Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Santorini tastes better beyond the caldera. I like this tour for its volcanic-soil wine story and for the smart mix of three wineries with Santorini Brewing Company. You get at least 12 wines, three local beers, and small cheese and Greek-food pairings without having to arrange taxis or appoint a sober driver.

I also like the range of settings, from Art Space’s underground cellars to the modern Estate Argyros and the more contemporary final winery. Guides such as Billy, John, Panos, Yiannis, and Nick have been praised for island history, wine insight, photos, and an easy sense of humor. The main drawback is pace: four tasting stops in 4.5 hours can feel full, especially if you prefer long vineyard visits or detailed meals.

Key details that shape the experience

• Santorini’s unusual grape culture: Learn how the island’s volcanic ground and distinctive vine-growing methods shape its wines.
• A useful beer break: Start with three local beers at Santorini Brewing Company, a welcome change before the wine tastings begin.
• Four very different stops: Art Space, Estate Argyros, and a final winery offer contrasting buildings, styles, and tasting rooms.
• Food with the glasses: Cheese, dry bread, vegetables, dips, and other Greek delicacies help balance the alcohol and sharpen the flavors.
• Hotel-area pickup: Collection and return are offered across much of Santorini, including Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Perissa, Kamari, and other villages.
• Strong guide service: The tour’s human touch is a major part of its appeal, with repeated praise for friendly, flexible drivers and guides.

Why Santorini wine is worth your afternoon

Santorini is not simply a pretty Greek island with vineyards added for decoration. Its wine tradition is tied to difficult growing conditions, volcanic ground, strong winds, and limited water. The tour gives you a useful way to understand those conditions while tasting the results.

You learn about Santorini’s own grape varieties and the methods used by local producers. The exact discussion will depend on your guide and the winery staff, but the central idea is clear: this is not standard Mediterranean vineyard farming. The island’s winemakers have adapted their work to a dry, windy place where vines need careful protection.

That context makes the tastings more meaningful. Instead of judging a pale wine only by its flavor, you can connect it to the soil, weather, and traditions that produced it. You also get to see how different producers interpret the same island.

The tour includes at least 12 wines and three beers. That is a lot of alcohol for half a day, so pace yourself. Take the food offered at each stop, drink water when it is available, and do not feel obliged to finish every pour.

The brewery first, with three local beers

The first major stop is Santorini Brewing Company, reached after a roughly 30-minute drive from pickup. The brewery tasting lasts about 20 minutes and includes three local beers.

This opening stop works well because it loosens up the afternoon before the more formal wine presentations. Beer fans get something specifically local, while wine drinkers receive a useful change of pace. The brewery is also a practical reminder that Santorini’s drinks culture is broader than its famous bottles of wine.

Several guides and groups have enjoyed the brewery’s friendly atmosphere. The owners have been described as warm and willing to chat, and some people have bought merchandise or extra beer after tasting. One couple particularly liked starting here before moving into the quieter winery visits.

Do not expect a long brewery tour. The scheduled stop is short, and the main purpose is tasting three beers. On some departures, the exact number of beers can vary, as one booking included two beers instead of three and an additional island stop. If the beer portion is your main reason for booking, confirm the current arrangement before paying.

Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia

A short drive brings you to Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia. You spend about an hour here, with wine tasting and time to see its underground cellars.

Art Space is valued for its sense of place. The winery occupies an older setting and combines wine production with art. It has been described as the oldest winery on the island by one guide, and the property has also been recognized as Greece’s best winery. The exact award context is not explained in the tour details, but the reputation helps explain why this stop feels different from a standard tasting room.

The underground cellars are the main physical highlight. They give you a look at the spaces where wine was made and stored, rather than presenting only polished bottles and tasting tables. At this stop, you may find the history and atmosphere more memorable than the number of pours.

Panos has received special praise for making Art Space entertaining and clear, while another guide, Esmeralda, was remembered for explaining the art and the wines with warmth. These personal touches matter. Wine production can become technical quickly, but a good host helps you follow the story without turning the visit into a lecture.

Expect light food with the wine. Cheese and dry bread are part of the general tour offering, and other groups have received vegetables, dips, or similar Greek snacks. This is a tasting, not lunch, so eat beforehand if you need a full meal.

Estate Argyros and the working side of wine

Estate Argyros follows after another short drive, with roughly 75 minutes set aside for tasting. This stop brings a more modern look while still showing respect for older farming methods.

One of the most interesting details is the connection between modern presentation and traditional work in the fields. The estate uses mules to plow some vineyards and grape byproducts to enrich the soil. Those details help you see wine as an agricultural process, not just a luxury product served in a glass.

The setting has been praised for its clean, modern feel and mountain backdrop. You may find this a useful contrast with Art Space. At Art Space, the old cellars and art give the visit a historic, almost museum-like character. At Estate Argyros, the focus is more likely to fall on current production and the relationship between old methods and newer facilities.

The 75-minute slot gives enough time for a proper tasting and explanation, but the tour still needs to keep moving. Some people will wish they could linger over a favorite bottle. That is the tradeoff for visiting three wineries in one afternoon.

The food pairing is also more substantial at some departures. One group described cheese, bread, and meat alongside the wine, while the included tour details specifically promise cheese pairings. Treat the broader selection as possible rather than guaranteed.

The final winery depends on availability

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

This flexibility is important. You should book for the overall format, not for a guaranteed experience at one specific final property. Each winery has its own character, and the substitution may alter the setting, wines, and presentation.

Anhydrous has been described as modern yet comfortable, with a good place to relax after the first three stops. Other groups have enjoyed Venetsanos, Hatzidakis, or Artemis Karamolegos when included. The common thread is a final tasting with more wine, local snacks, and a chance to compare the day’s styles.

The final stop can be the most social part of the afternoon. By then, you have learned the basics and tried enough wines to identify your preferences. Ask the sommelier to explain how the final bottles differ from those tasted earlier. You will get more from the stop if you compare rather than simply count glasses.

Guides make the difference

The vehicle gets you around the island, but the guide often determines how personal the afternoon feels. The tour uses a clean, comfortable van, and several groups specifically praised the air conditioning, leather seats, bottled water, and smooth driving.

Billy appears repeatedly in the strongest comments. He has been praised for wine knowledge, patience, humor, island history, and a willingness to give people time at each stop. John, also called Giannis or Yiannis in different bookings, has been praised for taking photos, helping groups rearrange plans, and suggesting places to eat or visit.

Panos and Nick have also been singled out for warmth, local information, and good pacing. Some departures become private when only two people book, while others run as small groups. That difference can change the feel considerably. A private outing allows more questions and flexibility, while a small group can be more sociable.

Do not assume you will receive a particular guide or a private vehicle. Names and group size depend on the departure. Still, the repeated pattern is encouraging: the guide is treated as an active host rather than only a driver.

What the $200 price includes

At $200 per person, this is not a budget tasting. It becomes easier to justify when you add up what is included: pickup and drop-off, transport across the island, three beers, at least 12 wines, cheese pairings, and guided visits at four drink-producing locations.

Transport has real value on Santorini. The wineries are spread around the island, roads can be busy, and driving after multiple tastings is a poor plan. A private taxi circuit could also become expensive, especially if you need to wait at each stop.

The price also covers access to expert presentations and a planned route. You are not spending the afternoon trying to find a winery, locate a parking space, or decide which bottle to order next. That convenience is especially useful for a first visit or for anyone staying outside central Fira.

Still, value depends on your interests. If you drink very little wine, dislike group schedules, or mainly want one long vineyard visit, $200 may feel high. If you want a broad introduction to Santorini’s wine culture and prefer not to drive, the cost is more reasonable.

One couple felt the package was somewhat expensive after seeing that a single winery could charge about 20 euros for four tasting glasses. That comparison is fair, but it does not include the brewery, three total winery stops, food, guide, or transport. I would judge the price as fair for the complete afternoon, not cheap.

Timing, pickup, and practical limits

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours. Pickup and drop-off are available in many parts of Santorini, including Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos Kallistis, Megalochori, Akrotiri, Emporio, Perissa, Kamari, and several smaller areas.

Check your exact pickup point and start time before booking. The broad coverage is helpful, but Santorini’s roads and traffic can affect the day. If you are arriving by cruise ship, allow extra care with timing. One group had to leave early because the ship was departing, although the guide helped with a special return to the dock.

The tour is conducted in English. Private and small-group options are available, but availability can change. Pets and smoking are not allowed, and the experience is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or wheelchair users.

Wear shoes that are comfortable for winery floors and cellar areas. The provided details do not promise extensive walking, but you will be entering several different properties rather than sitting in one tasting room all afternoon.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time Santorini visitors who want more than caldera photographs. You get local drinks, food, scenery, farming traditions, and village-to-village transport in one compact outing.

It also suits couples and small groups who want a relaxed activity without renting a car. Beer drinkers should not dismiss it as a wine-only tour, since the brewery gives the afternoon a welcome point of difference.

I would be more cautious if you want a slow, specialist wine seminar. The itinerary covers a lot in 4.5 hours, and the exact final winery can change. You should also think carefully about the alcohol volume if you are unused to tasting many drinks in one sitting.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a broad and easy introduction to Santorini’s drinks culture, especially if you value good guides and do not want to drive. The combination of a brewery, three contrasting wineries, local snacks, and island commentary gives you far more variety than a single tasting room.

Skip it if you prefer to choose one estate and spend several unhurried hours there. For most visitors, though, the strong guide service, comfortable transport, and mix of old cellars with modern production make the $200 price defensible. Ask about the final winery and beer lineup before booking, then arrive ready to taste slowly.

FAQ

How long does the Santorini winery and brewery tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 4.5 hours, including transport between the brewery, wineries, and pickup or drop-off locations.

How many drinks are included?

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

Which brewery does the tour visit?

The first tasting stop is Santorini Brewing Company.

Which wineries are included?

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

Is food included with the tastings?

Yes. Cheese pairing is included, along with dry bread and other Greek delicacies depending on the stop. Some tastings may also include vegetables, dips, or other light snacks.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with locations offered in areas such as Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos Kallistis, Akrotiri, Perissa, Kamari, and other Santorini villages.

Is the tour private or shared?

Private or small-group options are available. The exact group size depends on availability and the selected departure.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Can wheelchair users or pregnant women join?

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