Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier
Santorini is Assyrtiko at its most dramatic, grown in little hand-woven baskets on volcanic sand, whipped by Aegean wind and somehow hanging onto enough acidity to make wines that practically vibrate in the glass.
At a glance
Wine snapshot
Lemon zest, grapefruit, pear skin, salt, crushed volcanic rock, chamomile and herbs show up all over the whites, while older Assyrtiko starts wandering into honey, nuts and dried fruit. Mavrotragano brings darker berries, tobacco and spice, then Vinsanto goes completely in another direction with fig, raisin, caramel, coffee and enough acidity to keep the whole thing feeling alive.
Also worth a sip
Wine gets almost all the attention here, but Santorini actually has some fun things happening outside the vineyard too. There’s locally brewed beer, Assyrtiko-based tsipouro and the usual Greek coffee and spirit culture, which is very useful when you’ve already tasted twelve wines and somehow still want one more local thing.
If you’re already around Mesa Gonia for wine, I’d stop for a Donkey beer too because you’re practically there, and Slow Donkey is especially fun when the brewery has it since that one stays at the source. For something stronger, Domaine Sigalas Tsipouro is made from the leftover skins and stems of Assyrtiko and Mavrotragano, so even your break from wine somehow circles right back into the vineyard. Of course it does.
Common questions
- What wine is Santorini known for?
- Lemon zest, grapefruit, pear skin, salt, crushed volcanic rock, chamomile and herbs show up all over the whites, while older Assyrtiko starts wandering into honey, nuts and dried fruit. Mavrotragano brings darker berries, tobacco and spice, then Vinsanto goes completely in another direction with fig, raisin, caramel, coffee and enough acidity to keep the whole thing feeling alive.
- What grapes are grown around Santorini?
- Assyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri, Mavrotragano, Mandilaria, Katsano, Gaidouria, Voudomato.
- Why is Santorini a notable wine stop?
- Santorini has one of the oldest continually cultivated vineyard landscapes in Greece, with self-rooted vines preserved in sandy volcanic soils and a training system developed specifically for the island’s wind and sun. Assyrtiko is the star, but this tiny vineyard also hangs onto Aidani, Athiri, Mavrotragano and some genuinely rare grapes that barely leave the island.
- Is Santorini a wine destination?
- Wine gets almost all the attention here, but Santorini actually has some fun things happening outside the vineyard too. There’s locally brewed beer, Assyrtiko-based tsipouro and the usual Greek coffee and spirit culture, which is very useful when you’ve already tasted twelve wines and somehow still want one more local thing.
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Nearby winery
Gavalas Winery
Local label terms, decoded
Inside the Santorini guide
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