The award winning wine of Santorini

Photo: psalakanthos

Santorini stands as one of the most important Designation of Origin in Greece, thanks to the variety and quality of wines that it produces.

The vineyard of the island has an area of 12,000 acres and it is one of the oldest in Europe (300 years old).

The method of pruning is called 'loop' because of the shape of a basket which is given to the vines in order to protect the fruits from the strong winds.

The varieties of white wine are Aidani, Assyrtiko, Athiri and the red varieties are Liatiko and Mandilaria. The most known wines of Santorini are Nixteri, dry white wine based on the variety Assyrtiko, Vinsato, white or red sweet wine, which was the wine of Eucharist in the Orthodox Church and brousko, which is reduced in the era of the latin domination and has has high acidity, that causes its coarse taste.

It is possible for someone to visit the wineries of Santorini, while the visists include tours of the vineyards, the facilities and the underground cellars. They operate from March to November.