Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Santorini’s wine is shaped by its volcanic soil, fierce sun, and unusual grape-growing methods. This four-stop tasting tour gives you a good look at that local character, beginning with three beers at Santorini Brewing Company before moving through three very different wineries.

I especially like the mix of beer and wine, which keeps the afternoon relaxed and gives non-wine drinkers something to enjoy. I also like the easy hotel pickup, comfortable van, and the chance to learn about grapes such as Assyrtiko from working wine professionals. The main drawback is the price: at $200 per person, this is not a cheap tasting afternoon, and the number of pours may feel like a lot if you are a light drinker.

Key points to know

• Four distinct stops: Start with three local beers, then visit Art Space, Estate Argyros, and a final winery selected according to availability.
• Santorini wine in context: Learn how volcanic soil, native grape species, and local farming traditions shape the island’s bottles.
• Food with the pours: Tastings come with local cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek delicacies, depending on the stop.
• Guides make a difference: Billy, John, Panos, Yiannis, and Nick have all led tours, with particular praise for their island history and friendly service.
• Small groups can become private: The tour is offered privately or in small groups, and some departures have ended up being just a couple and their guide.
• Plan for a full afternoon: The stated duration is 4.5 hours, with about 20 minutes at the brewery and roughly three hours split between the wineries.

Why Santorini’s wine is worth your time

Santorini does not look like a classic wine country. The island is dry, windy, and volcanic, with little obvious greenery in many places. Yet those conditions help explain why its wines have such a strong identity.

Your guide introduces you to Santorini’s grape varieties and the methods used to grow them. The volcanic ground is a key part of the story, and the tour also points out older farming traditions. At Estate Argyros, for example, the winery still uses mules to plow some fields and returns grape byproducts to the soil.

That detail matters because this is not just a series of glasses placed in front of you. You get a working explanation of how the island’s land affects what ends up in your glass. If you already know wine, you will have a chance to compare Santorini with other regions. If you are new to wine, the local setting gives you an easy way to understand the basics.

You taste at least 12 wines and three local beers. That is a generous amount for a half-day outing, so take your time and use the food pairings. You do not need to finish every pour to get value from the experience.

Santorini Brewing Company starts the afternoon

The first stop is Santorini Brewing Company, where you taste three local beers. The brewery gives the tour a lighter opening than beginning immediately with a formal wine tasting.

This is especially useful if someone in your group prefers beer. The brewery has been described as the original brewery on the island, and the tasting can include its Crazy Donkey beers. The setting is casual, and you have time to talk with the people behind the operation.

The brewery visit is scheduled for about 20 minutes, so do not expect a long production tour. Think of it as a focused tasting and introduction. You may also find merchandise available, and the stop provides a useful change of pace before the winery visits begin.

The order works well. You get a little beer, a little conversation, and a chance to settle into the vehicle and the rhythm of the afternoon. If you are mainly interested in wine, this stop still adds local context rather than feeling like an unrelated detour.

Art Space combines wine, art, and old cellars

After a short drive, you reach Art Space in Exo Gonia. This winery is presented as one of Greece’s best and is known for its underground cellars and artistic setting.

The visit is scheduled for about an hour. You can expect a wine tasting and a look at the cellar spaces, with an explanation of the production process. Art Space has a more intimate, historic feel than the modern wineries later in the afternoon.

The art connection is part of its appeal. The site includes an art gallery featuring local artists, and the setting gives you more to look at than rows of bottles and stainless steel tanks. It is a good stop for anyone who wants the wine experience to include local culture and design.

The pace here is not rushed. Guides such as Panos and Billy have been praised for making the explanations lively, while staff members at the winery help connect the building’s past with the wines being poured. You may find the wine presentation more personal here than at a larger estate.

Estate Argyros shows a modern side of Santorini

Estate Argyros follows with a 75-minute wine tasting. This stop gives you a contrast to Art Space, with a cleaner, more modern look while still holding on to traditional agricultural methods.

That contrast is one of the strongest parts of the tour. You are not visiting three places that all feel the same. Estate Argyros lets you see how a contemporary winery can use modern presentation without discarding older practices.

The estate’s farming methods are part of the lesson. Mules are used to plow the fields, and grape leftovers are used to help enrich the soil. These details show how local producers work with Santorini’s conditions instead of treating the island like a standard vineyard region.

You will taste several wines here, usually with cheese, bread, or other light foods. The food is not a full meal, so eat something before pickup if you need a substantial lunch. Still, the repeated small pairings help keep the tasting comfortable and give you a way to compare the wines.

The final winery may be Anhydrous

The listed final stop is Anhydrous Cellar Door, with about 75 minutes set aside for the tasting. Depending on availability, the final winery may instead be Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery.

That variable is worth noting before you book. You get three wineries, but you may not visit exactly the same final one as another group. If you have your heart set on a specific producer, ask about availability before reserving.

Anhydrous offers a different atmosphere again, with a comfortable cellar-door setting suited to sitting, tasting, and talking about the bottles. The wider point is the variety: one winery may feel artistic and old, another modern and polished, and another more relaxed or intimate.

The final stop is also where the number of tastings can begin to catch up with you. You may have already tried beer and several wines, so use the water, nibble on the food, and tell your guide if you want to slow the pace. The tour is designed to give you time at each stop, not to force you through a race of samples.

Guides add island stories between the tastings

The driver and guide are central to the experience. Names associated with different departures include Billy, John or Giannis, Panos, Yiannis, Nick, and Nikolaas. The exact person depends on the date and group.

The strongest feedback centers on guides who do more than move you from one stop to the next. Billy is often praised for his wine knowledge, patience, humor, and stories about Santorini. John has been noted for sharing island information, taking photographs, keeping the vehicle cool, and suggesting places to eat. Panos is described as warm and entertaining, while Nick is praised for explaining the island beyond the winery visits.

Do not assume you will have one particular guide unless the operator confirms it. Still, the guide-led format is a real advantage. Santorini’s roads, villages, and winery locations are spread around the island, and having someone else handle the driving lets you focus on the tasting.

Some departures have become private when few people booked. That can make the day feel highly personal, with more time for questions and photographs. Other departures run with a small group, which can be enjoyable if you like talking with people over shared tastings.

Transport and timing keep the day simple

Pickup and drop-off are available from many parts of Santorini, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Kamari, Perissa, Megalochori, Emporio, Karterados, Vourvoulos, and nearby areas.

The route includes several short drives, plus a longer 30-minute transfer at the start and another at the end. The transport is described in the feedback as clean, comfortable, and sometimes a Mercedes Sprinter or a luxury vehicle with strong air conditioning. That matters in Santorini’s hot months, especially after a few tastings.

The advertised length is 4.5 hours. The planned stop times add up to a relaxed afternoon, but exact timing can change with traffic, group size, and how long each winery takes with its presentation.

Pickup and drop-off are especially useful if you are staying in Oia or another village away from the main wine area. You avoid arranging a taxi between wineries, and no one in your group has to stay sober to drive. The transport earns a high score from customers, with 95 percent giving it a perfect rating.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this tour asks you to pay for more than wine. The price includes pickup and drop-off, the guide, transport, at least 12 wines, three beers, and cheese pairings.

A self-guided visit could cost less if you only wanted one winery and a small tasting. But comparing the price only with the cost of wine misses the practical value. You are visiting four producers in one afternoon, using private transport, and receiving explanations at every stop.

The tour makes the most financial sense for you if you do not have a rental car, want to taste freely, or would otherwise need several taxis. It is also a good use of time during a short Santorini stay. You see several parts of the island without giving up a full day.

The value is weaker if you dislike formal tastings, drink very little, or mainly want scenic photos. You can find beautiful views elsewhere on Santorini without paying for a wine tour. This experience earns its price through access, transport, variety, and instruction.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to wine fans, curious beginners, couples, and groups with mixed beer and wine interests. The brewery at the start helps make the outing work for a partner who is not excited by wine.

It also suits you if you want to learn about Santorini’s culture through food and agriculture rather than only visiting viewpoints. The vineyard stops show different approaches to production, and the guides add stories about the island that you might not get from a tasting room alone.

I would be cautious if you are pregnant, have heart problems, or use a wheelchair, since the activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for those conditions. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

The tour is conducted in English. Private and small-group options are available, but the exact group setup depends on the departure.

Practical tips for getting the most from the tasting

Eat before pickup, especially if you plan to enjoy many of the pours. The cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek snacks are useful pairings, but they are not described as a full meal.

Bring a phone or camera if you like photographs. Guides such as John and Yiannis have helped take photos during the day, and the vineyard settings provide plenty of attractive backdrops.

If you are visiting during the warmer months, choose comfortable clothing and accept the value of an air-conditioned vehicle. In quieter months such as November, the group may be very small, and the island can feel calmer.

Ask questions. The best part of a wine tour is not simply deciding which glass you like. It is learning why the wines taste different and how Santorini’s soil, grapes, and farming choices shape them.

Should you book the Santorini brewery and winery tour?

Book it if you want an efficient, well-supported way to sample Santorini’s wine culture without driving. The combination of three wineries, one brewery, local food, and island commentary gives you much more range than a single tasting room visit.

Skip it if $200 feels too high for an afternoon of drinks or if you want a flexible day with no set schedule. For most visitors who enjoy wine, though, the transport and variety make the cost easier to justify. If you can request a guide, Billy, John, Panos, Yiannis, or Nick have all been associated with especially warm and informative departures, but guide availability is not guaranteed.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts 4.5 hours, including transportation between the brewery and wineries.

How many drinks are included?

The tour includes tastings of at least 12 different wines and three local beers.

Which places are visited?

The route begins at Santorini Brewing Company, continues to Art Space Winery and Estate Argyros, and finishes at Anhydrous Cellar Door or another available winery.

Can I visit a specific final winery?

The final stop may be Anhydrous Winery, Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery, depending on availability. A specific winery is not guaranteed.

Is food included?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from many Santorini locations, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Kamari, Perissa, and several other villages.

Is the tour private?

Private and small-group options are available. Some departures may become private when only a small number of people book.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or wheelchair users. Pets and smoking are not allowed.