Santorini: Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings

What makes this tour so interesting is that it blends Santorini’s wine culture with a proper brewery stop, so your afternoon feels like two tastes of the island in one smooth loop. I especially like the way the guides, including Billy, connect what you’re drinking to how Santorini grows grapes and makes wine on volcanic ground. Another big plus is the food pacing, with cheese and local snacks showing up alongside the tastings.

The main consideration is timing. At about 4.5 hours, you get a smart pace and a lot of samples, but you do not get endless time to linger at one winery if you prefer slow, long visits.

Key things I think you should know before you go

• Beer first at Santorini Brewing Company with a three-beer tasting to kick off your island afternoon.
• Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia offers a different vibe, plus guided time and tastings in a photogenic setting.
• Underground cellars are part of the flow, which makes the history feel real, not just explained.
• Estate Argyros pairs modern looks with traditional methods, including using mules to plow and grape byproducts to enrich soil.
• Your final winery can vary by availability, from Anhydrous to Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos.

Beer and Wine in One Shot, with Pickup That Actually Helps

Santorini can be a maze of stairs, views, and distances. This is one of the easier ways to experience a lot without thinking about buses, parking, or timing. You’re picked up from a wide set of spots across the island, then you settle into a comfortable van for a day that is built around tastings, short guided tours, and photo stops that fit the schedule.

For me, the sweet spot here is that it is not only “wine and wine and wine.” You get a brewery start, then you shift into wineries that each feel different in design, atmosphere, and winemaking approach. The result is a tour that teaches you something while still feeling fun, especially if you like variety as much as you like learning.

Also, the vibe can be more personal than you expect. Depending on the day, groups can be small, and some people even end up on private-style schedules. That matters because wine tours work best when you can ask questions and stay engaged during tastings.

The Start Line: Santorini Brewing Company and a Three-Beer Kickoff

You begin at Santorini Brewing Company, and the goal is simple: get your taste buds awake before the wine schools start. You’ll sample three local beers within a short stop, with time for the staff to talk you through what you’re tasting. This is a great “warm up” because it gives you a baseline for how local producers handle flavor, texture, and balance.

What I like about starting with beer is that it lowers the pressure. If you’re not the biggest wine person, beer still gives you a reason to pay attention. If you are a wine person, the beer helps you notice differences faster when you move to wine later.

From the feedback I saw, the brewery stop often comes with friendly conversation and a relaxed feel. A couple of guides also seemed to emphasize that the brewery experience is meant to be light and social, not just a ticket-stamp photo stop.

Art Space in Exo Gonia: Where the Setting Helps You Understand the Wine

Next comes Art Space Winery in Exo Gonia, described as one of the island’s best. This is where the tour shifts from “tasting to discover” to “tasting to learn.” You get about an hour here, and you’re not just handed glasses. You’re guided through what you’re tasting, why Santorini’s grapes behave the way they do, and what makes the style distinct.

Exo Gonia is also one of those places where the landscape does half the work for you. You’re surrounded by vineyard charm, and it feels less like an industrial wine stop and more like a place with a view and a story. If you care about aesthetics, this is usually one of the highlights.

I also paid attention to a recurring theme from the experience: the hosts and sommeliers bring energy. Some stops mention specific guide names such as Panos at Art Space, which tells you the tour often includes real personality, not just generic script reading. That matters because the wines can only land if the explanation matches your curiosity.

Pairing is part of the plan here too. Expect local cheeses and other small bites that help you separate flavors. In practice, this makes a big difference. Without food, wine tastings can blur together fast. With the right bites, you start noticing texture, acidity, and the way flavors move from one glass to the next.

Estate Argyros: Modern Design, Traditional Farming on Volcanic Ground

From Art Space, the tour continues to Estate Argyros. This is an extended stop, about 75 minutes, so you have time for both tasting and a more complete winery experience.

The first thing to know: Argyros is modern in appearance, but the production story includes traditional practices. One of the standout details is the use of mules to plow fields, plus the idea of using grape byproducts to enrich the soil. That is not just a fun fact. It’s a clue to why Santorini wine can feel both delicate and intense at the same time.

And then there are the winery logistics that make it easier for you. You’re not rushing from one room to another with no context. You’re guided through what they do, how they think about soil and cultivation, and how that translates into what ends up in your glass.

Even better, the tour includes a visit to underground cellars before heading to Argyros. I like this sequence because it gives you contrast. Above ground you see the vineyards and the sun. Underground you see the storage and patience that wine needs. Together, it helps the whole story click.

The Final Winery Stop: Anhydrous, Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos

After Argyros, the tour ends at a final winery that can vary based on availability. Depending on the day, your last tasting may be at ANHYDROUS (Cellar Door), Hatzidakis, Venetsanos, or Artemis Karamolegos.

What you can count on is the “last stop” format: another tasting block with local wines and guided explanation. It’s also the part of the day where your palate usually settles in. After multiple tastings, you tend to stop searching for flavors and start recognizing patterns, like how different wines handle acidity, sweetness, or mineral character.

Practical tip: pace yourself across the day. You will have at least 12 different wines plus 3 beers, and they come in a tasting style. With food pairings across stops, you can manage it, but you still want to leave yourself room to enjoy the final venue instead of just surviving it.

How the Tastings Work (and Why the Pairings Matter)

The tour is built around 12 different wine tastings and 3 local beers, paired with local items like cheese and dry breads plus other Greek delicacies depending on the stop. This pairing strategy is one of the smartest parts of the experience. Wine tastes differently when you change what’s in your mouth.

For you, that means:

• You can actually compare wines from one winery to another without everything becoming one big blur.
• If you prefer crisp, lighter styles, you’ll still find moments where the food helps those wines feel lively, not sharp.
• If you prefer deeper, fuller wines, the pairings help you notice how texture changes from pour to pour.

Another value point is the guide quality. Multiple guides and hosts are mentioned by name in feedback, including Billy, Nick, John, Yiannis, Nikolaas, Panos, and Paula (noted as part of sommelier explanations). That pattern suggests the tour often assigns staff who can explain without making it feel like a lecture.

Transport, Timing, and Group Size: The Logistics That Make or Break a Day

This is a 4.5-hour tour with pickup and drop-off at many points around Santorini. The schedule includes short driving segments between stops, with time focused on tastings rather than long transit.

A recurring detail from the experience is the comfort of transport. People reference a clean minibus, good AC, and even Mercedes sprinter-style comfort. That’s not fluff. In summer heat, comfort makes you feel less drained, and in wine tours, less fatigue means you pay more attention.

Group size also varies. Some days are private or small-group, which tends to make the conversation flow better. If you’re on a honeymoon or a birthday trip, that matters even more. Wine and beer are fun, but the real payoff often comes from the guide’s ability to tailor pacing, explain things clearly, and handle questions without feeling rushed.

Price and Value: What You’re Really Paying For at $200

At around $200 per person, you’re paying for a set of things that are hard to recreate on your own:

• Pickup and drop-off from multiple locations
• Transportation between four tasting stops in a short time window
• A structured tasting plan that includes 12 wines and 3 beers
• Guided explanations from staff at the winery and brewery sites
• Cheese pairing and local snacks that keep the tastings from becoming repetitive

If you were doing this solo, you’d likely still pay for transport (or a tour vehicle), then pay separately for tastings and snacks at multiple wineries. Also, most wineries are not set up to give you a guided, comparative education across four locations in a single afternoon unless you book into a coordinated experience like this.

So, is it expensive? It can be. But for a half-day that stacks multiple producers, multiple styles, and multiple food pairings, the value can feel solid, especially if you like learning but also want the trip to be easy.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Pass)

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a short, high-sampling day without driving
• Like both beer and wine
• Enjoy learning about grape culture and winemaking techniques linked to Santorini’s volcanic environment
• Want a fun couples activity with lots of photo opportunities and variety in venue atmosphere

It may not fit if you’re:

• Pregnant or you have heart problems (not suitable)
• Using a wheelchair (not suitable)
• Sensitive to a tasting-heavy schedule and prefer slower, less structured experiences

Should You Book It? My Simple Decision Rule

Book this tour if you want a half-day that gives you both variety and context. The combination of beer + wine, the food pairings, and the chance to visit multiple wineries with different vibes makes it a good use of limited time on Santorini.

Skip it if you only want one winery experience, or if you prefer to drink slowly in one place rather than tasting widely. Also, if you’re in the early planning stage and you know you’ll want expert explanations to make the tastings meaningful, this is one of the more efficient ways to do it.

One last practical note: if you’re visiting during a busier season, keep your expectations calm and patient. Even a great itinerary can feel busy in peak tourist weeks. If that’s your mindset, the day works.

FAQ

How long is the Santorini beer and wine tour?

The tour runs for about 4.5 hours.

What tastings are included?

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

Do I get pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with many pickup and drop-off options around Santorini.

Is the tour guide in English?

Yes, the tour includes a live guide in English.

Is this tour private or small-group?

Private or small groups are available, depending on your booking and availability.

Are pets or smoking allowed?

No pets are allowed, and smoking is not allowed.

Who is this tour not suitable for?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or wheelchair users.

Can I cancel or pay later?

The experience offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and it also offers a reserve now, pay later option.