Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Santorini’s wine country is more unusual than its postcard views suggest. On this half-day outing, you taste at least 12 wines and 3 local beers while learning why the island’s grapes grow in low, basket-shaped vines amid volcanic soil. The brewery adds a welcome change of pace before the more serious wine tasting begins.

I like the mix of three very different wineries, from Art Space’s underground cellars and art setting to the polished Estate Argyros. I also like the easy transport, local cheese and bread pairings, and guides such as Billy, John, Panos, and Yiannis, who often add useful history about Santorini. The main drawback is the price, $200 per person, and the tasting schedule can feel full if you prefer to linger.

Key points at a glance

• Four drinks stops in 4.5 hours: Begin with three local beers, then visit Art Space, Estate Argyros, and a final winery.
• Santorini’s unusual grapes: Learn how volcanic soil, dry conditions, and basket-trained vines shape the island’s wines.
• Food with the glasses: Cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek snacks help balance the alcohol.
• Strong transport arrangements: Pickup and drop-off are available from 16 Santorini locations in a clean, comfortable van.
• Guides add more than wine talk: Billy, John, Panos, and Yiannis have been praised for island stories, photos, patience, and local suggestions.
• The final winery may change: Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos can be used, depending on availability.

Why Santorini wine is worth your afternoon

Santorini is a good place to learn about wine because the local method is shaped by tough conditions. The island’s volcanic soil, limited rainfall, and strong winds have encouraged growers to train vines close to the ground in protective basket forms. The result is a wine tradition that looks and tastes different from the vineyards many people know.

The focus is not just on sipping and moving on. At the wineries, you hear about local grape species and the methods used to turn them into wine. The guides and winery staff explain the work behind the bottle, including the use of traditional farming practices at Estate Argyros.

The most important local grape is likely to be Assyrtiko, though the exact wines poured can vary. You may taste crisp whites, sweeter styles, and other Santorini wines with different textures and levels of acidity. The point is not to memorize every label. It is to understand why Santorini wine has such a distinct identity.

The food pairings matter, too. Small servings of cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek delicacies give you something to eat between tastings. This makes the afternoon more comfortable, especially since the advertised total reaches 15 drinks.

The brewery makes a smart first stop

The day begins at Santorini Brewing Company, often associated with the Crazy Donkey beers. You are scheduled to taste three local beers, making this more than a token stop for anyone who prefers hops to grapes.

This opening visit works well because it starts the outing in a relaxed way. You can learn about a local brewery, try the beer range, and ease into the day before settling into longer winery presentations. The brewery is also a useful part of the experience for couples or groups with mixed interests.

A small caution: the exact beer tasting can vary. One couple received two beers rather than three and had a bonus sightseeing stop instead. That does not appear to be the normal promise, but it shows that the day may be adjusted in practice.

If you are mainly booking for wine, the brewery should be treated as an extra rather than the reason to go. If you enjoy both beer and wine, it gives the tour better balance than a wine-only route.

Art Space combines wine, cellars, and art

After a short drive, the group reaches Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia. This stop is set in a picturesque village and is described as one of Greece’s best wineries. Its character is different from the newer, more polished estate that follows.

The underground cellars are a key part of the visit. They help explain how wine was traditionally stored and produced on Santorini, and they give the stop a sense of place that you cannot get from a tasting room alone. The property also includes an art gallery, adding a cultural layer to the wine experience.

Art Space is a good stop for anyone who wants more than a row of glasses on a table. You may hear about the building, the cellar spaces, local artists, and the winery’s place in Santorini’s wine story. Panos and other winery hosts have been praised for making this part lively rather than formal.

Allow about an hour here. That is enough time for a tasting, a cellar visit, and an explanation of the wine methods. If you want to photograph the setting, do it early, since the schedule continues quickly.

Estate Argyros shows the modern side of Santorini wine

The next stop is Estate Argyros, reached after another short drive. This winery offers a more modern look, but its farming remains tied to older methods. That contrast is one of the strongest parts of the tour.

You learn how traditional practices continue alongside newer facilities. The estate uses mules to plow some fields and grape byproducts to enrich the soil. These details turn an abstract discussion about sustainability and tradition into something you can picture.

The tasting lasts about 75 minutes, so this is not a quick pour-and-go visit. You have time to compare wines and ask questions about the grape varieties, production, and the differences between Santorini’s smaller and larger wine operations.

The setting also gives you another view of the island’s vineyards. Several people have valued the chance to see how the vines differ from those in other wine regions. That is especially useful if you have visited vineyards elsewhere and want to understand what makes Santorini unusual.

Estate Argyros may feel more polished than Art Space. That is not a weakness, but it does mean the three winery stops are not all the same. The change in mood keeps the route from becoming repetitive.

The final winery depends on the day

The last wine stop is usually Anhydrous Cellar Door, but the route can instead include Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery, depending on availability. This is worth noting before you book. You are paying for the style and scope of the tour, not one fixed final cellar.

Anhydrous is listed for another 75-minute tasting. It provides a relaxed finish after the earlier visits, with more time to compare what you have learned. The final stop may also be the place where you settle into the social side of the outing, particularly if you are traveling with a small group.

Venetsanos, Hatzidakis, and Artemis Karamolegos each offer a different possible setting, but the provided details do not guarantee which one you will see. Ask at booking if a particular winery matters to you. If the exact name is less important than tasting a broad range of Santorini wine, the flexible arrangement should not be a concern.

The final drive back can take around 30 minutes. Pickup and drop-off are offered in many parts of the island, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Megalochori, Akrotiri, Perissa, Kamari, and several other villages.

The guides are a major part of the value

The tour’s strongest human element is its guiding. Billy is frequently praised for his warmth, wine knowledge, humor, patience, and ability to explain Santorini beyond the tasting room. John, also called Giannis or Yiannis in some accounts, is noted for island information, photography help, careful driving, and thoughtful suggestions.

Panos is another name that comes up often. He has been described as friendly, funny, and good at keeping the group comfortable while allowing enough time at each stop. Nikolaas and Nick have also been praised for their wine knowledge, conversation, and flexibility.

You should not assume you will receive a particular guide, since the assigned person can change. Still, the repeated emphasis on guide quality is important. A wine tour can easily become a series of technical talks. Here, the guide often connects the wineries with Santorini’s wider story and helps the afternoon feel personal.

Several private or nearly private outings happened simply because the group was small on the day. That is a pleasant possibility, not a guarantee. The tour allows private or small-group bookings, so check the option that suits you if personal attention matters.

Transport makes the tasting practical

Pickup and drop-off remove one of the biggest problems with a winery visit: getting between rural properties without driving after drinking. The tour uses a van, with some groups receiving a clean Mercedes Sprinter or a comfortable private vehicle.

The listed route includes about 30 minutes of driving at the start, short five-minute transfers between the first winery stops, a 15-minute transfer before the final winery, and around 30 minutes back toward drop-off. Those drives break up the tastings and let you see more of Santorini without trying to navigate yourself.

Air conditioning and water are particularly useful in the hot months. The transport has also helped couples and small groups who would otherwise depend on public transport or designate someone to avoid drinking.

The pickup area is broad, but you should confirm your exact meeting point and time. The experience is offered in English, and the duration is about 4.5 hours. It is long enough to feel substantial but short enough to fit into a busy Santorini stay.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is not a cheap tasting. The value depends on how you would otherwise arrange the day.

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, three winery visits, a brewery visit, at least 12 wines, three beers, cheese pairings, and a guide. You are also paying for the transport between scattered locations and for a driver who does not need to sit out the tastings.

A self-guided day might cost less if you only want one or two tastings. It would also require arranging transport, checking opening times, and making sure someone drives safely. This tour becomes better value if you want a broad sample of Santorini wine without handling those details yourself.

The price is harder to justify if you do not drink much, dislike structured tastings, or would rather spend a full day at one estate. The schedule is built around variety, not a slow lunch or a long vineyard walk.

The food is a useful part of the calculation. The snacks are not presented as a full meal, but cheese, bread, vegetables, dips, and related pairings keep the tastings from feeling empty. Plan another meal before or after the tour.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this outing if you want an efficient introduction to Santorini’s wine culture and do not have a car. It suits couples, small groups, wine beginners, and people who enjoy comparing different settings and production styles.

It also works well for a mixed beer and wine group. The brewery gives beer drinkers a clear reason to come, while the three wineries provide enough variety for serious wine fans.

You may want another type of activity if you are pregnant, have heart problems, use a wheelchair, or do not drink alcohol. Pets and smoking are not allowed. The tastings may also be tiring for anyone who finds several stops in one afternoon too much.

For a cruise visitor, timing deserves extra care. One group had to cut the experience short because the ship was leaving, though the team arranged a special lift back to the dock. Do not rely on that flexibility. Build in plenty of time between the tour’s expected end and your ship departure.

Booking details worth knowing

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Santorini schedule is still changing.

The experience has a 4.9 rating from 232 reviews, with particularly strong marks for transport and guiding. That does not remove the normal limits of a group tour: the exact winery lineup, guide, tasting order, and group size may vary.

I would ask two questions before confirming: which final winery is currently planned, and whether the group will be private or shared. If you have a special occasion, mention it. Guides have helped with photos and added small personal touches for birthdays and honeymoons, though those extras are not guaranteed.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to taste widely, learn how Santorini wine is made, and avoid driving between wineries. The mix of brewery, underground cellar, modern estate, local snacks, and island commentary gives you more than a basic tasting flight.

Skip it if you want a quiet single-estate visit, a full meal, or a low-cost activity. At $200, the best value comes from using the transport, tasting many wines, and taking advantage of the guides’ local knowledge.

For most wine-curious visitors, I would place it near the start of a Santorini stay. You will leave with a better sense of the island’s villages, grape-growing methods, and the bottles worth ordering later.

FAQ

How long does the Santorini winery and brewery tour last?

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours, including transportation between stops.

How many drinks are included?

The experience includes tastings of at least 12 different wines and 3 local beers. The exact beer tasting can vary on some days.

Which wineries are included?

The planned route includes Art Space Winery and Estate Argyros. The final stop may be Anhydrous Cellar Door, Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery, depending on availability.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with locations available across many Santorini villages, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Perissa, and Kamari.

Is food included with the tastings?

Yes. Cheese pairing is included, along with snacks such as dry bread and other Greek delicacies at the tasting stops.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide service is offered in English.

Can I book a private tour?

Private and small-group options are available. The exact group arrangement depends on the option and date selected.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.