Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Santorini’s wine is shaped by wind, ash, and scarcity. On this 4.5-hour tasting tour, you move from a local brewery to three very different wineries, learning why the island’s grapevines grow in low basket shapes and why its white wines taste so unlike many others. I like the mix of beer and wine, and I like that pickup and drop-off are included across much of the island. The main thing to consider is the price: at $200 per person, this is not a casual tasting, so you should plan to make the most of every stop.

I especially like the variety. Art Space gives you an atmospheric look at an older wine operation, Estate Argyros shows a more modern side of production, and the final winery, usually Anhydrous, adds another setting and selection. Guides including Billy, John, Panos, and Yiannis have been praised for their island knowledge, patience, photo-taking, and easy conversation. The pace is generous, but four tasting stops in less than five hours can still feel full.

Key points at a glance

• A brewery opens the afternoon: Start with three local beers at Santorini Brewing Company, also associated with the island’s Crazy Donkey beers.
• Three contrasting wineries: Visit Art Space, Estate Argyros, and a final winery that may be Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos, depending on availability.
• Volcanic wine country explained: Learn how Santorini’s soil, wind, and native grape varieties shape the island’s wines.
• Food comes with the glasses: Tastings include local cheese, dry bread, and Greek-style snacks to soften the impact of so many pours.
• Transport removes a major headache: Hotel pickup and drop-off are available in many towns, with a comfortable minibus or private vehicle.
• Best for drinkers who want context: This suits people who want to understand how wine is made, not just sample a few glasses beside a view.

Why Santorini wine is worth your afternoon

Santorini is not a broad vineyard region with rows of tall vines. The island’s strong wind and dry conditions have led growers to train vines into low, rounded baskets called kouloura. The grapes grow inside these shapes, sheltered from the wind and harsh sun.

The island is especially known for its Assyrtiko grape, a white variety with bright acidity and a firm, mineral character. You will also hear about the volcanic ground beneath the vines. Santorini’s soil helps explain why local wine can taste crisp, dry, and distinctive, with flavors that may feel quite different from familiar Australian, American, or mainland European wines.

The tour gives you useful context before you sit down with the glasses. Instead of treating wine as a luxury product with a mysterious vocabulary, the guides explain how local conditions affect the vines and the final drink. I find that makes the tastings more enjoyable, even if you are not a serious wine fan.

The brewery is a smart opening stop. It gives beer drinkers something to look forward to and helps the experience feel broader than a standard winery circuit. If one person in your group prefers beer to wine, this stop may be the difference between an enthusiastic yes and a polite compromise.

Starting with local beer at Santorini Brewing Company

The tour begins with a drive from your pickup point to Santorini Brewing Company. The first van ride can take about 30 minutes, depending on where you are staying and the road conditions.

At the brewery, you taste three local beers. The stop is scheduled for about 20 minutes, so this is a tasting rather than a long brewery visit. The setting offers a change of mood before the more formal winery appointments, and the brewery staff have been praised for being friendly and willing to chat.

The brewery is also linked with Crazy Donkey beers, including pale ale selections. Beer lovers should pay attention here, since the wine stops naturally take up most of the tour. Some groups have found the beer tasting especially memorable because it brings a small-scale Santorini drink producer into the picture.

There is a practical benefit too. Starting with beer gives everyone a chance to settle into the day before the wine pours begin. You may find that the snacks and relaxed atmosphere make this a pleasant introduction rather than a rushed first glass.

Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia

After a short transfer, you reach Art Space Winery in the village of Exo Gonia. Allow about an hour here.

Art Space is more than a tasting room. You visit underground cellars and see a setting tied to older Santorini winemaking methods. The winery has been named Greece’s best winery, and its character is less sleek and polished than some newer estates. That contrast is part of the appeal.

The location is also associated with an art gallery featuring local artists. One guide mentioned in the tour’s feedback, Panos, was praised for making the stop lively and informative, while another guide, Panos or Panos-like hosts at the site, has helped explain the wine and the setting with humor. The exact host can vary, but you can expect a guided introduction rather than being left alone with a flight of glasses.

This is the stop for atmosphere and older techniques. The underground spaces offer relief from the island sun and help you understand how wine was stored before modern hospitality rooms became common. It is a good place to look beyond the postcard views and see the working side of Santorini’s wine culture.

The drawback is that an atmospheric cellar may involve uneven surfaces or confined spaces. Since the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator for specific details before booking.

Estate Argyros and the modern side of production

A five-minute drive brings you to Estate Argyros, where the tasting lasts about 75 minutes. This is the longest scheduled stop, and it gives you time to slow down and compare the wines more carefully.

Estate Argyros combines a modern look with traditional agricultural methods. The estate still uses mules to plow some fields, and grape byproducts are returned to the soil. Those details matter because they connect the finished bottle to the work done in the vineyard. You are not just tasting a product made behind a stainless-steel door. You are seeing how local growers adapt to a dry island with unusual soil and limited water.

The estate is a useful counterpoint to Art Space. At Art Space, the cellars and older setting carry much of the story. At Argyros, the setting feels more contemporary, while the farming methods keep a link to tradition. That change in tone helps prevent the tour from becoming four versions of the same tasting room.

The food pairings are another reason this stop can feel substantial. Cheese, dry bread, and other Greek delicacies are served with the tastings. Some visits include a broader selection of small foods such as vegetables, dips, or meat, but the exact pairing can vary. Treat these as tasting accompaniments, not a full lunch.

You will likely taste several styles here, not simply the same white wine repeated in different bottles. The guides and winery staff explain differences in grape variety, production, and flavor. If you are unsure how to compare wines, ask what makes each one distinct. This is the point in the afternoon when a simple question can turn a tasting into a useful lesson.

The final winery and the changing finish

The final winery is reached after about 15 minutes on the road. The scheduled tasting lasts 75 minutes, giving the day a relaxed finish rather than a quick last stop.

Anhydrous Cellar Door is the named final stop in the route, but the provider may substitute Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery if needed. That flexibility means you should not book this tour expecting one fixed final building or one guaranteed wine list.

Anhydrous brings another style to the afternoon, and the three-winery plan is designed to show how different Santorini producers can feel. Some are intimate and old-fashioned, some more modern, and some focused heavily on views and hospitality. Venetsanos, Hatzidakis, and Artemis Karamolegos each offer a different possible ending, so the final stop can change the balance of the experience.

This uncertainty is a small tradeoff. You gain a tour that can operate around availability, but you lose the ability to plan around a specific winery. If one estate is essential to your Santorini itinerary, arrange a separate visit rather than relying on this route.

At every winery, expect wine education from local staff as well as guidance from your tour host. Guides such as Billy, John, Nick, and Yiannis have been praised for explaining not only the wines but also Santorini’s wider past and present. Several have also helped with photographs, restaurant suggestions, and extra island advice.

Transport, group size, and the value of $200

The price is $200 per person. That is a serious amount for a half-day activity, but the package includes hotel pickup and drop-off, transport between four drink stops, 12 wine tastings, three beers, and cheese pairings.

The transport is important. Santorini’s roads can be busy, and the wineries are scattered around the island rather than lined up in one compact district. A private vehicle or small minibus lets you taste without assigning a sober driver. Several guides have also been praised for clean, comfortable vehicles, strong air-conditioning, leather seats, and bottled water.

Pickup and drop-off are offered in many places, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Megalochori, Akrotiri, Kamari, Perissa, Emporio, Karterados, Finikia, and several nearby areas. Check your exact address when booking, since the list is specific and not every Santorini accommodation will be directly covered.

The group may be private or small. Sometimes a booking becomes a private outing, especially in quieter periods. That can make a big difference. Your guide may have more time to answer questions, adjust the pace, take photos, or wait while you finish a tasting.

You should still judge the cost against your interests. If you only want to sample a few Santorini wines, visiting one winery independently will cost less. But if you want transportation, three winery settings, a brewery, food pairings, and a guide who explains the island as you go, the price is easier to justify.

How to handle 12 wines and 3 beers

Four drinking stops in 4.5 hours is a lot. The tastings are not described as full glasses, but you should still pace yourself carefully. Eat before pickup, use the food provided, and drink water throughout the afternoon.

The order helps. Beer comes first, then the wines are spread across three stops. The tour also builds in driving time between locations, giving you a little space before the next tasting.

You do not need to be a wine expert to enjoy this. The strongest part of the tour is the explanation of why Santorini’s wines taste the way they do. If you are a beer fan, the brewery makes the day more inclusive. If you are not interested in alcohol, though, this is the wrong activity.

Pregnant people and anyone with heart problems should not book this experience. Pets and smoking are not allowed. The activity is also not suitable for wheelchair users, so ask before booking if you have any mobility limitation not covered by that description.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this tour for a couple, small group, or family of adults who want a structured afternoon away from Santorini’s crowded viewpoints. It works well early in a stay because the guides often share useful island information, including suggestions for food and places to visit later.

Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the number of samples and the range of producers. Beer drinkers will be glad that the tour does not treat the brewery as an afterthought. People who enjoy architecture, old cellars, vineyard scenery, and local farming will also find plenty to notice.

It is less suitable for anyone who wants a slow, single-estate tasting. The route covers four stops, and each has a set time. It is also not a meal tour. The cheese, bread, and other bites are helpful, but you should plan dinner separately.

The tour can be especially appealing outside the busiest summer period. In quieter months, the group may be very small, and the experience can feel more personal. In high season, the vehicle and tasting rooms may feel busier, and the staff may need to keep to the schedule.

Practical ways to get more from the afternoon

Start with a proper meal or substantial snack. The food at the wineries helps, but it is not designed to replace lunch.

Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. You may visit cellars, vineyard areas, or older winery spaces, and the activity is not designed for wheelchair access.

Keep your schedule flexible after the tour. Several guides have taken time for photographs or offered island suggestions, but the official experience ends with drop-off. Do not book a tight ferry, cruise, or dinner reservation immediately afterward.

If you are on a cruise, tell the operator. One group needed to leave early for a departing ship and received help getting back to the dock. That kind of assistance may be possible, but it should not be treated as guaranteed.

Ask which final winery is operating on your date. The tour can end at Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos, depending on availability.

Finally, listen for the farming details. The basket-shaped vines, volcanic soil, mule plowing, and use of grape byproducts explain more about Santorini wine than a long list of tasting notes. Those are the details that make the afternoon memorable.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy, well-supported way to visit several producers without driving, arranging taxis, or choosing between wine and beer. The combination of 12 wines, 3 beers, food pairings, and island transport offers a full introduction to Santorini’s drinks culture.

I would skip it if $200 feels too high for a half-day outing, if you prefer independent travel, or if alcohol is not central to your plans. For everyone else, the variety and strong guiding make this a worthwhile splurge, especially if you can join a small group or secure a private departure.

FAQ

How long does the Santorini winery and brewery tour last?

The tour lasts 4.5 hours, including transportation between the brewery, three wineries, and your pickup and drop-off locations.

How many drinks are included?

The experience includes tastings of 12 different wines and three local beers.

Which brewery does the tour visit?

The tour starts at Santorini Brewing Company, where you taste three local beers. The brewery is also associated with Crazy Donkey beers.

Which wineries are included?

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

Is food included?

Yes. Cheese pairings are included, along with local snacks such as dry bread and other Greek delicacies. The food is intended as a tasting accompaniment rather than a full meal.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with locations covering many areas such as Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Megalochori, Akrotiri, Kamari, and Perissa.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

No. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or wheelchair users. Pets and smoking are not allowed.