Santorini Assyrtiko with Grilled Octopus
PDO Santorini Assyrtiko's saline minerality and high acidity refresh charred octopus tentacle and lift the smoky char-grill notes. The classic Aegean tavern pairing.
What to eat with the wines of Santorini, and where the region food and wine meet.
Pairings to know in Santorini
Santorini Assyrtiko with Horiatiki
The fresh acidity and saline mineral core of Santorini Assyrtiko handle the tomato-feta-olive interplay of horiatiki. Lemon-zest lift refreshes the salty feta and ripe summer tomato.
Santorini Assyrtiko with Fava Santorinis
The volcanic-soil pairing: PDO Lathyrus yellow split-pea puree from Santorini meets PDO Santorini Assyrtiko grown in the same pumice and ash. Citrus lift cuts the silky pulse texture.
Santorini Assyrtiko with Tomatokeftedes
Bright acidity handles the fried-crisp texture of tomatokeftedes while the saline core picks up the sweet local cherry-tomato fruit. Another volcanic-soil-on-both-sides pairing.
Sigalas Kavalieros with Lobster
Single-vineyard bottle-aged Assyrtiko at full body matches the buttery richness of lobster; high acidity and saline mineral core refresh between bites of the sweet crustacean.
Santorini Nykteri with Grilled Red Mullet
The oak-aged, night-harvest Nykteri style's smoky char and toasted-spice profile is a textbook partner for grilled oily fish. Full body and saline mineral lift the rich mullet flesh.
Santorini Mavrotragano with Grilled Lamb
Mavrotragano's firm tannin handles lamb fat while smoky Aegean herb lift echoes the chargrill. The reviving indigenous red is the natural partner to spit-roasted island lamb.
Santorini Mavrotragano with Pastitsio
The layered baked pasta-and-meat richness of pastitsio meets dark-fruit Mavrotragano density. Firm tannin cuts the béchamel and the high acidity refreshes between bites.
Santorini Vinsanto with Loukoumades
Long oak-aged Vinsanto's caramel, dried fig and toasted nut profile is a peer for cinnamon-honey loukoumades. The high acidity behind the sweetness keeps each bite lifting rather than cloying.
Santorini Vinsanto with Aged Blue Cheese
Twenty-year oak-aged Vinsanto's oxidative caramel and dried-fig depth balance the salt and pungency of an aged Roquefort or Stilton. The high natural acidity lifts the cream.
Santorini Assyrtiko with Spanakopita
The herbal-greens-and-feta filling of spanakopita meets the citrus and saline mineral lift of PDO Santorini Assyrtiko. Floral aromatics bridge the dill and parsley in the pie.
Gaia Thalassitis Submerged with Oysters
The seabed-aged Gaia cult cuvée has the iodine and sea-spray salinity of the Aegean built directly into the wine. Pure salinity-on-salinity with brackish bivalve liquor.
Santorini Aidani with Asian Cuisine
Single-varietal Aidani's lifted floral aromatics and softer-shouldered profile handle ginger-lime spice and herb-forward Southeast Asian dishes more comfortably than the more austere Assyrtiko.
Santorini Nykteri with Aged Graviera
The wax-and-honey nuance of oak-aged Nykteri meets the hard, nutty, salty rind of aged graviera. Full body, smoky spice and saline mineral form a savoury counterpart to the cheese.
Taste it with the wine: food and wine experiences in Santorini
Food and wine tastings, wine and cheese tastings and cellar visits you can book in Santorini, best reviewed first.
Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset
Sip your way around Santorini on a half-day wine tour, visiting three traditional wineries dotted around the picturesque island. While savoring up to 12 different var...
Santorini: Small-Group Sunset Wine Tour with Santo Winery
Sip your way around Santorini as the sun begins to set on a small-group tour of 3 Santorini wineries. Enjoy views of the volcano and the sunset at the final winery, th...
Greek Cheese Tasting Experience in Santorini
A delightful journey into the world of Greek cheese awaits in Santorini. Taste rare varieties and uncover the rich histories behind each one, all while savoring the tr...
Award-Winning Santorini Cooking Class with Greek Chef
Join our award-winning Santorini cooking class, loved by over 1,000 travelers, and experience Greek cuisine around a warm local table. In this hands-on experience, yo...
Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner
Santorini, the stunning Greek island known for its white-washed buildings and breathtaking views, is also celebrated for its unique volcanic wines. The island's rich v...
Santorini: Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings
Join a wine-tasting tour in Santorini and sample wines produced on the island. Explore with a local wine expert as you visit three of the island's best wineries and le...
Food and wine tastings in Santorini (33) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Santorini (157) · Cooking classes in Santorini (38) · Food tours in Santorini (14) · Olive oil tastings and mill visits in Santorini (10) · Wine tours and day trips in Santorini (67) · All wine and food experiences
What Santorini's grapes pair with
From the pairings on our Santorini bottle pages, the best match for each grape in a few kinds of food, with the bottle it comes from.
Assyrtiko with fish
Grilled octopus
Salt-and-citrus tension cuts through charred tentacle.
Assyrtiko with cheese
Aged graviera
Hard sheep cheese pairs with bottle-aged Assyrtiko's oxidative depth.
Assyrtiko with oysters and shellfish
Lobster with butter
Full body and saline mineral core match the crustacean's richness; high acidity refreshes between bites.
Domaine Sigalas Kavalieros Single-Vineyard Assyrtiko, Domaine Sigalas →
Aidani with desserts and sweets
Dark chocolate fondant
Spice and dried fruit lift the cocoa richness.
Aidani with cheese
Blue cheese with figs
Sweet and salty classic; long-aged Vinsanto lifts the blue veins.
Aidani with oysters and shellfish
Grilled prawns
Floral lift complements sweet shellfish.
Mavrotragano with lamb
Grilled lamb chops
Firm tannins handle lamb fat; smoky herb notes echo the chargrill.
Mavrotragano with cheese
Aged kefalograviera
Hard sheep cheese tames the tannin and lifts the smoky core.
Mavrotragano with beef and red meat
Beef stifado
Slow-braised onion stew meets dark-fruit weight.
Artemis Karamolegos Mavrotragano, Artemis Karamolegos Winery →
Mandilaria with desserts and sweets
Dark chocolate
Sweet red fruit lifts cocoa.
Mandilaria with lamb
Grilled lamb
Firm tannin handles the fat; herbal lift echoes the chargrill.
Mandilaria with cheese
Aged kefalotyri
Hard sheep cheese softens the grippy red.
Book wine experiences in Santorini
Santorini: Tour of Wineries with Wine Tasting & Food
Try the unique volcanic wines of Santorini and explore the traditional wineries of the island with an expert sommelier. Enjoy a memorable culinary experience with the ...
Hands-On Santorini Cooking Class with Wine & Seaside Dining
Join a hands-on cooking class in Santorini and learn to make traditional Greek dishes. Prepare tomato fritters, a colorful salad, and stuffed tomatoes and peppers, the...
Santorini: Cooking Class with Lunch and Wine Tasting
Learn to cook your favourite Greek recipes yourself, with step-by-step guidance from a local chef!
Wine tastings and winery visits in Santorini (157) · Wine tours and day trips in Santorini (67)
Food Pairing in Santorini, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Santorini for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Santorini is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Santorini estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Santorini cellars and tasting rooms keep?
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
How does tipping work at Santorini tastings?
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
What is the one wine to try in Santorini?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Santorini rewards trust.