Greek Wine Tours
The crystal-clear waters of the Cyclades and the rich Greek culture are just a short flight away. Whether you are in search of a relaxing beachside holiday, a historic trail ride sprinkled with mythology in Athens, home to goddess of wisdom, or even seeking off-the-beaten-path vineyards, the Greek Islands have it all!
Set in the Southern Cyclades, captivating Santorini with its multicoloured cliffs soaring over 300m from a sea-drowned caldera, rests in the middle of the indigo Aegean Sea, looking like a slab of layered cake. With accomplished artists, excellent wineries, a unique brewery, and some of the Cyclades’ finest dining experiences make Santorini an excellent choice for a wine based break. Or perhaps it’s Athens you’re intrigued by, and the gems the Attic peninsula has to offer. On the borders of the Aegan Sea, this corner of the world so rich in history will take you through time to discover one of the most fascinating and exciting cultures in the world. Wander off the beaten tracks to explore unique vineyards, pair the excellent wines with delicious fresh food from the region, and learn about the power of Greek mythology along the way.
Overview:
The island of Santorini spoons the vast crater left by one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history. Smaller islands curl around the fragmented western edge of the caldera, but it is the main island of Thira that will take your breath away with its snow drift of white Cycladic houses lining the cliff tops and, in places, spilling like icy cornices down the terraced rock. When the sun sets, the reflection on the buildings and the glow of the orange and red in the cliffs can be truly spectacular.
Santorini is no secret and draws crowds for most of the year, yet it wears its tourism well and its offerings make it worth the bustle. The island’s intrigue reaches deep into the past, with the fascinating Minoan site of Akrotiri and the gorgeous traditional hilltop village of Oia.
True, you could relax on a beach and watch spectacular sunsets over the Cyclades, with a glass of wine and a bowl of olives, but Santorini deserves to be explored. We’d recommend a visit to the Koutsoyannopolous Winery, otherwise known as the Santorini Wine Musuem, where you can learn about the viticulture processes on this volcanic isle and how the picking, pruning, tools and stamping the grapes all manifest into the best wine in Greece.
The Art Space Winery in Exogonia also a top recommendation. Again, small scale artisan wines produced with traditional wine making equipment. Using only organic grapes, the owners produce just 10,000 bottles per year, meanwhile the walls are adorned with local pieces of art, mostly for sale. It truly is quite an intriguing place to visit.
The volcanic soils, high winds and low rainfall have a huge influence over Santorini wines. Over 70% of the vineyards on Santorini consist of the Assyrtiko vine. This grape can hold its acidity and grows well in the mineral rich soils, meaning a low pH count. The dry white wines such as “Nychteri” also age particularly well. If the Assyrtiko is blended with Athiri and Aidani, the sweet wine of Vinsanto is produced and was a firm favourite in the days of the Byzantine empire – it’s a wine with history! Winemakers on Santorini do produce red wines but it’s far outweighed by the production of white. Nevertheless, a red variety called Mavrotragano is grown here and across the Aegean.
Greece wine trips
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