Wine on Santorini, without the driving stress. This 4:30-hour, small-group tour pairs two very different wineries—Estate Argyros and Anhydrous—with an 8-wine tasting plus local snacks, all handled with transfers so you can actually enjoy the pours. You also get a look at the island’s traditional settlement vibe, with the kind of old houses and blue-domed churches you expect from Santorini.

I especially liked the personal feel: with a maximum of 10 people, your guide (Mary is one of the names I saw in reviews) can slow down, answer questions, and connect the wines to what you’re eating. The main caution: this tour can run late, and if timing gets tight, the last part of the evening can feel a bit rushed.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Two winery stops that feel like day-and-night different experiences
• Eight wine tastings plus winery snacks, then a Greek meze-style dinner
• Air-conditioned transport (Mercedes-Sprinter) and bottled water
• Pickup that works for many hotel locations and cruise schedules
• Small group size (max 10 travelers) for more guide time

A 3:30 pm start that fits Santorini evenings

This tour kicks off at 3:30 pm and runs about 4 hours 30 minutes. That timing is smart because it avoids the harshest midday heat and still puts you in a good window for dinner without turning your night into a marathon.

You’ll also be in a “food and wine” rhythm by the time you sit down to eat. The pacing matters on Santorini—wine tastings go better when you’re not starving, and the plan here builds in snacks at each winery and then a full meal later.

One practical note: the experience needs good weather. If conditions are poor, you’ll either get a different date or a full refund. (In other words: don’t book this as the only activity you can’t move around.)

Estate Argyros: a classic Santorini estate stop

Estate Argyros is your first winery stop, and it sets the tone. Think traditional setting, wine-country atmosphere, and a structured tasting guided by your local host. You’ll taste 8 wines across the day, with cheese, olives, and local snacks served at the wineries to keep things balanced.

What I like about starting here is the foundation it gives you. Even if you’re a casual wine drinker, you’ll get the basics of how Santorini wine culture works—how the island’s identity shows up in what’s poured, and why these wineries emphasize craftsmanship and family ties.

If you want to learn without feeling like you’re sitting in a classroom, this first stop is a good moment to ask questions. In reviews, the guide’s explanations and wine knowledge came up again and again, and it’s the kind of conversational detail that sticks when you’re tasting the product right in front of you.

Anhydrous Winery: clean, modern tasting with a different feel

Then the tour shifts to Anhydrous Winery, and that contrast is part of the value. Reviews called out that this stop felt clean and modern, and it’s usually the kind of place that makes you rethink what a winery visit can look like.

This is also where you’ll keep working through the tasting lineup under guidance. You’ll still get small bites—cheese and olives are part of the repeated pattern—so you’re not relying on wine alone to carry you through.

A fun detail from reviews: one host connected with the tasting (a New Zealand staff member, mentioned in feedback) added a lot of personality to the explanation, especially around the older-vintage side of things. It’s the sort of human touch that makes the tasting feel less scripted and more like you’re being let in on real practice.

Monolithos Beach and dinner: where the day turns into a meal

After the two wineries, you head toward Monolithos Beach for the food portion. Even if the schedule can move a little based on timing, this stop is the point where the tour stops feeling like a series of tastings and becomes dinner on Santorini.

In one review, the dinner setting stood out: a family-owned restaurant on the beach, with staff who were friendly and attentive. That matters. On a wine tour, it’s easy for the restaurant part to feel like an afterthought. Here, it’s built to be a proper meal with wine, and you get the feeling that the restaurant is used to handling groups.

The menu is Greek meze style, and it’s an eight-course pairing format (with wine poured alongside the courses). So you’re not just ordering a dish and hoping it matches your drink—you’re eating through the island’s flavors as the tasting continues.

One caution from reviews: a delay can make the pacing feel a little rushed. If you’re prone to getting annoyed by last-minute finishing pressure, build in flexibility in your evening plans.

What you’ll actually eat: the meze-style menu that covers the island

The sample menu gives you a good sense of how the meal balances seafood, meat, veg, and the classic Greek salad plus fritter-type comfort foods.

Here’s what’s listed:

• Tomato fritters
• Greek salad
• Chicken souvlaki with spicy sauce
• Grilled squid with rice and lemon juice
• Vegetarian pasta with spinach, rocket pesto, and goat cheese

I like that spread because it’s not just “tourist Greek.” It’s built around items that show up in local eating habits—salad, grilled seafood, simple sauces, and meat-on-a-stick comfort—with one important inclusion: vegetarian pasta. If you eat plant-based sometimes, you’re not stuck with a sad side salad.

Also, because you’re tasting wines throughout the day, the menu choices do double duty: they give your palate something to react to, and they help you understand why certain wines get paired with certain flavors.

How the tour keeps wine enjoyable (and not messy)

The tour’s whole premise is simple: taste local wine without driving. The transport is licensed and uses a Mercedes-Sprinter or similar air-conditioned vehicle, which is exactly what you want on Santorini, where parking and winding roads can drain the fun.

You’ll also get bottled water, which is quietly one of the best included items on any alcohol-focused tour. It’s not glamorous, but it makes the whole evening feel more comfortable.

And because tastings happen under a local guide, you’re not stuck guessing your way through wine jargon. You’re tasting with context—what the winery wants you to notice and how food can shift what you perceive in a glass.

Just remember: the tasting format still means you’ll be drinking enough to take it seriously. The minimum drinking age is 18, so if you’re under that, this isn’t the right fit.

Pickup and meeting points: cable car, tendered cruises, and hotel access

Logistics can make or break a tour, and this one is designed to handle different arrival types.

Key points from the setup:

• Pickup is offered from Santorini hotels and Airbnb locations.
• If your lodging isn’t on the default pickup list, you should still be able to arrange pickup by advising the provider after booking.
• For cruise ship passengers, the meeting location is at the exit of the cable car upper station.
• Cruise ships tender passengers out at Santorini Old Harbor, and that area is inaccessible by car, so the cable car exit meeting point is the practical solution.
• The driver holds a sign with your name.
• If your hotel is hard for a vehicle to reach due to restrictions, pickup happens at a nearby walkable location.

I like that this isn’t vague. If you’re traveling independently, you’re less likely to lose time hunting down the group. If you’re on a cruise, you at least have a clear meeting plan.

Time-wise, your tour start is fixed at 3:30 pm, but the schedule is described as flexible depending on availability.

Transport, group size, and the value of being treated like a person

This is where the price starts making sense. At $239.12 per person, you’re paying for more than wine samples.

You’re also getting:

• Round-trip transfers
• Two winery visits
• 8 wine tastings
• Snacks at wineries (cheese, olives, local bites)
• A full dinner with a meze-style menu
• Bottled water
• All fees and taxes
• A mobile ticket

Is it expensive? Yes, compared to buying a couple of glasses on your own. But on Santorini, wine tourism isn’t just the tastings. It’s the transport, the timing, the careful flow of wine and food, and the fact that you don’t have to coordinate a driver or scramble for a reservation while the best sunset windows fill up.

The maximum group size of 10 is another quiet value add. You’re more likely to get specific questions answered during tastings instead of watching the guide run past your table.

And from reviews, the vehicles are described as clean and modern, which matters when you’re riding between stops with wine in your system.

Who this tour is best for

You’ll probably enjoy this most if you fit one (or more) of these profiles:

• You want a structured wine day without the stress of planning two winery visits and booking dinner separately.
• You like learning through tasting—using a guide to connect the wine to the food and the island.
• You’re traveling with a smaller group feel in mind. With up to 10 people, it’s easier to feel “in the conversation.”

It’s less ideal if:

• You’re very time-sensitive and can’t handle a delayed start. Reviews mention that delays can make the evening feel rushed.
• You prefer a more freewheeling wine crawl where you choose stops day-of.

Should you book this Santorini local food and wine tasting?

If your goal is to leave Santorini with a real sense of its food-and-wine culture—not just a photo and one glass—this tour is a strong pick. The biggest win is the combination: two wineries + eight wines + guided explanations + snacks + a full meze-style dinner, all wrapped in transport so you can drink responsibly.

I’d book it if you appreciate guided tasting structure and want a beach-side meal to cap the afternoon. I’d think twice only if you have zero flexibility in your schedule and can’t absorb a possible delay.

If you’re choosing one food-and-wine experience in Santorini, this one is built for exactly that: getting you fed, poured, and safely back on your feet before the night gets late.

FAQ

How long is the Santorini food and wine tasting experience?

It runs about 4 hours 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 3:30 pm.

Where is the tour located?

The tour is in Santorini, Greece.

How many wine tastings are included?

You’ll taste 8 different wines, with guidance at each winery.

What food is included?

The tour includes wine samples plus cheese, olives, and local snacks at the wineries, and dinner at the end. The sample menu includes items like tomato fritters, Greek salad, chicken souvlaki, grilled squid with rice and lemon juice, and vegetarian pasta.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Round-trip hotel or port transfers are provided. The meeting details differ for cruise ship passengers, who meet at the exit of the cable car upper station.

What’s the group size limit?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Is there a minimum age requirement for drinking?

Yes, the minimum drinking age is 18.

What language is the tour offered in?

It is offered in English.

What if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.