Santorini Wine Tour: Taste 12 best wines & 3 beers with pairings

Santorini’s best drink is not always served beside a sunset view. This afternoon tour takes you into the island’s wine country, where Assyrtiko grapes grow in basket-shaped vines and old wine caves sit alongside modern tasting rooms. You also stop at a craft brewery for three local beers.

I like the easy hotel pickup and the generous tasting list: up to 12 wines, three beers, and snacks at several stops. I also like the mix of places, from the serious wine production at Estate Argyros to the art-filled underground rooms at Art Space. The main catch is that the exact wineries can vary, and some tastings may feel rushed or crowded.

Key points to know before booking

• Four drink-focused stops: Visit three wineries and Santorini Brewing Company during a 4 to 5-hour afternoon outing.
• A wide tasting range: The tour includes 12 wines and three beers, with snacks served at several locations.
• Pickup takes the driving out of your hands: The tour begins around 3 p.m., when the afternoon heat starts to ease.
• The winery lineup can change: Estate Argyros, Art Space, and Anhydrous Winery are listed stops, but the exact locations may depend on availability.
• Guide quality matters here: Billy, John, Nicholas, Nick, Elena, Giannis, and Peros have all been praised for adding island stories and good humor.
• Small group, but check the size: The tour is promoted for a maximum of eight, while other tour details state a maximum of 10, and one account describes a larger group.

Why Santorini wine deserves an afternoon

Santorini’s wine culture is shaped by tough conditions. The island’s volcanic soil, strong winds, and dry climate have produced a distinctive style of viticulture. The native Assyrtiko grape is the star, usually making crisp white wines with firm acidity and a mineral character.

The vines are often trained close to the ground in low baskets. This unusual shape helps protect the fruit from wind and harsh sun. You will not simply be sipping generic Greek wine at these stops. The point is to taste how Santorini’s soil and weather affect what is in your glass.

The tour is a good choice if you want more context than a restaurant pour can provide. At the wineries, you can see production areas, hear about local methods, and compare wines from different producers. The range also gives you a better sense of the island’s styles, from fresh whites to sweeter or more structured bottles.

This is an afternoon tour, beginning at about 3 p.m. That timing works well in Santorini. You avoid spending the hottest part of the day in a vehicle, and the final stops may lead into the softer light of early evening. One account also describes catching sunset in Fira after the winery visits, though that should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every departure.

Estate Argyros: a serious first taste

Estate Argyros is scheduled as the first stop, with about an hour for a winery visit and tasting. Starting here makes sense. You can learn the basic story of Santorini wine before moving on to the brewery and the other wine producers.

Expect this to be one of the more structured stops. You will tour the winery and taste several wines rather than simply sit down for one glass. The longer visit gives you time to ask questions, compare bottles, and get a feel for how the island’s wine is made.

I like having a full hour here because a wine tasting can become a blur when every stop is short. The drawback is that the tour covers a lot in one afternoon, so the actual pace may depend on transfers, group size, and how busy each tasting room is.

If you care about wine more than simply drinking with a view, pay attention during this stop. It gives you useful background for the wines later in the day. You may also want to note which bottles appeal to you early, since the later visits may offer different versions of the same local grape.

Santorini Brewing Company: three beers in 15 minutes

The brewery stop is short, listed at about 15 minutes, but it adds welcome variety. You taste three local beers: Red, Yellow, and Crazy Donkey.

That last name is easy to remember, but the bigger value is the change of pace. After wine talk, beer gives your palate a reset. The stop also helps show that Santorini’s drink culture is broader than its famous vineyards.

Do not expect a full brewery tour in 15 minutes. This is a tasting stop, not a long look at brewing equipment or production methods. If beer is your main interest, you may wish it lasted longer. If you are primarily booking for wine, the short visit is enough to add another local flavor without taking over the afternoon.

The inclusion of three beers is especially useful for couples or mixed groups. One person can enjoy the wine while another gets a proper taste of Santorini’s craft beer scene. The tour handles the driving, so nobody in the group needs to choose a designated driver.

Art Space: wine, caves, and something different

Art Space is scheduled for about 40 minutes. It is the most unusual stop on the route because the winery is tied to an art setting, with old cave rooms and artwork. This gives the visit a character that a standard tasting room may not have.

You will taste wine and receive a winery tour. The underground spaces are a real draw, especially if you want more than a row of bottles and polished tables. The caves offer a sense of how older island buildings were used and adapted for wine production.

I would give this stop your full attention. Forty minutes is enough to see the rooms and taste, but not enough to wander without watching the clock. If you find a bottle you want, ask about buying it during the visit rather than assuming there will be time at the end.

Art Space has also been singled out for its staff and its distinctive atmosphere. Still, the wider tour can feel tightly scheduled. One account describes some winery visits as brief, so you should expect an efficient introduction rather than a slow afternoon spent at one estate.

Anhydrous Winery: modern wine with old methods

Anhydrous Winery is the final listed winery and receives about an hour. Its story centers on Apostolos Mountrichas, the winemaker behind Avantis Estate, who became interested in Santorini’s Assyrtiko and began his Santorini project in 2012. He completed the project by founding Anhydrous Winery in 2021.

The winery’s approach combines experiments with ancient winemaking techniques and modern wines that aim to preserve clean varietal character. That makes Anhydrous a useful contrast with the earlier visits. You can think about how tradition and new ideas meet in a relatively young project.

The hour-long stop should allow a proper tasting rather than a quick sample. Snacks are included at several locations on the tour, and the food helps keep the tasting comfortable across the afternoon. Exact pairings are not specified, so do not book expecting a fixed menu or a full meal.

This stop also shows why the changing itinerary matters. Anhydrous may feel like a strong choice to some wine lovers, while others may have hoped for another named estate. The tour can visit three wineries from a rotating group, so you are not guaranteed every winery shown in promotional material.

How much wine and beer will you actually taste?

The experience advertises 12 wines and three beers, which is a substantial amount for one afternoon. The usual format appears to be several pours at each winery, with four wines at some locations. Portions are described as generous in one account.

That amount makes the included transport important. Santorini’s roads can be busy, and getting between villages by taxi or public bus can be uncertain. With a guide driving, you can taste without worrying about finding your way back to your hotel.

Still, pace yourself. Twelve wines plus three beers is a lot, even when individual pours are modest. Eat the snacks provided, drink water when it is available, and do not feel obliged to finish every pour. The value of the tour comes from comparison, not from treating it like a race.

The food is useful rather than decorative. Snacks are served at several stops and may be enough to carry you through the afternoon, but this is not a substitute for dinner. Plan a meal afterward, particularly if you tend to drink slowly or prefer a substantial evening meal.

The guides can make or break the afternoon

The strongest part of this experience is often the person in the front seat. Guides named Billy, John, Nicholas, Nick, Elena, Giannis, and Peros have been praised for being warm, funny, informative, and attentive.

That matters because the drives connect the stops. A good guide can explain the island, point out local details, help the group settle in, and make the time between tastings useful. Some guides have also taken photos and explained the wine culture, island origins, and local life.

You should not assume every departure will have the same guide or the same style. The written details do not assign one specific person to every booking. One poor account describes a guide who mainly dropped the group at each destination and offered little regional context, while another describes a host who made the whole afternoon feel like an outing with a friend.

That contrast is worth keeping in mind. The wineries and brewery supply the technical information, but your guide controls much of the rhythm and mood. If you want a highly formal wine education, this may feel informal. If you want local conversation and an easy ride between tastings, that informality may be a benefit.

Group size, comfort, and the real pace

The experience is presented as a small-group tour, with a stated cap of eight. Another section gives a maximum of 10, and one account describes 12 people at a tasting table. That is a meaningful difference.

With eight people, the tour should feel fairly personal. You can ask questions without needing to compete for attention, and it is easier to chat with the other people in the vehicle. With 10 or more, the tasting rooms may feel tighter, especially if tables are arranged for a larger party.

One account specifically describes cramped tasting conditions and limited time to look around or buy wine. That does not mean every departure will feel crowded, but you should not picture a private table at every winery. The advertised small-group format is a strength, but it is wise to confirm the expected group size if personal space matters to you.

The tour is also social by nature. Several accounts describe meeting pleasant people, including couples on honeymoons, and enjoying the shared atmosphere. You will have less control over the company than on a private tour, but the group setting can make the afternoon more relaxed and fun.

Price and what you get for $184.38

At $184.38 per person, this is not a cheap tasting. The price makes more sense when you count the transport, four stops, 12 wines, three beers, winery access, guide service, and snacks.

Booking separate taxis or private transfers between three wineries and a brewery could quickly become inconvenient. You would also need to arrange tastings yourself and keep track of who is driving. For a visitor without a rental car, the organized transport has real value.

The tour is less compelling if you only want one or two glasses of wine or if you already have a private car and a carefully planned winery route. You are paying for convenience and variety, not for a long stay at one estate.

A private version has also been used for special occasions, including a honeymoon. That can be a better fit if you want control over the schedule, but the supplied price is for the shared experience. Ask about private arrangements separately rather than assuming they are included.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad introduction to Santorini drinks in one afternoon. It suits couples, small groups, first-time visitors, and anyone who would rather leave the driving to someone else.

It is also a good fit if your group has mixed tastes. Wine drinkers get a large selection, while beer drinkers have three local choices at the brewery. The snacks help, and the pickup makes the day easy to manage from a hotel.

You may want another option if you need a fixed winery lineup, a quiet private tasting, or a very detailed technical class. The exact wineries may change, and the pace can feel brisk. The tour is designed for variety and convenience, not for spending half a day at one producer.

Pickup is offered, and the meeting time is around 3 p.m. Confirmation is provided when you book. Most people can participate, and the experience is near public transportation. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time; cancellations or changes made later are not accepted. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a departure could be replaced or refunded if that minimum is not met.

Should you book this Santorini wine tour?

Book it if you want a well-rounded first taste of Santorini, with wine, beer, food, transport, and several different settings in a single afternoon. The brewery adds variety, Art Space adds atmosphere, and the longer winery visits provide enough time to learn more than you would at a casual bar.

Before paying, confirm the likely group size and understand that the three wineries can depend on availability. If you accept that flexibility, the tour offers good value for a full afternoon of tasting without the hassle of driving. If you want a slow, private, highly focused wine lesson, choose a smaller private outing instead.

FAQ

How long does the Santorini wine tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 3 p.m.

How many wineries does the tour visit?

The tour visits three wineries and one brewery. The exact wineries can depend on availability.

Which wineries are included in the listed route?

The listed stops are Estate Argyros, Art Space, and Anhydrous Winery. Other winery options may be used depending on availability.

What beers are included?

The brewery tasting includes Red, Yellow, and Crazy Donkey beers from Santorini Brewing Company.

How many wines are included?

The experience includes tastings of 12 wines.

Are food pairings included?

Snacks are included at several tasting stops to accompany the drinks. The provided details do not specify a fixed menu.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the tour begins at approximately 3 p.m.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted or refunded.