Thirsty? We’ve got you covered. Santorini is singular in so many ways, its indigenous grape varieties and wines are the toast of sommeliers and wine aficionados world over. You cannot visit Santorini and not savour one of its wines and visit its vineyards.
Although many of the wineries offer individual wine tastings, booking a tour and visiting multiple vineyards is the best way to truly appreciate it.
Its unique terroir, its volcanic soil, its harsh climatic conditions and its own distinctive way of pruning its vines – the vineyards here are coiled like wreaths or baskets, locally known as kouloura, to withstand the elements – all make for some great wine! A Santorini viticulturist has to be even more committed than his counterparts in less hostile terrains to really eke out the poetry from his vines – but the perseverance pays off in the form of some truly rewarding wines.
Perhaps the most celebrated grape variety indigenous to Santorini is the Assyrtiko.
Enrol into one of the wine tours and other equally appealing but hard-to-pronounce native varieties such as Athiri and Aidani, Mandalieria and Mavrotragano, will roll off your tongue with the ease of a practiced connoisseur!
Round off your Santorini experience with a glass of wine, over a refined meal, take in the beauty of Santorini’s famed views and stock up on gifts to take back home. And of course, you’ll not just be a lot merrier, you’ll be a lot wiser too!
