Santorini: Small Group Tour of 3 Local Wineries

Santorini’s volcanic soil gives its wines a strong sense of place, and this small-group outing lets you taste that character at three different producers. You’ll go from Estate Argyros, known for its focus on white Assyrtiko, to a winery with a broader range of styles, then finish among art and old pumice-cut winery rooms at Art Space.

I like the mix of three distinct winery settings and the practical ease of hotel transfers, plus the chance to taste wine alongside a Greek meze-style platter. One thing to check before booking: the stated four-hour duration does not seem to match three listed 80-minute stops, even before driving time.

At a glance

• Three stops, three different angles: Estate Argyros focuses chiefly on Assyrtiko, Artemis Karamolegos offers several wine styles, and Art Space pairs wine with contemporary Greek art.
• Volcanic-soil wines: Assyrtiko and Mandilaria are among the grapes highlighted for tasting.
• A small group: The tour is limited to 15 people, though one outing had only five participants.
• Food with the tasting: A Greek meze-style meal is included, described as a cheese and charcuterie platter.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off: You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, with water and Wi-Fi included.
• Check the timing: The tour is advertised as four hours, while each of its three winery visits is listed at 80 minutes.

A three-winery route through Santorini

This tour is designed for you to sample wine and get a useful introduction to Santorini’s production traditions without arranging transport between wineries yourself. An English-speaking driver-guide picks you up at your hotel, takes you to three tasting stops, then returns you to Thera.

The island’s volcanic soil is central to the experience. You’ll hear about local winemaking and taste wines made from grapes such as Assyrtiko and Mandilaria, both highlighted for this tour. That context matters: rather than tasting Greek wines in the abstract, you’ll be trying bottles tied to Santorini’s growing conditions and local traditions.

The route also has more variety than three tasting rooms alone. Estate Argyros brings you to a vineyard estate with ocean views; Artemis Karamolegos presents a broad range of wine types; and Art Space combines an old winery setting with contemporary Greek painting and sculpture. That change of mood helps keep the day from feeling like a repeated tasting session.

Estate Argyros: Assyrtiko with a view

Your first stop is Estate Argyros, where the expansive tasting room sits within the winery’s vineyard estate. Ocean views add a scenic frame to the tasting, but the main point here is the wine: the estate focuses predominantly on the white Assyrtiko grape, a variety closely associated with Santorini.

You’ll learn how the winery uses Assyrtiko to express the island’s terroir. The tasting also includes an Aidani wine, offering a point of comparison with the estate’s main focus. If you’re curious about how local grapes differ, this is a good place to pay attention to what changes in the glass rather than simply counting samples.

The setting makes this stop an appealing opening, though it may also set a high bar for views. The other wineries have their own character, but not every stop is described as having the same ocean outlook. If scenery is part of what you’re paying for, enjoy it here without expecting each tasting room to offer an identical vista.

The visit is listed at 80 minutes. That is a generous amount of time for a guided winery visit and tasting, if the schedule runs as described. It also makes the tour’s four-hour total worth clarifying, since the three listed winery visits add up to four hours before transfers.

Artemis Karamolegos: a wider range of styles

At Artemis Karamolegos Winery, the emphasis shifts from a strong focus on Assyrtiko to a varied selection. The wines are presented across categories that include young and aged whites and reds, rosé, semisweet, and sweet wines.

That range is useful if you’re still figuring out your own preferences. You can compare wines beyond the dry whites often associated with Santorini, and see how the island’s producers work across different styles. The tour’s highlights also call out Mandilaria, a local grape you’ll be tasting alongside Assyrtiko.

There is a trade-off to keep in mind. A broad lineup makes for a varied visit, but the exact wines poured can shape how distinct the three tastings feel. One participant found that the wineries served basically the same wine, while another found all three stops different and fascinating. In practice, tastings may overlap in grape varieties or style, even when the settings and presentations differ. Go for a cross-section of Santorini wine, not a promise that every pour will be unlike the last.

As at the first stop, the listed visit lasts 80 minutes. That gives the guide room to explain the range and lead a tasting, but ask the provider about the day’s timing if you need the tour to fit a tight schedule.

Art Space: wine among old pumice-cut rooms and art

The final winery is Art Space in Exo Gonia. It occupies an old winery dating to 1861, with chambers carved into pumice rock. The building now serves as an art center, where painting and sculpture by contemporary Greek artists are displayed.

This stop adds a different kind of interest to the route. You’re not only learning about wine production; you’re seeing how an old winery space has been given a new role while traditional winemaking continues on the premises. Art Space has operated as an art center since 1999 and also maintains a contemporary winery producing its own wines.

For you, that combination can make the last visit especially memorable if you enjoy art, old buildings, or places that serve more than one purpose. It is also a change of pace after two more conventional winery visits. If you’re mainly interested in detailed wine production, keep in mind that the art display is a substantial part of what makes this stop distinctive.

The winery visit is listed at 80 minutes, again making the stated four-hour tour length difficult to reconcile with the stop times alone. Confirm how the timing works when you book, especially if you have plans immediately afterward.

Meze, group size, and the ride between stops

The tour includes a Greek meze-style meal, described as a cheese and charcuterie platter. It gives you something to eat alongside the wine and makes the tasting feel more like a shared food-and-wine outing than a series of pours. The exact platter details are not specified, so don’t count on particular cheeses or meats.

Hotel pickup and drop-off remove the need to plan your own transport to three separate wineries. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water and Wi-Fi are included. For a wine-focused outing, being driven between stops is a practical benefit, not a small one.

The group is capped at 15. That is small enough to keep the experience more personal than a large coach tour, though the cap is not a guarantee of a tiny group. One outing had five people in total, including the couple who shared that detail. Your group could be larger, up to the stated limit.

The driver-guide speaks English. No guide’s name is provided, so you can’t book based on a particular person. One participant singled out the driver as excellent, and the tour’s guided winery visits are an important part of its appeal: you get context for what you’re tasting rather than simply moving from counter to counter.

Is $167 a fair price?

At $167 per person, this is a considered purchase, not an inexpensive tasting. The value comes from combining three winery visits, guided tastings, hotel transfers, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a meze-style meal in one outing. If you would otherwise arrange transport and pay for separate visits yourself, having the route handled for you may justify the cost.

The value is strongest if you want a guided introduction to Santorini wine and would rather not choose wineries or coordinate rides. You’ll see three producers with different features: Estate Argyros’s Assyrtiko focus and ocean-view setting, Artemis Karamolegos’s range of wine styles, and Art Space’s mix of wine production and art.

It may feel less worthwhile if you’re already familiar with Santorini wines or prefer a long, in-depth visit at just one winery. The total time is short for three stops, and the listed 80 minutes at each winery conflicts with the stated four-hour duration. Get a clear answer about the actual schedule before you decide how the price fits your plans.

There is some evidence that the visits can feel varied, but the tastings may also overlap. That is a fair expectation to set: you’re buying a guided overview of three producers, not three entirely unrelated wine programs.

Practical details before you book

The tour lasts a stated four hours, with starting times varying by availability. Each winery stop is listed as 80 minutes, so check directly with MAKEDAS TRAVEL about how the stop lengths and transfers fit within the advertised duration.

Hotel pickup is included. Wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup; the provider sends an estimated pickup time by email the day before. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen, and wear comfortable, breathable clothes.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking. Those terms offer flexibility, but they don’t resolve the timing question, so ask about that before finalizing plans.

Who should book this tour?

I’d consider this tour if you want a manageable introduction to Santorini wine, value hotel transport, and like the idea of tasting in more than one setting. It is especially suited to you if you enjoy both food and wine, or want Art Space’s art-and-winery combination as part of the day.

If you’re looking for a quiet, highly specialized tasting centered on one grape or producer, a single-winery visit may suit you better. And if your schedule is tight, confirm the real timing before booking. The most useful reasons to go are the mix of producers, the small-group format, and the convenience of having transport and food arranged. Book when those are worth the $167 price to you, and when the provider confirms a schedule that works.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour is advertised as four hours. Each of the three winery visits is listed as 80 minutes, so check the actual schedule with the provider before booking.

Which wineries are included?

The tour visits Estate Argyros, Artemis Karamolegos Winery, and Art Space Winery.

What wines will I taste?

The tour highlights wines made from Assyrtiko and Mandilaria grapes, grown in Santorini’s volcanic soil. Estate Argyros also features Aidani, while Artemis Karamolegos offers several styles, including white, red, rosé, semisweet, and sweet wines.

Is food included?

Yes. A Greek meze-style meal is included, described as a cheese and charcuterie platter.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 15 participants. Group size may be smaller; one outing had five people in total.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide and driver-guide speak English.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and comfortable, breathable clothing.