PDO Santorini / PDO VinsantoAssyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri, MavrotraganoFounded 1989Sterner Stenhus Greece (acquired 2022); Antetokounmpo family minority stake since 2023Megalochori
Boutari, the Macedonia-founded Greek wine house (1879), opened its Santorini facility in 1989 at Megalochori. The Santorini cellar contributed to the international launch of Assyrtiko through the 1990s; the Nykteri bottling is a long-running reference for the night-harvest style.
Tasting: Daily tasting flights at the Megalochori winery year-round; multi-wine flights pairing Boutari Santorini, Selladia and Nykteri with Greek cheeses and meze plates.
Signature wines: boutari-kallisti, boutari-nykteri, boutari-vinsanto
Tip: Boutari Nykteri is widely distributed in export markets and ages well at 5 to 8 years from vintage; the standard Boutari Santorini is the budget-friendly entry into the PDO.
PDO Santorini / PDO Vinsanto / PGI CycladesAssyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri, MavrotraganoFounded 1947Venetsanos familyMegalochori
Cliff-cut winery on the caldera above Athinios port, founded 1947 by the Venetsanos family. The gravity-flow design uses the cliff face to move must downhill through pressing and fermentation; restored and reopened to visitors as a working cellar plus tasting terrace.
Tasting: Daily 11:00 to 20:00 from May to October, reduced hours November to April. Sunset Terrace (May to September, 18:00 to 22:00) is the dedicated evening tasting space. Last tasting at 18:30.
Signature wines: venetsanos-assyrtiko, venetsanos-nykteri, venetsanos-vinsanto
Tip: Time a sunset visit on the cliffside terrace; the gravity-flow press built into the rock face is a striking wine-tourism space.
PDO Santorini / PDO Vinsanto / PGI CycladesAssyrtiko, Aidani, Mandilaria, Mavrotragano, Voudomato, KatsanoFounded 1900Gavalas family (George Gavalas, fourth generation; Vagelis Gavalas, fifth generation)Winemaker George GavalasMegalochori
Five-generation Gavalas family canava in the centre of Megalochori, producing roughly 90,000 bottles a year across 11 wines. The range includes monovarietal bottlings of Katsano (white) and Voudomato (red), two heritage island grapes seldom seen as single varieties elsewhere on Santorini.
Tasting: Year-round; intimate tasting room at the family canava in central Megalochori. Tasting flights include monovarietal bottlings of the rare indigenous Katsano (white) and Voudomato (red), seldom vinified as single varieties on Santorini.
Signature wines: gavalas-santorini, gavalas-katsano, gavalas-voudomato, gavalas-vinsanto
Tip: Visit specifically for the Katsano and Voudomato; monovarietal bottlings of these heritage island grapes are uncommon at other Santorini cellar doors.
PDO Santorini / PDO Vinsanto / PGI CycladesAssyrtiko, Aidani, Athiri, Mavrotragano, MandilariaFounded 1903Antoniou familyMegalochori
Historic Megalochori cellar of the Antoniou family, founded 1903, with a multi-level rock-cut layout running down the caldera escarpment. The traditional canava is a working stop on most island wine tours.
Tasting: Year-round; bookable tasting visits at the restored historic cellar on the caldera side of Megalochori. Programme emphasises the multi-level gravity cellar layout and the Vinsanto-ageing chamber cut into the rock.
Signature wines: antoniou-santorini, antoniou-nykteri, antoniou-vinsanto
Tip: The rock-cut Vinsanto barrel chamber is an atmospheric tasting space; pair the visit with a stroll through central Megalochori afterwards.
Domaine Mikra Yi ★ 4.2
PDO Santorini / PGI CycladesAssyrtiko, Aidani, MavrotraganoFounded 2007Megalochori
Small estate working ungrafted kouloura parcels in the Megalochori area, founded in the late 2000s as part of the post-2000 boutique-winery wave. Limited production, by-appointment-only visits.
Tasting: Boutique by-appointment visits; small parcel of own-rooted kouloura vines near Megalochori, with a tasting room focused on single-vineyard Assyrtiko and a tiny Mavrotragano production.
Signature wines: mikra-yi-santorini, mikra-yi-mavrotragano
Tip: A hidden-gem stop for serious visitors who want a quieter, smaller cellar experience away from the cooperative-rim Santo Wines circuit.
Domaine Vassiliou Santorini ★ 4.0
PDO Santorini / PGI CycladesAssyrtiko, Aidani, MavrotraganoFounded 2010Vassiliou familyMegalochori
Small Vassiliou family operation at Megalochori producing estate-bottled PDO Santorini Assyrtiko in limited quantities. By-appointment visits only; output is mostly sold direct.
Tasting: By appointment only; small family cellar offering a focused PDO Santorini tasting and a Vinsanto tasting on request.
Signature wines: vassiliou-santorini-assyrtiko
Tip: A reservation-only stop for visitors who want to taste an older-style family canava away from the major tasting-room operators.