Santo Wines (officially SantoWines, run by the Union of Santorini Cooperatives and often misspelled “Santos Winery”) is the largest winery in Santorini, with a caldera-edge tasting terrace above the village of Pyrgos. In 2026, tasting flights cost €18 to €55, a short winery tour with two tastings costs €12, and the terrace is open year-round. You can walk in for a tasting without a reservation, though sunset tables in July and August book out. It is one of the best wineries in Santorini, and I visited to try the wines, the food, and the famous view. This is my review.
SantoWines Winery
On Google Maps · Pyrgos Kallistis 847 00 · +30 22860 22596
My Opinion:
This is the most famous and the largest winery in Santorini, with the largest and most organized shop as well. It may feel very touristy and not a secret, but if you only have time for one winery on the island, make it this one, and you won’t regret it. Their terrace has some of the most impressive volcano views on the island. You don’t need to book any wine tour for this one, as you will just sit at any of the tables, and you will be given a menu to choose from. Your waiter will then explain everything you need to know about the wines. You won’t be able to visit and see in detail the wine production, though.
Is It “Santo Wines” or “Santos Winery”?
The correct name is Santo Wines (written SantoWines by the winery itself). “Santos Winery” and “Santo Winery” are common misspellings that many visitors, and even some tour brochures, use for the same place. There is only one winery here: the flagship of the Union of Santorini Cooperatives, founded in 1911 as the Santorini Vine & Wine Protection Fund. Today the cooperative counts about 1,200 active grower members and represents cultivators across the island.
That cooperative structure matters for what you taste. Santo Wines produces Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Santorini wines from grapes grown all over the island, with Assyrtiko as the dominant white variety, plus PDO Santorini fava, tomato products, and capers in its deli shop. Its Wine Tourism Center above Pyrgos welcomes more than 600,000 visitors a year, which makes it the most visited winery in Greece’s Cyclades.
How Much Does Wine Tasting Cost at Santo Wines in 2026?
A tasting flight at Santo Wines costs between €18 and €55 in 2026, depending on how many wines you choose and whether rare Vinotheque vintages are included. The short daily winery tour costs €12 per person and ends with two tastings (an Assyrtiko and a Kameni rosé). Food pairings such as cheese, olives, and local snacks are ordered separately from the menu.
| Experience | 2026 price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Winery tour | €12 per person | About 20 minutes in the production area, then 2 tastings (Assyrtiko, Kameni) |
| Tasting flights | €18-€55 | Guided flight of local wines on the terrace; typical 4-wine flight with snacks runs about €45 |
| Vinotheque tastings | Top of the range | Rare aged vintages from the winery’s cellar collection |
| Restaurant gastronomy menus | €110-€125 for two | Prix fixe food and wine pairing menus at the on-site restaurant |
The wines to prioritize are the ones Santorini is famous for: bone-dry Assyrtiko, with the high acidity and mineral edge that the island’s volcanic terroir gives it, Nykteri (a traditional style made from grapes picked and pressed overnight), and Vinsanto, the amber dessert wine made from sun-dried Assyrtiko. The winery also bottles organic single-variety Aidani, Athiri, and Mavrotragano from its own 0.2-hectare organic vineyard. Plan 60 to 90 minutes for a relaxed flight on the terrace; the guided production tour itself takes about 20 minutes.
Do You Need to Book Santo Wines in Advance?
No reservation is needed for a standard wine tasting: you sit at a free table on the terrace, order a flight from the menu, and a waiter explains each wine. There are three situations where booking ahead makes sense. First, the caldera-edge tables at sunset in July, August, and September, when hundreds of people pass through every hour. Second, the €12 guided production tour, which runs on a schedule and must be reserved. Third, groups of more than 10, which the winery asks to book online in advance. The winery is open year-round, roughly 9:00 to 22:00 daily, and stays open later on summer evenings; hours shrink in winter, so check the official site before a low-season visit.
How Do You Get to Santo Wines?
Santo Wines sits on the caldera road above Pyrgos, about 4 km (2.5 miles) south of Fira, and it is one of the easiest wineries on the island to reach without a car. KTEL public buses on the Fira-Perissa and Fira-Akrotiri routes pass right by: tell the driver you want the Santo stop and they will drop you at the entrance (see the current Santorini bus schedule for times). Driving takes about 10 minutes from Fira, and there is a large free parking lot that fits rental cars, ATVs, and tour buses. If you want to pair the visit with a village, Pyrgos is a 20-minute walk uphill and has some of the best preserved medieval lanes on the island. More options for moving around are in my guide to getting around Santorini.
Is Santo Wines Worth It? My Honest Verdict
Santo Wines is worth visiting for the terrace and the convenience, as long as you know what you are buying. Wine Enthusiast has recommended it as the best place in Santorini to taste wine while watching the sunset over the caldera, and the view really is the best of any winery on the island (only Venetsanos, a smaller winery nearby, comes close), the staff explain every pour, and you can show up without a plan. It is also, by design, the busiest: recent visitor reviews praise the sunset and the service but split on value, with some finding the roughly €45 four-wine flight expensive for the pours you get. My take after visiting: treat it as a view-plus-wine experience rather than an intimate cellar visit, go an hour or two before sunset, and you will leave happy. If you want a quieter, production-focused tasting, pair it with one of the smaller boutique wineries on my Santorini wineries and wine tours list.
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Santo Wines in Photos: What the Visit Looks Like
FAQs
Is Santo Wines the best winery in Santorini?
Santo Wines is the largest and most famous winery in Santorini. While it may feel more touristy than smaller boutique vineyards, it offers the most organized tasting experience, the largest shop, and some of the most impressive panoramic views of the caldera and volcano. If you only have time to visit one winery on the island, this is highly recommended.
Do I need to book a wine tour to visit Santo Wines?
No, you do not need to book a formal wine tour to visit Santo Wines. You can simply arrive, sit at an available table on their terrace, and order from the tasting menu. A dedicated waiter will explain the different local wines you are tasting. However, if you want a detailed walk-through of the wine production facilities, a guided tour must be booked in advance.
How much does a wine tasting cost at Santo Wines?
In 2026, tasting flights at Santo Wines cost between €18 and €55 depending on the number and rarity of the wines. The short daily winery tour costs €12 per person and includes two tastings. A typical four-wine flight with paired snacks runs about €45. Prices can change season to season, so check the official SantoWines booking page before you go.
Where is Santo Wines located in Santorini?
Santo Wines is located near the village of Pyrgos, on the caldera cliffs about 4 km south of Fira in the central part of Santorini. Its elevated location provides spectacular sunset and volcano views, and KTEL buses on the Fira-Perissa and Fira-Akrotiri routes stop just outside the entrance.
Is there parking at Santo Wines?
Yes, Santo Wines has a large, dedicated parking lot for visitors. Because it is the largest winery on the island, it is well-equipped to handle rental cars, ATVs, and tour buses, making it very easy to access if you are driving yourself.
What should I expect from a wine tasting at Santo Wines?
Expect a highly professional and structured tasting experience. You will be given a menu to choose a flight of local wines (such as Assyrtiko, Nykteri, and Vinsanto). The tastings are often paired with local Greek cheeses, olives, and snacks, all served on a multi-level terrace overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Last updated: July 30, 2026. I re-verified the 2026 tasting and tour prices against the official SantoWines booking pages and recent visitor reviews, corrected the winery’s name and cooperative background (founded 1911, about 1,200 grower members), and refreshed the booking, opening-hours, and bus information for this season.
