Santorini

A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.

Hot, dry, wind-blasted; the volcanic islandscape and sea spray can surprise you with freshness.

Santorini, a dramatic volcanic island in the Greek Cyclades, is home to one of the world's most distinctive wines: Assyrtiko. Grown in basket-trained, wind-pruned low vines on ash and pumice soils, it makes a dry white of piercing minerality and citrus.

The island's ancient methods and terroir - truly a wine grown on the edge of an active volcano - produce a style unlike anything else.

For the buyer, Santorini Assyrtiko is a stunning discovery and Vinsanto a dessert legend; both merit seeking out.

Terroir & Soil

Incredible limestone-rich ash soils and volcanic rocks; vines are trained low in basket shapes ('kouloura') to survive the wind.

What to Expect from the Wines

· Santorini makes one of the world's greatest dry whites - Assyrtiko - racy, mineral, sea-salt-kissed.
· Its volcanic soils and wind-scorched vines create unforgettable citrus and saline flavours.
· Sweet 'Vinsanto' from sun-dried Assyrtiko is among the world's great dessert wines.

Remarkable Bottles from Santorini

Santo Wines Vinsanto

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Santo Wines Vinsanto is an dessert wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Assyrtiko. Santorini's traditional sun-dried dessert wine — raisined Assyrtiko of ancient lineage and honeyed depth.

$40–$70 est. retail

Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Gaia Wild Ferment Assyrtiko is an white wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Assyrtiko. A barrel-aged wild-ferment Assyrtiko — Europe's most sought-after Greek white, with real salty nerve.

$30–$45 est. retail

Santorini Assyrtiko

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Santorini Assyrtiko is an white wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Assyrtiko. a house-style Santorini assyrtiko that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Santorini Athiri

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Santorini Athiri is an white wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Athiri. a house-style Santorini athiri that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Santorini Aidani

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Santorini Aidani is an white wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Aidani. a house-style Santorini aidani that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Santorini Muscat

Santorini · 2024 (representative vintage)

Santorini Muscat is an white wine from Greece, in the Santorini region (A Greek island in the Cyclades - the westernmost, and most remarkable, ancient volcano.), made principally from Muscat. a house-style Santorini muscat that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Food Pairing

· Assyrtiko pairs with grilled fish, feta and Greek mezze.
· The saline whites are unforgettable with seafood.
· Vinsanto accompanies baklava, almond desserts and blue cheese.

Buying from Santorini

› Assyrtiko is the flagship; seek out single-step expressions from renowned growers like Gaia Wines and Vassaltis.
› Vinsanto is made from sun-dried grapes - superb and ageworthy.
› The island produces only a fraction of the world's wine, so buy early.