Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Wine comes with a volcanic backstory. This half-day Santorini tour links a local brewery with three very different wineries, giving you a useful look at the island’s unusual grape-growing methods, cellar traditions, and modern producers. I especially like the wide range of tastings, from three local beers to at least 12 wines, and the way each stop adds cheese, bread, or Greek snacks. The main drawback is the pace: four drinking stops in 4.5 hours can feel full, especially if you prefer long winery visits.

The guides also add real value. Billy is often praised for his island stories, humor, and patience, while Nick, Panos, Yiannis, John, and other guides have helped make the driving and transitions easy. You get hotel pickup and drop-off from many parts of Santorini, plus a clean, comfortable van, so nobody in your group has to volunteer as the driver.

The four stops that make this tour different

• Santorini Brewing Company first: Start with three local beers, including the well-known Crazy Donkey range at some departures.
• Art Space in Exo Gonia: Visit an old winery with underground cellars and an art-gallery setting.
• Estate Argyros: See a more modern wine operation that still uses traditional farming methods.
• A changing final winery: The last tasting may be at Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos, depending on availability.
• Food with the glasses: Local cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek snacks help turn tastings into a proper afternoon.
• Small-group comfort: Private tours and small groups are available, and some departures become private when demand is low.

Why Santorini wine is worth your afternoon

Santorini does not grow grapes in the usual vineyard style. The island’s volcanic soil, strong sun, wind, and dry conditions shape the wine, while local growers use varieties that are closely tied to the island. The tour gives you a chance to learn about these grape species from winery staff rather than simply ordering a glass in a restaurant.

The most useful lesson is likely to be the contrast between Santorini’s low, carefully shaped vines and the taller vines many people know from other wine regions. The island’s growing conditions call for methods adapted to its climate. At Estate Argyros, you may hear about mules used to plow fields and grape byproducts returned to the soil.

That detail matters because this is not just a drinking tour. You are seeing how farming, weather, volcanic ground, and local habits affect what reaches your glass. If you have only tasted Santorini wine at a restaurant, the winery visits give the bottle a much clearer setting.

The tastings are also broad enough to help you compare styles. At least 12 wines are included across the three winery stops, though the exact wines can change. You may find crisp whites, other local styles, and wines that do not fit your usual idea of Santorini wine. The winery staff explain the differences, so you are not left guessing why two glasses taste so unlike each other.

Starting with three beers at Santorini Brewing Company

Beginning with beer is a clever choice. It loosens up the group before the more formal winery tastings, and it gives non-wine drinkers a reason to enjoy the first stop. The brewery visit lasts about 20 minutes, with three local beers included.

Some departures visit the brewery known for Crazy Donkey beers. The precise beer selection can vary, and one past departure included only two beers, so I would treat three as the expected number rather than an absolute guarantee. Still, the brewery adds welcome variety, especially for couples or families with mixed tastes.

The stop also helps set the island scene. You are not only sampling imported labels in a polished tasting room. You are trying beer made on Santorini and hearing about a local producer. Several visitors have liked the friendly welcome here, and the brewery has merchandise available if you want a small edible or drinkable reminder of the island.

Do not expect a long brewery tour. This is a short tasting stop, not a full production visit. Its job is to start the afternoon pleasantly and give the tour a different flavor before the wine begins.

Art Space Winery, wine in an old cellar and art setting

A short drive takes you to Art Space in the village of Exo Gonia. The visit lasts about an hour and includes wine tasting, with time to see its underground cellars.

Art Space is likely to be the most atmospheric stop. Its old cellar spaces and art-gallery setting give the visit a sense of place that a modern tasting room cannot copy. The winery has also been recognized as one of Greece’s best, and the setting helps explain why it is more than a quick pour-and-go stop.

The cellar visit is useful because it connects the wine to the buildings that once supported production. You can see how Santorini’s winemaking past is presented through underground spaces, local art, and the people who work there. Panos has been praised for making this stop lively, while another guide, Esmeralda, has been singled out for explaining the art and wine with warmth.

This is a good point in the tour to ask questions. You have tasted beer, but you have not yet had several rounds of wine, so your attention should still be fresh. The tasting is paired with light food, often cheese and dry bread or similar local snacks. These are not meant to be lunch, but they help clear the palate and soften the effect of several wines.

Estate Argyros, traditional farming with a modern face

The second winery is Estate Argyros, with about 75 minutes set aside for the tasting. Compared with Art Space, it offers a more modern look while keeping older farming and production practices in view.

This contrast is one of the strongest parts of the tour. Art Space gives you old cellars and an artistic, intimate mood. Estate Argyros shows how a major producer can use a cleaner, newer presentation without abandoning local methods.

The farm practices are especially interesting. You may learn how mules have been used to plow the fields and how grape leftovers can be put back into the soil. These details show that tradition here is practical, not just decorative. The island’s dry conditions and volcanic ground require growers to work with what they have.

The longer stop also gives the staff room to explain more than the label. You can compare several wines, ask about grape varieties, and notice how the food pairing changes your impression of each pour. Cheese, bread, and Greek delicacies are included, and some departures have featured vegetables, dips, or small meat selections.

Estate Argyros may be the best stop for someone who wants the clearest explanation of production. It may feel less atmospheric than Art Space, but the extra time and modern setting can make the process easier to follow.

The final winery depends on availability

The published route lists Anhydrous Cellar Door as the third winery, with about 75 minutes for tasting. Other possible final stops include Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, and Artemis Karamolegos Winery. The choice depends on availability, so you should not book this experience expecting one exact cellar every time.

Anhydrous has been described as modern yet comfortable, making it a relaxed finish after the earlier visits. Its position at the end also works well because you have enough background by then to understand the tasting in context. The final stop can feel less like a lesson and more like a chance to enjoy the wines, snacks, and company.

If the route changes, the character changes with it. Venetsanos, Hatzidakis, and Artemis Karamolegos each bring a different setting and selection. That uncertainty is a small drawback for anyone planning a winery-focused itinerary around a particular producer. It is also part of the reason the tour can show you more of Santorini’s wine scene than a fixed, single-estate visit.

At all three wineries, the staff are part of the experience. The strongest departures have included sommeliers who explain the wines without making the tasting feel stiff. Paula has been praised for being especially entertaining, and several guides have allowed enough time for questions and photographs.

A comfortable way to cross Santorini

The tour lasts 4.5 hours, including driving. Pickup and drop-off are available from many locations, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos Kallistis, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, Megalochori, Emporio, Karterádos, Finikia, Vourvoulos, and nearby areas.

That broad pickup range matters on Santorini. The island’s villages are spread out, roads can be busy, and winery visits are not always easy to connect with public transport. A private or small-group van keeps the afternoon simple.

The vehicle has received especially strong praise. Past departures have used clean Mercedes vans or Sprinters with good air conditioning, leather seats, and water available. In hot weather, that comfort is not a small thing. You spend enough time moving between stops that a cramped or poorly cooled vehicle would take the shine off the day.

The guide is also your local bridge between stops. Billy has been praised for sharing Santorini history beyond wine, while John and Yiannis have been noted for taking photographs, offering island suggestions, and adjusting plans when needed. Nick has received strong praise for his driving and island information. The quality of the guide can vary by departure, but the repeated strength of the guiding team is one of the tour’s best features.

Some groups become private simply because nobody else books that departure. That is a pleasant bonus, but it should not be treated as guaranteed. Private and small-group options are available if having more personal attention matters to you.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is not a cheap tasting. It becomes easier to justify when you count what is included: transport, pickup and drop-off, at least 12 wines, three local beers, cheese pairings, and access to three separate wineries.

You are also paying for convenience. Hiring a driver, arranging four stops, and covering Santorini’s roads independently would take time and planning. If everyone in your group wants to drink, the included transport has real value. You also avoid the awkward question of who will drive back to Oia, Fira, or another village.

The food is light rather than a full meal. I would not book this as a replacement for lunch or dinner. Eat beforehand or plan a proper meal afterward, especially if you are sensitive to alcohol.

Value depends on your interest. A serious wine fan may find the number of tastings and variety worth the price. A person who only wants one scenic glass of wine may find it too long and costly. The inclusion of beer helps mixed groups, but the tour remains centered on wine.

Timing, alcohol, and practical limits

Four tastings in 4.5 hours require a little common sense. Eat before you go, drink water between pours, and pace yourself. The snacks help, but they are small pairings rather than a substantial meal.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or wheelchair users. Pets and smoking are not allowed. The tour operates in English, and you can reserve with payment later and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, according to the stated terms.

Summer departures can be hot, though the air-conditioned vehicle helps. November offers a quieter island atmosphere, and some low-season departures have become very personal because only a few people booked. The tradeoff is that seasonal availability and the final winery may differ.

Cruise visitors should pay close attention to timing. One group had to shorten its experience to meet a ship departure, though the guide arranged a special return to the dock. If you are on a cruise, give the operator your exact schedule before booking and leave a generous buffer.

Who should book this Santorini wine tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Couples who want an organized food and drink afternoon.
• Wine fans who want to compare several Santorini producers.
• Beer drinkers traveling with wine lovers.
• First-time visitors who want island context along with tastings.
• Anyone who does not want to drive after drinking.
• Small groups that value personal guiding and hotel pickup.

I would be more cautious if you dislike alcohol, need a full meal, use a wheelchair, or want a slow, single-winery visit. The tour is active and tasting-heavy. It gives you range, not a long quiet afternoon at one estate.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want to understand why Santorini wine is different, taste widely, and let somebody else handle the roads. The best parts are the contrast between Art Space and Estate Argyros, the local beer opening, the thoughtful snack pairings, and the guides who add island stories to the tastings.

Skip it if $200 feels high for an afternoon of drinks or if you want one specific winery guaranteed. For most couples and small groups, though, the combination of transport, four stops, 12 wines, three beers, and local food makes this a strong way to spend half a day on Santorini.

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 at least 12 different wines and three local beers. The exact beer selection can vary by departure.

Which wineries does the tour visit?

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

Is food included with the tastings?

Yes. Cheese is included, along with local snacks such as dry bread and other Greek delicacies. The food is a light pairing, not a full meal.

Where can pickup and drop-off take place?

Pickup and drop-off are available from many Santorini locations, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos Kallistis, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, Megalochori, Emporio, and several other listed villages.

Is this a private tour or a group tour?

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

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant women?

No. The experience is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users and pregnant women. It is also not recommended for people with heart problems.