Wine Tours and Tastings in Santorini

With a winemaking history that goes back over 3,500 years, the residents of Santorini have had plenty of time to master the art of viniculture. Passed down over the centuries, winemaking is still a popular pastime on the island, with volcanic soil aiding in keeping the lands fertile with juicy Assyrtiko grapes.

Wine tours and tastings in Santorini enable you to sample this fruity, and sweet beverage and learn all about the techniques that have been handed down over time.

Here's all you need to know about wine tours, some of the most delightful gastronomic experiences in Santorini.

What are the best wine tours and tastings in Santorini?

Santorini wine tour with tapas

One of the best ways to experience Santorini’s diverse history is through its local wines, which have been perfected over many centuries.

After meeting your guide, you’ll journey into the countryside of Santorini to an esteemed wine estate, conversing along the way about the history of winemaking in the area, which stretches back to ancient times.

You’ll travel to three different estates and tour each facility, learning about the process, from grape to bottle. You’ll also sample several variations of the tipple at each winery, where you can compare the delicate notes and buy a bottle of your favorite.

Local wine varieties you can taste include Vinsanto dessert wine, as well as the crisp and refreshing Assyrtiko. Alongside sampling wines, you’ll also be provided with traditional snacks from this corner of the earth, which include fresh olives and doughy bread.

Sunset wine tour in Santorini

If you want to create everlasting memories of your Santorini vacation, consider participating in an afternoon tour and witnessing a famous Greek sunset.

Beginning in the afternoon, this Santorini wine tour also takes you to explore three different wineries across the island. You can discover tipples that are crafted from grapes native to this part of Greece, such as Assyrtiko, and have the unique experience of visiting a volcanic vineyard.

Reaching your last winery atop one of the steep hills of Santorini, you’ll be blessed with a vibrant sunset, which you can toast with your group.

Santorini wine museum and tasting tour

Alternatively, educate yourself on winemaking through the ages by visiting Santorini’s wine museum.

Upon reaching the Santorini Wine Museum, you’ll be provided with an audio headset to enjoy a guided tour around the facility, located within a historic cave. Wander at your own leisure to discover traditional tools and techniques used to create the tipple in the Middle Ages.

From there, you’ll continue on to a family-run winery where you’ll embark on a wine-tasting adventure, sampling both popular and more unusual Santorini wines, including Assyrtiko, and Ambelones.

Are there any combos available with wine tours in Santorini?

Private cooking class and wine tasting tour in Santorini

Begin this combination tour by visiting two separate wineries in order to explore the process behind winemaking and sample different beverages. Once you’ve wet your whistle, you’ll learn to prepare traditional Greek dishes, such as caramelized pork fillet and juicy tomato fritters, in a private Santorini cooking class.

Taste your creations alongside your loved ones over another glass of wine and take your new-found skills home with you to impress your friends, and family for years to come.

Santorini highlights tour plus wine tasting

As part of a small group numbering 10 or fewer, you’ll head to the picturesque village of Oia where you can get lost in a maze of cobblestone streets and white-washed buildings.

Moving on, you’ll visit several of Santorini’s most celebrated landmarks, which include the 16th-century village of Pyrgos and the Monastery of Prophet Elias, which is the highest point on the island. Once you’ve explored these exceptional attractions, you’ll participate in a four-course wine-tasting session amid pristine rows of grapes.

Santorini boat tour with dinner and wine tasting

Alternatively, explore the crystalline seas of the Aegean while sipping on sumptuous local wines on a Santorini boat tour. You’ll stop along your route to discover the bustling array of life forms under the calm surface of the sea, and jump for a snorkeling session and bathe in the thermal waters of Palea Kameni.

Dine on a traditional feast, which includes stuffed vine leaves and Greek salad, alongside a refreshing glass of cool white wine before sailing slowly back to Santorini.

Which places are visited?

Wine-tasting tours happen across the island of Santorini. Historical excavations from the ancient town of Akrotiri show evidence of winemaking as far back as 3,500 years ago, and this is known to have been an important trade at the time.

Today, there are more than 20 different wineries across the isle all offering visitors a look into their own unique way of creating the popular beverage.

The most-grown grape in Santorini is Assyrtiko, which is indigenous to this corner of Greece and creates some of the most luxurious, and expensive white wines, which can be dry or sweet, depending on the bottle.

The majority of wineries are located in the center, near to the capital of Fira or the town of Kamari.

How much do wine tours and tastings in Santorini cost?

Wine tours and tastings in Santorini vary significantly in price, depending on the additional activities you may participate in.

The most budget-friendly excursions are those that explore the island’s wine museum, followed by a tasting session in a local winery. This experience typically costs around €20 per person.

A small-group sightseeing tour of Santorini that includes a wine-tasting session costs approximately €90 each. If you choose a boat tour with wine, you’ll pay around €100 per person.

A sunset Santorini wine tour costs approximately €150 per person and those that include tapas also cost the same. Alternatively, you can pay €450 each for a private wine tour and cooking class.

What is included?

Santorini wine tours and tastings typically include your admission fees for each vineyard, as well as between 12 and 15 tastings. Generally, you’ll also be provided with a platter of local snacks or tapas to enjoy while sipping on your beverages.

If you opt for a Santorini Wine Museum tour, you can expect your entry fee to be included, as well as an audio guide in over 20 languages and four tastings.

Combination wine-tasting tours and cooking classes provide you with all of the fresh ingredients, and expert guidance needed to create a three-course meal to enjoy dining on once you’ve finished.

Boat tours also provide you with snorkeling equipment so that you can explore the ocean’s abundant marine life.

Where does it start?

Some wine tasting tours in Santorini begin at the location of the excursion, such as the Santorini Wine Museum. However, most offer a convenient accommodation pickup service from hotels across the island.

You’ll simply wait in the lobby of your hotel at a pre-determined time to be collected by your friendly guide. All transportation is taken care of for you, making for a seamless trip, and you’ll be dropped back at your hotel later in the day.

How long does it last?

The majority of wine tours and tastings in Santorini last between 4, and 5 hours. This gives you plenty of time to visit between two and three wineries, and vineyards, sampling a wide variety of tipples.

When is the best time for a wine tour or tasting in Santorini?

The majority of wine tours and tastings in Santorini run between March, and November. However, the island is a popular vacation destination and as such can get overcrowded during the height of summer. Because of this, wineries may be packed during this time of year.

Instead, you should consider heading to the island and participating in your excursion during the shoulder months of May, June or September when conditions are balmy, and you can enjoy a more tranquil experience.

Travel tips

• Wine tours and tastings in Santorini fill up fast during the summertime so book yours as far in advance as possible.
• Bring identification with you on your excursion to prove that you are legally allowed to indulge in the wines on offer.
• If you’re short on time, consider choosing a combination tour that includes other popular landmarks and activities, and provides you with a well-rounded view of what the island offers.