5 Tips For A Fabulous Wine Tasting On Santorini

Santorini is likely one of the hottest vacationer locations in Greece — recognized for unimaginable wine, romantic cliffside inns, and lovely sunsets. The panorama was shaped by a sequence of volcanic eruptions; essentially the most devastating occurred round 1650 B.C. The Minoan eruption, because it was labeled, brought about the Minoan civilization to be worn out. After the volcano blew upwards, the crater and components of the outer partitions had been submerged beneath the Aegean Sea. Santorini went from a round to a crescent-shaped island. At this time, the crater — or “caldera” — stays beneath the azure water. You’ll be able to see pumice, ash, and rocks layered within the partitions, sandy gravel, and pumice on the bottom.

Winemaking goes again 3,500 years on Santorini — an island additionally believed to be the misplaced metropolis of Atlantis. It’s not simple to provide wine on an island with searing summer time solar, harsh winter wind, and volcanic earth. However over 50 kinds of white and pink grapes thrive within the vineyards, together with the traditional varietal Assyrtiko. Tomatoes, fava beans, and white eggplants additionally develop nicely in harsh situations. The depth of taste within the product is unparalleled. The enriched lava soil consists of absorbent pumice that holds onto moisture from the ocean’s morning dew, fog, and mist. Even on the most well liked days, the grapes have sufficient water on the root. Many vineyards terrace their land, which helps retain treasured water and environment friendly farming on the island’s steep slopes. Twelve thousand acres — round 85 p.c of the cultivable land on Santorini — is dedicated to wine manufacturing. And a centuries-old pruning system the place vines are coiled into baskets known as “kouloura” protects the grapes. Winemakers weave the vines’ stems collectively, making wreaths that relaxation on the soil as a substitute of rising onto a trellis. It’s arduous work, but viticulture has been part of Santorini for hundreds of years. Historical and practically extinct varieties, and vines proof against phylloxera, develop on the island. Listed below are 5 suggestions for a wonderful wine tasting the place you’ll be able to expertise these unimaginable varieties on Santorini.

For extra Greek island experiences like Santorini, see the 7 Best Island Day Trips From Athens, Greece. 

1. Ebook Forward In Excessive Season

There are over 18 wineries on Santorini and it’s a high vacation spot for wine tourism in Greece. A number of the greatest wineries have tasting rooms on the cliffs overlooking the caldera. It’s a romantic place to sip wine, particularly at sundown. One of the best time to go to Santorini is correct after the crowds head house from September to October, or in late spring from April to Could. Throughout these instances, reserving a tasting is simpler. Getting a reservation for a tasting at a well-known vineyard, particularly one with a view, turns into harder within the excessive season, which happens from June by way of August. For those who go to in the course of the summer time, make reservations months forward of time to remember to get the tasting or wine tour of your alternative.

2. Determine If You Need To Tour 

Are you a wine lover, or do you need to attempt some wine and check out one other exercise? It’s an essential query as a result of the wineries are unfold out on the island. Suppose you might be inquisitive about wine and need to uncover the way it’s crafted on Santorini. In that case, it’s best to ebook a wine tour, and there are a number of choices to decide on from. There are 3-hour, 4-hour, or half-day wine tasting excursions that take you to particular wineries. Some begin as early as 10:00 a.m. and others start at 4:00 p.m. The final excursions find yourself at a caldera view vineyard for a sundown tasting. Most tastings embrace snacks, a choice of cheeses, olives, bread, and olive oil. Costs for excursions vary anyplace from $85–$165 (suggestions not included) and are guided. You might be collected out of your lodge or close by location in an air-conditioned van with a driver and a information. The information will inform you about every vineyard and talk about native sights and historical past. The excursions are normally as much as eight folks. Non-public excursions value more cash; upwards of $600. You spend part of the day on tour, however you study quite a bit and go to glorious wineries. Plus, you don’t have to fret about driving the slim roads, particularly after tasting a number of wines at a number of wineries.

3. Choose Your Personal Vineyard To Strive

Relying on the place you keep on Santorini, public transportation is simple to navigate. For those who keep in Fira, the central bus station is positioned there. You should purchase a ticket on the bus with money and experience it to many well-known wineries on the island. Then take a brief stroll from the bus cease. From different villages, you could have to change traces. This mode of transportation is hard for multiple vineyard per day, or when you have a mobility concern. Two choices to attempt could be Santo, the place “Wine Fanatic Journal recommends it as the very best place in Santorini to style wine whereas watching the sundown over the caldera.” Or Venetsanos Vineyard, which is charming and has beautiful views of the caldera at sundown. In that case, each may very well be reached by bus. You would want to schedule your tasting first by visiting every vineyard’s web site. Then familiarize your self with the bus schedule to make sure you are on the cease in time to catch the bus there and again. Or you’ll be able to organize for a taxi; you’ll be able to examine with the concierge at your lodge to ebook taxis too. Reserving a taxi upfront will will let you go to the vineyard of your alternative in your tasting with pick-up at a delegated time. Taxis are troublesome to search out by yourself and Uber doesn’t exist on the island. For those who resolve to take the bus, you don’t must spend hours on tour. It’s cheaper and fewer time-consuming if you wish to attempt the wine and never make a day of it.

To study extra concerning the meals and wine cultures of Greece, try our 7 Tips For Creating Your Own Greek Taverna At Home.

4. Style Vinsanto At Property Argyros

Santorini’s candy white dessert wine, often known as “Vino di Santorini” or Vinsanto, has been in existence because the twelfth Century. It turned well-known on the world stage after making its option to Russia in 1783. It’s incomes high honors at the moment within the class of dessert wines due to the distinctive native Assyrtiko and Aidani grapes. The grapes give it a golden shade with a taste profile of figs or caramel when it’s a younger wine. It turns into darker and intense with a espresso, molasses, or dried fruit taste because it ages. The grapes are left on the vine to succeed in peak ripeness. They’re harvested in late August and laid out to dry within the solar. Estate Argyros has been producing wine for over 100 years. This household enterprise — headed by fourth-generation winemaker Matthew Argyros — constantly wins awards and gold medals for its wines. Whereas many winemakers make this wine on Santorini, the Vinsanto (20-year-old barrel-aged) was given 100 factors by Wine and Spirits Magazine (a primary in Greece) and named a High 100 Vineyard within the World. The Property is massive, trendy, and options ocean views. It’s simply accessible by bus and listed as a cease on some wine excursions. The wine, principally Assyrtiko and Aidani (reds are additionally crafted), is scrumptious. 

Professional Tip: Tastings require reservations. Wineries will ship to america.

5. Go to The Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum

Many wine excursions embrace this winery and museum, which provides you an prolonged viticulture tour on Santorini. The audio-led expertise is nestled in an underground cave. There are a number of steps down to succeed in the staged shows. You comply with together with a narrator as you journey by way of time with the Koutsoyannopoulos brothers to the 1600s. Visitors see the method phases from the plow to the equipment and study concerning the methods nonetheless used at the moment. On the finish of the tour is a tasting. The household enterprise is a fourth-generation operation with numerous wines from younger and aged whites, younger and aged reds, rosé, and candy and semisweet varieties. The tastings fluctuate in worth, however a four-wine tasting will run round $12. It’s a wonderful tour, and the wine is terrific.

Professional Tip: Santorini has so many sights. For those who can’t slot in a wine tour or a go to, pattern wines at native eating places. Domaine Sigalas, a small vineyard in Oia, has award-winning wines accessible worldwide. Their Mavrotragano 2017 is extremely rated. The Mavrotragano is a grape that’s virtually extinct on Santorini. It’s a uncommon alternative to style a small-batch selection grown solely on the island. 

For extra data on the gorgeous islands of Greece, remember to go to these hyperlinks: