Discovering Santorini's Traditional Wine Heritage: Classic Greek Wineries born from Rich Volcanic Soils

Santorini’s timeless winemaking traditions have been shaped by volcanic landscapes and ancient vines to be crafted into some of Greece’s most distinctive wines.

Unlike any other region, Santorini’s winemaking tradition thrives under the most challenging conditions: harsh winds, arid land, and volcanic ash. Yet from this unforgiving earth comes some of Greece’s most remarkable wines—bold, mineral-rich expressions of the island itself.

Santorini’s landscape tells a story before a word is spoken. Beneath its whitewashed villages and sunlit cliffs, volcanic soils shape not only the island’s contours but its culture, most notably, in the wines that have been produced here for centuries. On this sun-drenched island, where the sea breeze carries the scent of salt and stone, winemaking is more than an industry. It is heritage, resilience, and craft passed from one generation to the next.

The Volcanic Legacy: How Santorini’s Soil Shapes Its Wines

Santorini’s wines are born from volcanic soil—ash, pumice, and lava stone, that infuses each grape with minerality and depth. The island’s arid climate and lack of freshwater force vines to grow deep roots, resulting in wines with bright acidity and saline complexity.

These challenging conditions not only shape flavor but also protect tradition. The volcanic earth resists pests like phylloxera, allowing many vines to remain ungrafted and centuries old. In every glass, the island’s geological history comes through—a testament to resilience and craft.

The Kouloura Method: Basket Vines Unique to Santorini

In Santorini, vines grow unlike anywhere else. Shaped into low, circular baskets called kouloura, the vines are woven close to the ground, protecting the grapes from the island’s fierce winds and intense sun.

This ancient vine-training method allows the fruit to ripen slowly within the basket’s shelter, preserving both moisture and quality. Though labor-intensive, this tradition endures—producing small yields of concentrated, expressive grapes. The kouloura is a symbol of Santorini’s winemaking heritage, connecting past to present with every harvest.

Indigenous Grape Varieties and Santorini’s Signature Wines

Santorini’s vineyards are home to ancient grape varieties, the most celebrated being Assyrtiko. Known for its crisp acidity, minerality, and aging potential, Assyrtiko thrives in the island’s volcanic soils, creating wines that are fresh yet structured.

Alongside it, Aidani and Athiri grapes add softness and floral notes, which are often blended to achieve a balanced flavor profile. These grape varieties, together with Assyrtiko, are also used to make Vinsanto, the famous sweet wine of Santorini, made from sun-dried grapes. With Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, these grapes embody the island's heritage, delivering flavors that are influenced by the local land and its history.

Alongside it, Aidani and Athiri contribute softness and floral notes, often blended for balance. These grapes also produce Vinsanto, Santorini’s renowned sweet wine, made from sun-dried grapes. Protected by PDO status, these varieties reflect the island’s heritage, offering flavors shaped by the land and history.

7 Most Traditional Wineries in Santorini

1- Estate Argyros

Founded in 1903, Estate Argyros remains one of Santorini’s most respected family-run wineries. With some of the island’s oldest Assyrtiko vines, many ungrafted and over a century old, the estate produces expressive, mineral-rich wines that capture the essence of Santorini’s volcanic terroir.

2- Santo Wines

Founded in 1911 and stablished as a cooperative in 1947, Santo Wines brings together local growers committed to preserving traditional methods. Offering spectacular caldera views, the winery works with over 30 local grapes, showcasing both the island’s landscape and its flavors.

3- Gavalas Winery

One of the oldest wineries in Megalochori, Gavalas is a family-run operation with roots stretching back to the 19th century. Here, tradition guides the process, from hand-harvested grapes to indigenous varieties alongside the island’s classic Assyrtiko and Vinsanto.

4- Gaia Wines

Situated on the island’s east coast, where the vineyards meet the sea, Gaia Wines merges modern techniques with traditional practices. Founded in 1994, it offers a contemporary approach to Assyrtiko, producing both stainless steel and oak-aged expressions, with a focus on innovation rooted in heritage.

5- Hatzidakis Winery

Nestled in the hills near Pyrgos Kallistis, Hatzidakis Winery carries a story of revival. Founded in 1997 by Haridimos Hatzidakis and Konstantina Chryssou, the winery brought life back to abandoned vineyards, working with organic practices and indigenous varieties. The result is wines with depth and authenticity, including Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Mavrotragano.

6- Venetsanos Winery

Perched above the Athinios port, Venetsanos Winery was founded in 1947 as Santorini’s first industrial winery, using gravity-fed systems ingeniously designed into the cliffs. Today, visitors enjoy tastings overlooking the caldera, sampling Assyrtiko, Mandilaria, and Vinsanto while learning about the winery’s innovative past.

7- Canava Roussos

Founded in 1836, Canava Roussos is the oldest winery on the island. Located in Episkopi Gonias, it remains family-owned, preserving centuries-old methods of vinification. Their portfolio highlights the best of Santorini’s heritage, from robust Assyrtiko to rich, sun-dried Vinsanto, all made with an unwavering commitment to tradition.

Final Thoughts

Santorini’s wines are inseparable from its landscape, shaped by volcanic soils, woven vines, and centuries of tradition. Each visit to a traditional winery offers more than a tasting, it’s a journey through the island’s past, a connection to the growers and winemakers who continue to honor their heritage in every bottle.

Whether standing in the quiet of a basket-trained vineyard, sipping Assyrtiko overlooking the caldera, or stepping into a cool cellar carved from volcanic rock, you experience something deeper than flavor. You taste a place, a history, a craft preserved.