorini

Here are the best wine tours Santorini has to offer that, in addition to sampling wine, offer another activity.

#6 Private Cooking Class + Wine Tasting

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

If you’re looking for the best Santorini food and wine tours, this option may be ideal for you. It combines wine tasting and a local cooking class into a fun day trip. It is a perfect activity to celebrate something special like a honeymoon or enjoy it as a family.

The Santorini food and wine tour lasts 6 hours, and the price varies depending on the group size.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

This 6-hour tour of Santorini wineries and cooking class begins with a convenient hotel pick-up. You will be transported to the vineyards of Hatzidakis Winery, where you will learn about the island’s unique winemaking heritage and sample 4 different wines. You will also enjoy a tour of the winery and cellar visit.

The next stop is at Santo Winery for a food and wine pairing and the chance to sample more of the wines from this amazing winery.

The last stop is at Avantis Anhydroys Winery, where you will learn to cook authentic Santorini dishes with the help of a professional chef. After the class, you will feast on the 3-course lunch accompanied by wine!

This is the perfect tour for those wanting to explore both Santorini’s winemaking culture as well as its culinary customs. Don’t forget to take home recipes from this incredible experience!

#7 Santorini Wine Tour + Beer Tasting

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

This tour is an excellent option for travellers that want to enjoy equally wine and beer. It offers superb value for money, and the tour is capped at 8 participants so that you can enjoy personal service in a small group.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

This 4.5-hour tour of Santorini wineries and beer tasting begins with a convenient hotel pick-up. You will be transported to the beer brewery located near Pyrgos, where you will enjoy 3 different tastings and learn about the history of this traditional local beer.

The tour also includes visits to three different wineries, where you will learn about the island’s unique winemaking heritage and sample 4 different wines at each winery. You’ll also enjoy a tour of each winery and cellar visit.

#8 Greek Food + Santorini Winery Tour

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

This tour offers good value for money, combining a food tour and wine tasting into one, and is capped at a maximum of 8 people so that everyone can enjoy an intimate atmosphere.

WHAT’S PROVIDED?

ITINERARY

This 5-hour tour begins with a hotel pick-up or a pick-up from a meeting point, depending on your location. You’ll be taken to two different wineries, where you will learn about the island’s unique winemaking heritage and sample 4 different wines at each winery. You’ll also enjoy a tour of each winery and cellar visit.

Afterwards, you will be taken to a local restaurant for a 3-course dinner. The meal consists of a variety of traditional Santorini dishes, such as Santorini salad, eggplant spread and tzatziki. Vegetarian options are available but don’t forget to contact the tour operator in advance.

History Of Wine In Santorini

Santorini is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, with evidence of winemaking dating back over 3,000 years. Archaeologists found evidence of vine cultivation dating back to the 17th century BC and to the first human settlement on the island of Akrotiri.

Unfortunately, the devastating volcano eruption of 1600 BC destroyed the ancient vineyards, but the inhabitants of Santorini never stopped cultivating the vines.

When wine production started to exceed the needs of the local population, Santorini started to export the wine and trade it in exchange for other goods. Since then, the wine-making was in the centre of the economic and cultural life of the island.

What Kind Of Wine Is Santorini Known For?

Santorini is known for its unique volcanic terroir, extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night, lack of rain and strong winds.

The vines of Santorini can withstand droughts, and they are one of the few plants whose roots can penetrate the island’s volcanic soil deep enough to benefit from the water reservoirs. The island’s vine cultivators use a special pruning technique known as “basket”, which involves arranging the brunches into a basket to protect the grapes from strong winds and extreme heat.

Santorini is mostly known for its white wine, and there are various indigenous grapes unique to the island, including Assyrtiko, Nykteri, Athiri, and Aidani.

The wines produced here are characterized by high acidity, minerality and high alcohol content. The total vineyard area covers more than 15,000 hectares of volcanic soil.

The island’s most famous wines are Assyrtiko, which is a dry white wine and dessert wine – Vinsanto.

What Are The Best Wineries In Santorini?

The best wineries in Santorini include Boutari Winery, Gavalas Winery, Hatzidakis Winery and Santo Wines. Each winery offers a unique experience – from an exclusive underground tasting room to traditional architecture with stunning panoramic views over the Caldera.

The 3 top wineries in Santorini that we can recommend are:

Santo – excellent for sunset and caldera views.

Koutsogiannopoulos – which includes a fun museum set in a massive bunker.

Estate Argyros – boasts modern and chic facilities.

Santorini is a paradise for wine lovers and has some of the best wines in Greece, so make sure to include it in your travel plans if you’re visiting! 🍷🍇😊

How To Visit Santorini Wineries Independently

The most convenient way to visit the best Santorini wineries is by taking a tour. Tours are organized in small groups and offer the perfect opportunity to learn about wine production while sampling some of the island’s finest wines.

But, if you opt to tour the wineries independently, you can rent a car, but you must remember that if you do so, you will need a designated driver who abstains from drinking alcohol.

If you want to use the local bus, the best winery to visit is Santo Wines, with a nearby bus stop. You can also combine a visit to Santo Wines with the picturesque village of Pyrgos.

Finally, you can also do a self-guided wine tour of Santorini using taxis, but it’s the least economical option.

Santorini Wine Tours: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to the wineries in Santorini?

The best way to visit the wineries in Santorini is to take a guided tour. This is because it ensures that you get to explore the various different wineries in the region with an expert guide who can provide insider knowledge and recommendations on how best to savour each specific wine.

However, if you prefer a more independent approach, it’s possible to rent a car or take a taxi between vineyards and tastings – although this will require some planning ahead of time, and the driver will be limited on how much wine they can have.

How many wineries does Santorini have?

Santorini has over 20 different wineries – each of which offers a unique experience and selection of wines. These range from small, family-run vineyards to larger commercial operations that are capable of producing thousands of bottles every year.

How long does a wine tour in Santorini take?

The length of a wine tour in Santorini typically ranges from 4 to 5 hours. It includes pick-up from your hotel, guided tours of wineries, and tasting of wines and other local products.

Some Santorini wine tours may include an extra activity, such as a cooking class or visiting a restaurant for lunch. The entire experience can take several hours, depending on the tour type and what destinations it covers.

Santorini Wine Tours: Final Word

Santorini is a unique place that offers one-of-a-kind experiences, and its amazing wines are no exception. Whether you’re looking for a guided tour with an expert or just want to explore independently – both options are available, and either can be a great way to discover Santorini’s incredible wines!

What we loved about Santorini wine tasting is that it is not just made up for tourists, but wine-making is an integral part of the island’s history and culture. So, if you’re considering doing at least one wine tour in Greece, there is no better place than Santorini.

We hope this review of the best Santorini wine tours has been helpful to you and that you enjoy your trip to one of the world’s top-rated wine destinations. Cheers!

Happy tasting! 🍷🍇😊