If you are looking for the best Santorini wine tour on your visit to the beautiful Greek Island then this post has you covered. I spent some time in Santorini with my family with the goal of exploring the best things to do on the island. One of those things was to check out the best wineries in Santorini to share with those planning a visit.
Whether you are planning a honeymoon in Santorini or a vacation with your family, there is a way to find something for everyone. If a Santorini wine tour is on your to-do list, then this comprehensive post will give you everything you need to know about the best wine tours in Santorini and information on how to book them!
The Best Santorini Wine Tour Options worth your Money
Santorini wines are known around the world, and it is for good reason.
The climate is ideal for grapes and wine has been made in Santorini for thousands of years.
It was in the Middle Ages that Santorini really became famous for wine and things have not changed much since then! Santorini is one of the most beautiful places in the world and often referred to as the Napa Valley of Greece.
The vineyards are plenty and there are hundreds of restaurants to enjoy a great bottle!
So if you want to ensure that your trip to Santorini includes a visit to at least one Santorini winery check out these tour options below! If you are visiting Santorini in winter, or the shoulder season, this is a popular thing to do.
Because these are small group tours, if you are visiting between June and September, I recommend booking them in advance so that your specific dates do not sell out. Before you do visit, keep these wine tasting tour tips in mind!
Santorini Half Day Wine Adventure Tour
This half day wine tour is is small group tour with a maximum of 8 people!
It really is what small group or semi private tours should be! On your 4 hour tour, you will be picked up from your hotel and you will visit 2 or 3 traditional wineries including the opportunity to stroll through a vinyard and get a feel for the volcanic soil and climate that makes growing grapes so ideal. You will see the basket vines and the unique style of production.
You will learn about and try some of the local Santorini wine style including Assyrtiko, Nykteri and Vinsanto.
In Spring and Summer (May 15th – Sept 30th) enjoy a sunset tour with an afternoon departure time visiting Boutari Winery or Estate Argyros, Gavalas traditional winery and finish at Venetsanos Winery for the sunset overlooking the Caldara. White and dessert wines are largely featured in these tastings.
Between April 1 and Nov 10th a daytime tour route is available visiting Boutari Winery, Gavalas Winery and Estate Argyros or Artemis Karamolegos.
CLICK TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE: Santorini Half Day Wine Adventure Tour
Santorini 4-Hour Small Group Wine Tasting Tour
This tour is a small group wine tasting tour in Santorini visits three wineries as you learn about the 3500 year history of wine making on Santorini.
You will see the basket vines that are synonymous in the region and the unique volcanic soil. Your expert guide will give insights into the local viticulture in Santorini as you visit either the Argyros Estate or Art Space Winery, the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum and either the Venetsanos Winery or Gavalas Estates.
This tour will pick you up from your hotel and you will be transported in an air conditioned van during your tour.
This is a true small group experience with a maximum of 12 people. You will learn about and try some of the local Santorini wine style including Assyrtiko, Nykteri and Vinsanto.
CLICK TO BOOK: Santorini 4-Hour Wine Tasting Tour
Santorini Wine Roads with a Sommelier
This Santorini Wine Roads Tour visits three family estate wineries where you will learn about local wine cultivating techniques and see the basket vines and the volcanic soil conditions on the island.
This tour has a maximum of 10 people giving you a small tour feel and is accompanied by a Sommelier.
The Kouloura method of growing and cultivation will be explained to you, as well as other aspects of wine making, tailored to your level of wine knowledge.
While visiting the three wineries on your tour you will also be able to enjoy local snacks from the region.
This tour does not list the wineries that will be visited as it will be determined the day of the tour. Their goal is to give you a relaxing experience and want to avoid the crowds as much as possible. This tour begins at 10am but does not include lunch. Young children are not permitted on this tour.
CLICK TO BOOK: Santorini Wine Roads Tour
Santorini Highlights with Wine Tasting
If you want to combine a tour of Santorini with a bit of wine tasting then the Santorini Highlights with Wine Tasting is a great choice giving you the wineries in Santorini Greece and the highlights of Oia, Pyrgos and more.
This tour starts at the bus station in Fira.
This Santorini wine tour is not just about wine. You will visit the traditional villages of Oia, Pyrgos and Meglalochori. With your guide you will navigate the whitewashed streets with beautifully colored bougainvilleas draped over walls and archways.
This tour then visits the highest point in Santorini, the Prophet Elias Monastery for more panoramic views of the majestic island.
The last stop is the Venetsanos Winery that overlooks the caldera in time for the sunset and you will get an overview of wine making in Santorini
CLICK TO BOOK: Santorini Highlights with Wine Tasting at Venetsanos Winery
Santorini Small Group Morning Tour with Wine Tasting
This Santorini Small Group with Wine Tasting tour offers hotel pickup (or for cruise ship passengers pick up at the top of the cable car) and has a maximum of 12 passengers.
It is a morning tour beginning at 9:30 (ensure you check the details when you book).
Santorini really knows how to do small group tours offering a much more intimate experience with a professional guide in a comfortable vehicle!
This tour offers a visit to Oia to see the stunning view of the Caldera and Aegean Sea. It also includes a stop in Firostefani to see the popular blue domed church that you see in so many photos (like the photo above!)
You will then visit the highest point on the island, Prophet Ilias Monestary as well as the village of Pyrgos. The last stop is to enjoy wine at Venetsanos winery before being dropped off back at your hotel or a nearby location to enjoy the rest of your day.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK: Small Group Santorini Tour with Wine Tasting
What to Pack on Your Santorini Wine Tour
If you are visiting in the hot summer months, make sure you have sunscreen and a hat.
It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and do not forget your camera to capture the stunning scenery of the Santorini wineries and the Caldera views during your tour!
Further Information on visiting Santorini:
If you have just begun the planning process for your trip, there are a few things to keep in mind about visiitng this beautiful island. The first things is safety! Overall Santorini is very safe to visit, but read these Santorini safety tips before your visit. Secondly, you wil want to read the best time to go to Santorini to learn about crowds and shoulder seasons.
Santorini can be fully enjoyed in just a few days. Why not take advantage of other Islands as well. To get the most out of your time on the island, I have put together a great 2 days in Santorini itinerary that can be extended to a few more days if you want to enjoy more time on the Island or it gives you everything to see in two days before island hopping elsewhere.
There is so much more to Santorini and I have written a complete guide to everything you need to know about Santorini in my Santorini Blog.
Lastly, there are plenty of things to buy in Greece so check out this list of the best Greek souvenirs before your visit so you know what to keep an eye out for.
Photo Credits: Santorini Caldara Views by Navin75, Santorini Sunset by Pedro Szekely
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have young children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.