Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

Volcanic soil, better beer. On this 4.5-hour Santorini tour, I like how guides like Billy stitch the day together, starting at Santorini Brewing Company and moving through Art Space, Estate Argyros, and a final winery stop. I love the 12-wine tasting flight and the cheese and bread pairings that help you understand what you are actually drinking. The one consideration, if it affects you, is that this tour is not wheelchair friendly and is listed as unsuitable for people with heart problems.

You’ll ride a small van, with pickup and drop-off across the island (including places like Fira, Oia, and Perissa). The pace is designed so you can taste, ask questions, and still enjoy the views of Santorini’s vineyards without rushing.

Key highlights you should care about

• A beer-first start at Santorini Brewing Company so the wine tastings feel balanced
• Volcanic soil and island grapes, with a real focus on how the island shapes the glass
• Art Space’s underground cellars and a longer winery stop for actual touring time
• Estate Argyros traditions made physical, including mules plowing the fields and using grape byproducts to enrich soil
• Three very different winery vibes in one afternoon, instead of repeating the same tasting room formula
• Guides who manage the day, with lots of humor, patience, and time to finish your pours

Why this Santorini beer and wine combo works so well

Santorini can feel like two different islands at once. There is the postcard side, with caldera views and white towns, and then there is the working side, where vines grow in volcanic ground and the winemaking routine is very specific. This tour is built for the second side, with tastings that walk you through why Santorini wine tastes like Santorini wine.

The beer and wine mix is also smart. You start with local beer (three samples), then switch to wine flights at the wineries, so you do not get that sudden, end-to-end wine overload. I also appreciate that the food is not an afterthought. Cheese, dry breads, and Greek-style bites are there to help you taste with your whole palate, not just your tongue.

The best part for me is the guide-led flow. Names like Billy, Nick, Panos, Nikolaas, Yiannis, and John show up in different trip stories, and the common thread is attention to pace. You get time at each stop to taste, ask, and actually look around.

The 4.5-hour route, from pickup to your final winery stop

The timing is tight but not frantic. You’ll typically settle into the van for about 30 minutes before the first tasting, then you move between stops in short drives. The itinerary runs about 4.5 hours total, with a mix of tasting blocks and winery visiting time.

The structure is clear. You begin at the brewery, then head to Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia (a longer stop with an underground cellar visit). After that comes Estate Argyros, and then a final cellar door or winery stop. The last stop can be one of several options, including Anhydrous Cellar Door, Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery, depending on availability.

Where this matters for you is logistics. If you are staying in Fira or Oia, you can do this without renting a car. Pickup and drop-off options are spread across the island, so you do not have to fight a bus schedule while tasting wine.

Start at Santorini Brewing Company for the perfect first sip

Your day begins with beer at Santorini Brewing Company, and the tasting window is about 20 minutes. The point here is simple: start local, start light, and let the guide set the tone before the wine flights get more intense.

This stop also helps you “read” Santorini. Even if beer is not your thing, local brews are a fast way to understand the island’s modern side. It is casual compared to a formal winery setting, and you’ll usually have enough time to chat with the staff and ask questions.

Practical win: you get a taste rhythm. After a few beers, you go into wine with a better sense of what flavors feel fresh versus what feels heavy. Plus, it keeps the group energy up early in the day, which helps once you get to the more serious tastings.

Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia, with underground cellars and a lot of tasting time

Art Space Winery is in Exo Gonia, and this is one of the longer stops at about an hour. This matters because wine tours can feel like a speedrun if every location is 20 minutes. Here, you get time to slow down, walk, and do more than just swallow and move on.

The standout feature is the underground cellars. When you go below ground, the experience changes. It is cooler, quieter, and it gives you a physical sense of storage and temperature control, which connects directly to why wines taste the way they do. This is also the kind of stop where you’ll learn how the volcanic setting influences the vine and the final flavors.

You’ll also taste multiple wines during the flight, and the food helps you separate what you enjoy. Cheese and Greek-style bites are there to keep your palate awake, especially if you are new to Greek varietals.

Estate Argyros, where modern design meets traditional farming

Estate Argyros is a big contrast after Art Space. You still get tasting time (about 75 minutes), but the vibe shifts toward a more modern aesthetic while keeping traditional methods in the background.

What I like about Argyros is that it explains practices in a way that feels real, not like a marketing slide. You’ll hear about mules plowing the fields, and you’ll also learn how grape byproducts are used to enrich the soil. Those details matter because they connect vineyard work to the wine you taste.

This stop is also a good place to slow down and compare. If you remember the flavors from Art Space, you can start noticing patterns like acidity, texture, and how the wine changes as it warms in your glass. The guide’s role is key here, because the best tasting is the one where you know what to look for next.

The final winery choice: Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos

The day ends at one of several winery options, based on availability. In the fixed itinerary you’ll see Anhydrous Cellar Door listed for a tasting block of about 75 minutes, but you may also go to Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos.

Why that matters to you: Santorini does not just vary by grape. It varies by winemaking style, cellar approach, and the way each estate presents itself. Ending with a different estate gives your afternoon more range, especially if you like comparing visuals and service styles, not only flavors.

If you are the type who wants to plan down to the last detail, you may need flexibility. If you are okay with a small bit of variation, that flexibility is a feature, not a bug, because it helps the tour keep the day moving smoothly.

What you actually taste: 12 different wines plus 3 local beers

The tour promise is clear: you’ll taste at least 12 different wines and 3 local beers. Tastings are guided by an English-speaking host or expert staff, and the format is built to help you understand the island’s winemaking process instead of just handing you a glass.

In practice, you’ll get multiple pours across the flight. Each winery has its own style, so the goal is variety, not repeating the same tasting notes. You also get paired snacks throughout, like local cheese and dry breads, and those small bites make a big difference.

One detail I think you’ll appreciate if you are not a hardcore wine person: the tour explains what makes Santorini wines unique, including the volcanic setting and the island’s own grape species. You do not need to memorize terms. You just need a framework for what you are tasting, and the guide provides that.

Food pairings that keep your palate awake (and your day enjoyable)

Food on wine tours can be either helpful or pointless. Here, it is built into the tasting experience. You’ll see local cheese and dry breads paired with the wines, plus Greek delicacies and more snack-style bites depending on the stop.

This is the practical part. Wine tasting works better when you are not tasting on an empty stomach. Cheese and bread help reset your palate between pours, so you can still notice the differences across the flight instead of getting stuck on one dominating flavor.

You also get a social rhythm. People tend to focus on the pour when they are hungry, then relax when they have something to eat. The result is that the day feels like an afternoon outing, not a class you have to endure.

Transportation comfort matters more than you think on Santorini

This tour is done by van, and the route includes short drives between multiple estates. On Santorini, that matters because roads and parking can eat up time, especially if you are trying to DIY.

The experience is designed for comfort. Pickup and drop-off are included, and the transport is described as top-rated by a large share of participants. Reviews also mention comfortable vehicles with A/C and water, plus a smooth ride between higher and lower areas of the island.

If you are doing this from Oia or other far-flung points, that convenience is the hidden value. You spend less time planning and more time tasting, which is the whole reason to choose a guided tour.

The guide makes or breaks the day, and this one leans hard on service

The strongest praise across trip stories is not about the wine alone. It is about how the day is run. Guides like Billy, Panos, Nikolaas, Yiannis, and John show up repeatedly, and the common thread is patient, friendly service plus serious wine talk.

You’ll likely get more than just a script. Many guides share extra island context, pointing out history and practical details that you would miss if you only bounced between tasting rooms on your own. There is also a noticeable emphasis on timing, meaning you usually get enough time at each stop rather than being herded.

One more practical win: photo support. Some guides take pictures during the day, so you do not have to keep handing your camera to random strangers while holding a wine glass.

Price and value check for $200 per person

At $200 per person, this is not a cheap impulse buy. But the value math is more solid than it looks at first glance.

You are paying for four main things:

• Guided tastings at multiple stops, including at least 12 wines and 3 beers
• Food pairings (cheese and breads, plus Greek-style snack bites)
• Pickup and drop-off from many parts of the island
• A guide and staff expertise across the day, including winery cellar or tasting-room time

If you try to copy this independently, you quickly run into two problems. First, getting around between wineries takes planning. Second, tasting fees and food add up, and you still do not get the organized flow that makes the day easier to understand.

Still, it may not be the best fit if you only want one or two sips and you are mainly in Santorini for sunsets and beach time. For couples and small groups who want to learn while enjoying multiple tastings, this price starts to feel fair.

Who this tour is best for (and who should skip)

This works best if you want a guided, structured tasting day and you care about learning why Santorini wines are so distinct. It also fits people who want to drink without driving, because pickup and drop-off solve the hardest part of the logistics.

It is especially good for:

• Couples and small groups who like a more personal pace
• People who enjoy comparing different winery styles
• Beer lovers who want more than just a token sample

You should rethink it if you are:

• Not up for a full half-day with multiple tasting stops
• Someone who is not comfortable with the van travel component
• Anyone in the listed non-suitable categories: pregnancy, heart problems, wheelchair users (as per tour notes)

Also, pets are not allowed and smoking is not allowed, so plan accordingly.

Should you book this Santorini beer and wine tour?

If you want an organized Santorini experience that goes beyond basic wine shopping, I think this is a strong choice. The combination of beer plus multiple winery tastings, plus food pairings and expert-led explanation, makes the day feel like it has a point, not just a checklist of stops.

Book it if you want a guide-driven day with time to ask questions, taste lots of different wines, and enjoy the island vineyards without the car stress. Skip or consider another option if you are limited by mobility or health needs, or if you only want a quick sample rather than a full tasting afternoon.

If you like the idea of learning about volcanic vineyards while sipping through Santorini, this tour is the kind of plan that turns into a real memory. Not just because of the drinks, but because the day is paced for enjoying them.

FAQ

How long is the Santorini beer and wine tour?

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours.

How many wines and beers are included in the tastings?

You can taste 12 different wines and 3 local beers, with cheese pairing included.

Does the tour include pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with many pickup options and matching drop-off locations across Santorini.

Which places does the tour visit?

It starts at Santorini Brewing Company, then visits Art Space Winery and Estate Argyros. The final winery stop depends on availability and can be Anhydrous Cellar Door, Hatzidakis Winery, Venetsanos Winery, or Artemis Karamolegos Winery.

Is the tour guide available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide is listed as English.

Is this tour private or in a group?

The tour offers private or small groups, depending on availability.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

No. It is listed as not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, and wheelchair users. Pets are not allowed, and smoking is not allowed.