Santorini has more than a dozen wineries, from grand caldera-edge estates to tiny cellars carved into the volcanic rock. As sommeliers who taste here every week, these are the styles of winery we always recommend – and what makes each worth your time.

Santo Wines – the grand terrace

Perched on the caldera edge near Pyrgos, Santo Wines is the island’s largest winery and its winegrowers’ cooperative. The tasting flights showcase the full range of the island – crisp Assyrtiko through to aged Vinsanto – and the terrace is one of the most spectacular places in Greece to hold a glass at sunset. Touristy? A little. Worth it? Absolutely.

The historic canavas

Around Megalochori and Episkopi Gonia hide wineries that have made wine the old way for generations, in cool cellars dug into the pumice. Tastings here are intimate – often poured by the winemaking family itself – and this is where you understand how Santorini wine survived centuries of wind, drought and volcanoes.

The modern innovators

A newer generation of producers is pushing Assyrtiko to world-class levels – single-vineyard bottlings, wild-yeast ferments, extended lees ageing. If you drink your way through one of these line-ups you will see why critics rank Santorini among the great white wine regions of the world.

How to visit them well

Three wineries in one outing is the sweet spot: one grand view, one historic canava, one innovator. That is exactly how we build our morning wine adventure with 12 tastings and our sunset wine tour – led by certified sommeliers who know the pourers by name. Prefer your own pace? Go fully private.

New to the island’s wines? Start with our guide to Assyrtiko, Vinsanto and the volcanic vineyards, then get to know the grape itself: What Is Assyrtiko? Santorini’s great white grape, explained.