Wine from Santorini, Greece is like no other wine in the world. Wine tasting is a natural part of vacations to the Cyclades, but Santorini wine is said to be the best wine in all of Greece. What makes it so special is the volcanic soil from which the grapevines grow, adding to its fine, rich taste.
The island has a long history of making wine — about 3,000 years — so there are many wineries, and therefore opportunity for wine tasting in Santorini. Here you can find both Mantilaria red wine, the famous sun-dried Vinsanto wine, and a number of wines in between. The best way to experience all the wine that Santorini has to offer is to take a Santorini wine tour.
Vineyards & Wineries
Santorini has a rich landscape which makes it perfect for vineyards, and the volcanic soil caused by ancient eruptions of the Santorini volcano allow for fertile vine growth. The village of Megalochori is home to some of Santorini’s finest vineyards. It’s these vineyards that make Megalochori one of the loveliest villages in Santorini. Megalochori is also reasonably untouched by tourists, offering a more peaceful experience for your Santorini wine tour.
The village of Exo Gonia also has a few popular vineyards, including one that has an art gallery built into its wine caves. There are even wineries in some of the more heavily populated villages in Santorini, such as Oia and Fira. You may be able to find an opportunity for wine tasting in Santorini near your own hotel.
In touring these wineries you can see not just the vineyards themselves but the caves where the wine is stored and fermented. And just because the kids can’t drink wine doesn’t mean that wine tours can’t be part of your Santorini family holidays. Watching the process of how wine is made and traversing the wine caves can be exciting for kids as well as adults.
Wine Museums
If you want a more educational experience, especially for family holidays, you can even visit a wine museum in Santorini. With a wine museum, you can have the full experience. Not only will you be able to explore wine caves and see how wine is made, but you can learn about the history of wine in Santorini. You can find a wine museum in Santorini in Fira, or book a Santorini wine tour that includes a trip to a Santorini wine museum.
Other Santorini Wine Tours
Vineyards and wineries or museums may be the most common wine tours in Santorini, but you do have options. Boat tours are also common, taking advantage of the deep blue waters of the surrounding Aegean Sea. Take a caldera tour by boat and watch the sun go down over Oia with a wine tasting in Santorini. Santorini also has a several half-day wine tours and wine tastings over a span of 4-5 hours.
If you can afford it or book early enough, you can beat the crowds with a private or semi-private tour. And even without a tour, you can taste some Santorini wine favorites at any number of restaurants in Oia or Fira. You can even share a bottle of red wine on the balcony of one of the Santorini caldera hotels, like Strogili Traditional Houses. It might be a tour itself, but after a day of wine tours, it’s quite a soft ending to the day.
Where to Stay
Whether searching for accommodation in Santorini for yourself, you and a significant other, or with the whole family, Oia, Santorini hotels tend to be the way to go. It’s right in the heart of things, with easy access to the bus so you can easily make your way wherever you need to go on the island.
Oia itself is full of restaurants, shops, and tavernas, and hotels like Strogili Traditional Houses offer splendid views of the Santorini caldera that are hard to find anywhere else. You can even find a Santorini wine tour or two that starts in Oia Santorini, so you’ll be conveniently located.
A Santorini holiday isn’t just about sight, but taste, and the many wine tours in Santorini will ensure that you have a holiday full of the most delicious sips. Book your room at Strogili Traditional Houses and then book a place with a Santorini wine tour today.
