Santorini is well-known for its local wines and wine tours. When visiting the island, it can be overwhelming as to which winery to tour and what wine tasting to partake in. In fact, if you search on Google for things to do in Santorini, wine tours and tastings are almost always close to the top of the list. According to Trip Advisor, some wine tours can cost you from €50-150. This would most likely break a study abroad student’s budget for the week.
Old wine barrels used as signs in front of Faros Market to advertise other
products they offer. P.C. Amanda Guard
If you are looking taste the local wines of Santorini, going on a free wine tasting at Faros Market or spending an evening at Santo Wines winery are both great ways to do it. Santo Wines is a winery with a rich history and a secret weapon for making their wine. The Santo Vineyard of Santorini is one of the most ancient in the world with a 3,500-year-old story.
In past centuries, repeated volcanic eruptions formed a soil that gives distinctive flavors to grapes. The soil is composed of lava, volcanic ash and light stone. Assyrito, a white grape, thrives in the volcanic environment of Santorini. The prevalence of assyrito contributes to the popularity of white wine in Santorini. This is partly why you may notice drinking white wine in Greece is more common than drinking red wine. According to a waitress at Santo Wines, new technology for cultivating the wine has helped Santo Wines grow to its size today.
The entrance to Faros Market. Donkeys are very prevalent in this area.
An employee at Faros Market explaining the different grapes grown in their vineyard.
If you are on a really tight budget, Faros Market in Thira offers free wine tastings and tours. At the end of the tour, you have the option to cork a wine bottle of your choosing and take it home with you for a price of €20. Amanda Guard went to Faros Market for the wine tour and corked her own bottle as well, she opted to send the bottle back to her parents in Florida. Guard hopes to bring her parents back to Faros Market someday.
Guard using a floor corking machine to cork her bottle at Faros Market.
Amanda Guard pouring a red wine she selected into a bottle.
Guard admiring her work after corking her first wine bottle.
Study abroad student, Gabby Seiler, did a wine tasting at Santo Wines in Pygros. She said you are better off reserving a table at Santo Wines than touring it. And if you order a flight of wine, you will receive about twice the amount of wine for one third of the price than if you had done a wine tasting. At Santo Wines, a customer can order flights of six, 12 or 18 samples of wine. Taylor Torok, also a student, split a 12 flight of wine with a friend which cost her €13. The total cost for the 12 flight is €26. Santo wines also offers a selection of cheese plates and bread sticks to pair with your wine, which will cost you around €7. Seiler and Torok both recommend Santo Winery and hope to return if they visit Santorini again.
The cheese platter at Santo Wines is a great pallet cleanser.
When receiving a flight of wine, SantoWines provides a brief
description of the wines you are given.
Ask your waiter to purchase one of the custom Santo Wine glasses.
