Argyros

Visit the most acclaimed wine estates on the island of Santorini and sample 12 different wines produced in the local wineries. Learn about the 3,500-year history of wine making on the volcanic island, starting at a vineyard located on the unique soils with traditional basket vines. Hear about the local viticulture that makes Santorini a world heritage site for wine production. Visit 3 distinct wine estates, such as the Argyros estate or Art Space Winery, the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum, Venetsanos Winery or Gavalas Estate Winery. Taste organic wines, such as Nykteri, Assyrtiko, and Vinsanto, with local delicacies including cheese and olives.   

Make the first stop of the tour at Santorini Caldera and learn all about the details of its formation. Then, continue through the scenic countryside to the village of Oia, the most photographed location in Santorini. Also visit the village of Imerovigli, situated on a higher cliff with an incredible view. Next, make a short stop in Firostefani to see the famous Blue Dome Church, the subject of so many Santorini postcards. Continue to the peak of Prophet Ilias, the island’s highest mountain, standing 2,000 feet above sea level. Next on the itinerary is a visit to the village of Megalochori or Pyrgos. You can then take an optional stop at Akrotiri Archaeological Site if you want to explore the excavations. Also, you can choose an optional winery visit to Estate Argyros or Venetsanos Winery, to taste the local wine.

Travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle as you tour 3 of Santorini's wine estates. Discover ancient winemaking traditions, tour one of the top 10 wine museums in the world, and hear about the cutting-edge production facilities at one of the most imposing wineries on the island. Start your wine tasting tour at Venetsanos Winery, the first industrial winery on the island. This beautiful wine estate is located right above the Port of Athinios overlooking the magnificent caldera of Santorini. Learn about the winery's rich history and marvel at striking views. Take an optional guided tour led by a sommelier and learn about quality, enology, and flavor alchemy. Sample 4 of the estate's wines accompanied by an assortment of light snacks. Next, head to the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum. This one-of-a-kind museum is nestled in a cave and took the family who owns the estate 21 years to create. Learn about the history of winemaking from an audio guide and taste 4 different wines served with crackers and chocolate. Finally, head to one of the most imposing wineries on the island of Santorini, Estate Argyros. Listen as specialized wine educators provide detailed information about the estate as well as the grape varieties indigenous to Santorini. Sip on 4 of the estate's current vintage wines accompanied by an assortment of fine Greek cheeses and breadsticks.

This tour takes you on a journey through the island that pairs picturesque views with exceptional quality wines. Wine cultivation on Santorini began with the Venetian occupation of the island; the Venetians adeptly understood that the mineral-rich volcanic soil of the island would yield the finest wines. You will tour 3 uniquely distinct wineries with expert sommeliers, who will guide you through the history of Santorini’s wine-making; we will travel across the island to experience the breadth of what Santorini has to offer in wine-making. To begin with, Argyros winery: one of the largest vineyards on the island; home to centuries old vines. Next stop is Art Space Winery Musem Art Gallery is a unique Art Center within the pumice rock – carved chambers of an old winery located in Exo Gonia, Santorini and continues from the year 1999 until today to stand as a hospitable retreat for all those Greek and foreign artisans who share the same passion for creativity. In the 1861 old winery, representative works of art from the sphere of painting and sculpture are on display, offering visitors the opportunity to come close to contemporary Greek art and the course of artistic expression in Greece. What is more, Art Space Winery continues regularly the traditional winemaking production includes in its premises a contemporary winery offering renowned products of high quality. Last stop is Venetsanos winery located right above the port of Athinios, overlooking the magnificent caldera of Santorini. The Venetsanos family has a very long tradition of producing wine. Originally was produced for the island and subsequently, it was exported extensively, and particularly to countries such as Russia. It was built in 1947 by the Venetsanos family and became the first industrial winery on the island. Its most distinguishing feature is the structural design, which essentially used gravity, facilitating energy efficiency, at a time when access to electricity and other energy sources was very limited. The winery was built in an unconventional manner constructed from above and moving downwards The experience includes a tour of each winery with an expert sommelier, followed by wine- tasting. *Depending on winaries availability one of them may change.

The tour departs from Kamaria Village or Fira Town, depending on the option selected, and heads to the first stop of the day, Argyros Estate. Learn about the island’s indigenous grapes as well as the history of the estate. Taste four of the estate’s vintage wines, accompanied by an assortment of Greek cheese and bread sticks. Arrive at Venetsanos Winery next, which boasts panoramic views of the volcanic caldera. Discover the history of Santorini wine and the old techniques used to produce it as you explore the winery and taste exceptional wines. Finally, visit Artemis Karamolegos Winery for another guided tour and a tasting session of three unique wines. Once you have worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy a delicious lunch of local dishes and traditional delicacies. Items included in the lunch are spinach salad, dakos salad, tzatziki, cheese spread, tomato fritters, chicken fillet, mushroom risotto, fresh fruit, and more.

In this tour our main goal is for all the guests to experience the uniqueness of our most famous local product – Wine!!! We will begin our tour visiting Argyros Estate, a winery with great history as it was established officially in 1903 although the Argyros family has been involved in wine production for decades before that. It is the largest private owner of vineyards in Santorini and the current landholdings exceed 120 ha, a vast, four-generations-long investment. Estate Argyros works almost exclusively with old vines because only these vineyards can provide the depth, the definition and the concentration needed to produce the desired style of wine. Our next stop is Artemis Karamolegos Winery. Based upon the solid foundations of granddad Artemis’s winemaking tradition since 1952, the winery made a dynamic entry in contemporary winemaking in 2004, when grandson Artemis Karamolegos invested in the production facility and the privately owned vineyards, producing wine of protected designation of origin (PDO) for the first time. Almost 15 years later, the wines keep earning prizes at international and domestic competitions while our export activities continue to grow on a yearly basis: we are currently the third largest winery of Santorini in terms of production volume. In between the winery visits it is always nice to have a look at the amazing landscapes of Santorini… The next stop will be a small surprise in one of the most famous spots on the island.. At the end of our tour, we will visit Santo Wines Winery. This winery located at the top of the cliffside and combines the amazing views with very interestingly flavored wines. The Union of Santorini Cooperatives, Santo Wines was founded in 1947. Today, it consists of the largest organization of the island representing all the cultivators and counting 1.200 active members. Santo Wines produces highest quality Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Santorini wines and products as well as promoting sustainable agriculture development. After your visiting the third winery you will be transferred back to your accommodation. Additional Info: • Amendments on the above program are possible as this is a private tour. • Booking confirmation is always subject to availability. • Services animals are allowed in the vehicle. • Not wheelchair accessibility • Most travelers can participate. • The above-mentioned tour is private which means that no other group or guests participate. Useful tips: • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.