Estate Argyros — Attraction in Municipality of Thira

I’m going to be brutally honest here: the tour and tasting itself was pretty good (albeit very small portions) and very informative. The problem came after. We bought a gorgeous 2022 Assyrtiko. When we got back to our Airbnb, the cork had popped and the whole wine had oxidized. Please bear in mind that the wine had oxidized within mere HOURS of our purchase. This was the beginning of the problem. When we went back to the winery to explain this and ask if we could swap it out, we kept being told that “this is an issue after it left our hands,” and “you left it in extreme heat.” It’s August in Greece. I don’t know who carries an ice box around in their cars. The wine we got from other wineries on the island have all stayed perfectly intact and wonderful. I would have happily bought another Assyrtiko if the customer service was better - but truthfully, I have been to wineries in Burgundy, New Zealand, and all over Greece. I have never seen such appalling customer service, especially when it comes to something like replacing a (fairly premium priced!) wine that wasn’t correctly bottled. For 28€, it’s on the slightly higher end. It’s also angled as a more premium winery compared to others on the island. But the customer service is frankly not great, and it seems more like a place for people who don’t know wine well and want Instagram photos. The thing that annoyed me is also that they serve the 2003 harvest vinsanto as an example of their vinsanto (it is admittedly delicious, but it’s also 72€ and feels like an upsell) The 2015 harvest is the other one offered, but you’d need to age that for much longer to get that same delicious texture and...

I’d bought some Argyros Assyrtiko cuvee monsignori from the Wine Society in the UK and thought it superb, so a chance to go to the winery wasn’t to be missed. Opted for the 1.5 hour tour and tasting with food pairings. An absolutely delightful young lady - see the note at the end of this! - talked me through the theory and practice of Argyros winemaking and then there was the tasting. A revelation, really. The entry level “Atlantis” series - rose, white and red were glorious. Young wines with good acidity but no trace of sharpness; the rose was a particular surprise. On to the Cuvee wines, the Monsignori which I knew, and the Evdemon which considering it’s the Assyrtiko grape again is so totally different to the Monsignori. Wider, softer, very laid back by comparison with Monsignori. Amazing how much difference a different vineyard and different processing can make. Then on to the Vinsanto - sweet wines, one of which was four years maturing, and the 2002, matured for 16 years. I bought a bottle of this and will look forward to drinking it in about 10 years, if I’m spared that long! It’s just an overwhelming wine. Find a big piece of really smelly cheese or some toasted spiced nuts, and get stuck in.

Estate Argyros was the highlight of my stay in Santorini. To be brutally honest, the rest of the island has been eaten by tourism. I imagine the other top wine producers are little outposts of civilisation as well, but I can definitely vouch for the excellence of Argyros, their wines, and their staff.

If only I were 40...

In my opinion, Estate Argyros offers the best value wine tasting in Santorini. For approximately €25 per person, you'll receive 4 different wines to taste each presented beautifully by a sommelier, along with a platter of nibbles to compliment the wine. We were made to feel special and valued customers, and received a brief but excellent tour of the facility after the tasting.

You really can't fault this experience for the price, and I hope Estate Argyros never changes this arrangement as my husband and I truly felt it was brilliant and we'll be recommending it to everyone we know. The staff were attentive, the vineyard building is beautifully decorated with an elegant atmosphere.

Two important points:

1. Dietary requirements: This vineyard experience is amazing for people with dietary requirements. Upon arrival we were asked if we had any food allergies. I am gluten free due to having coeliac disease and I was provided gluten free bread.

2. Getting there: You can reach this winery by bus. Take the bus from Fira to Kamari (€2 per person), ask the ticket seller to let you off at the Crazy Donkey Brewery bus stop, which is on the way to Kamari. The Crazy Donkey Brewery is right next door to Estate Argyros! You can definitely do one then the other (coeliacs - bear in mind there are no gluten free drinks options whatsoever at Crazy Donkey so head straight for...