Five days, five tastings, three Greek wine worlds. This private trip mixes Nemea’s native grapes with Santorini’s volcanic vineyard style, plus stays in 4-star hotels and all the key transport. I like that it’s guide-led with English support and planned pairings, and I like the focus on specific grape varieties like Agiorgitiko and Assyrtiko. One watch-out: it’s transport-heavy (ferry day plus a sunset-style winery schedule), so it’s best if you’re happy with a full agenda.

You’ll pay $3,355 for a package that bundles hotel nights, winery visits and tastings, a Piraeus-to-Santorini ferry with assigned seats, and even the Santorini-to-Athens flight with checked luggage. That’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of cost that starts making sense when you compare it to piecing together ferry times, guides, and winery reservations on your own.

Key highlights worth marking on your map

• Nemea grape focus: Agiorgitiko-Nemea plus Moschofilero-Mantinia in two of the region’s wineries
• Three Santorini wineries in one sunset route: Anhydrous, Gavalas, and Santo Wines
• Volcanic vineyard setting: Gavalas includes estate walking and up to 12 varieties, plus caldera views
• Built-in food pairing: tastings come with snack items like cold cuts and cheese
• Ferry + flight logistics handled: assigned seats on the way to Santorini, and a flight back with 23kg luggage
• Real time to wander: a full free day in Santorini and extra morning hours on Day 4

Athens, Nemea, Santorini: why this mix works for wine lovers

Greece has plenty of wine, but these three stops tell a clear story. You start in Athens, then head to the Peloponnese for Nemea, where Greek wine identity really shows through with native grapes. Then you land on Santorini, where the island’s dry winds, volcanic soils, and white-grape obsession (especially Assyrtiko) shape flavors in a way you can actually taste and compare.

What makes this tour feel practical is that it doesn’t just throw “wine tasting” at you. It connects the dots: grape variety, growing conditions, and the style of the winery experience. You’ll also get pairings during tastings, which helps you understand what the wine is doing beyond the glass.

Day 1 in Athens: hotel arrival plus a calm start

Day 1 is all about getting set up in Athens. You’re met after arrival and transferred to your 4-star hotel by private vehicle. A team member helps with check-in and gives you trip details, which matters because wine tours work best when you don’t waste your first hours figuring things out.

This day is light on scheduled activities because your real intensity starts the next morning with the Peloponnese drive. The upside is you can recover from travel, grab dinner where you like, and start thinking about what you want more of on your tasting days: crisp whites, fuller reds, or the island-style whites that Santorini is known for.

If you’re arriving with jet lag, I’d treat Day 1 as your settling-in day, not a sightseeing sprint.

Day 2 to the Peloponnese: Corinth Canal views and Nemea’s grape lineup

You start Day 2 with breakfast at your Athens hotel, then meet your driver for the trip to the Peloponnese peninsula. Along the way, you stop at the Corinth Canal, also called the Isthmus in Greek. This is a quick photo moment, but it’s also a handy way to “zoom out” on geography: land that separates two seas, and a route that pulls Central Greece toward the Peloponnese.

Then you continue to Nemea and switch gears into wine country.

Nemea is closely tied to Agiorgitiko, and the region’s mountains and valleys have shaped wine-making there for centuries. What I like about how this tour frames Nemea is that it’s not trying to overwhelm you with a dozen grapes at once. You focus on two headline varieties: Moschofilero-Mantinia and Agiorgitiko-Nemea. That gives you a cleaner comparison of aroma and style, especially if you’re a first-time Greek-wine taster.

One practical note: after about 6 hours of winery time and driving, you’re back in Athens for the rest of the day. So plan for an easy evening.

Nemea winery time: what you’ll actually taste and why it matters

In Nemea, you visit two wineries within the greater area. The tour positions Nemea as a key red-wine appellation, and that’s exactly what you should expect: a focus on reds built around native grapes, with whites also showing up via the Moschofilero-Mantinia side.

Tastings here are supported with pairing food, including snack items like cold cuts and cheese. That’s a small detail that can make a big difference. It helps you notice whether a wine feels sharper, softer, or more aromatic once there’s food in the mix.

Because you’re tasting both Agiorgitiko (often associated with red wine depth) and Moschofilero (more associated with aromatic white styles), you’re getting more contrast than you would on a tour that sticks to one color. If you’ve ever felt like wine tours blur together, this structure helps prevent that.

Day 3 Athens to Santorini: ferry crossing and free time in Fira

In the morning on Day 3, your private transfer takes you to Piraeus, where you catch a ferry to Santorini. The ride is short, about 45 minutes, and the tickets come with assigned seats, which cuts down on that annoying last-minute ferry chaos.

On arrival, a team member welcomes you again and transfers you to your hotel. Then the rest of the day is free—around 8 hours—to explore Santorini at your own pace.

Most people use this time to orient themselves in Fira. You’ll be close to the classic mix of narrow alleys, white-washed streets, and the blue-domed churches. And because this is a wine tour, you’ll naturally gravitate to local wine bars or restaurants without needing a formal schedule.

This free time is not an afterthought. It’s your chance to do one smart thing before the next day’s sunset winery circuit: walk, find your footing, and decide what sunset spot you want later. Santorini stairs can be no joke, so getting a feel for distance now saves pain later.

Day 4 Santorini sunset wine route: Anhydrous to Santo Wines

Day 4 is the big wine day on Santorini. First, breakfast at your hotel. Then you get free time in the morning and early afternoon (about 6 hours) to explore, relax, or do a photo sweep without a guide holding a schedule.

Later in the day, the sunset-style winery plan starts. You’ll get pickup from most hotels, then drive through dry fields and vineyards while your driver/sommelier explains how winemaking works on the island.

Anhydrous Winery: first tasting stop

At Anhydrous Winery, you get a tasting of 4 wines (included). This is a good warm-up: you can start building your personal flavor map before the later tasting intensity.

Gavalas Winery: volcanic vineyards, up to 12 varieties, and caldera views

Next is Gavalas Winery. Here, you stroll through the estate’s volcanic vineyards and sip up to 12 different varieties of island wine. You’ll also hear about regional standouts like vinsanto and assyrtiko.

The experience ends with an open patio tasting. There’s an alfresco setup plus a plate of tapas, and the views are specifically framed toward the setting sun and the Santorini caldera.

This is the stop I’d expect you to remember most, even if you don’t call yourself a super-enthusiast. It’s not just “taste and go.” It’s walking, tasting, then taking in the scenery that explains why the wines taste the way they do.

Santo Wines: final tasting and the sunset finish

Last up is Santo Wines, with a tasting of 4 wines. The tour wraps after about 5 hours total and returns you to the same pickup point where you started.

I’d treat the evening like you’re on a controlled sprint: comfortable shoes, a light layer for wind, and water. Even if you love wine, dehydration can blur flavor memory fast.

Day 5: one last Santorini morning and the flight back to Athens

Day 5 starts with a final breakfast in Santorini. Then you transfer to the Santorini airport for your return connection to Athens.

The flight is with Aegean Air and includes a 23kg checked bag plus a hand carrier. There’s a specific scheduling tip: your international flight should be after 13:00, so you get time at the Athens airport without stress.

This matters because it’s easy to book a “tight” international departure when you’re thinking only about the flight timing. This tour is designed so you can land in Athens and breathe.

Price and value: is $3,355 doing its job?

The headline number is $3,355, and yes, that’s a serious line item. What makes it feel more justified is the package scope:

• 4-star hotels: 2 nights in Athens and 2 nights in Santorini
• 5 winery visits with tastings of 4 to 5 wines per stop
• English-speaking professional guide
• Private luxury A/C transport on travel days and winery runs
• Ferry Piraeus to Santorini with assigned seats
• Flight Santorini to Athens with baggage included

Then there are the included meals and food pairing components during winery visits, like snack items, cold cuts, and cheese. That kind of “small” inclusion adds up when you’re trying to plan a wine-focused trip without spending extra time coordinating.

The main place the price can sting is if you don’t care much about wineries. This trip is built around wine scheduling. If you’re more about beaches and long dinners, you may feel like you’re paying for structure you won’t fully use.

Also note the likely extra cost: tourist city tax is not included (3€/room for 4-star hotels). It’s a simple add-on, but it’s worth planning for.

Who this tour fits best (and who should skip it)

This tour suits you if you:

• want wine tastings with guidance rather than solo wandering
• like comparing styles across regions: Nemea reds and aromatics, then Santorini volcanic-white character
• prefer private transportation and not dealing with rental cars or complicated ferry lines
• enjoy structured days but still want freedom (you get it in Santorini)

You might want to choose something else if you:

• dislike a tight schedule with ferry and sunset winery timing
• are traveling only for scenery and not for wine, tastings, and guided explanations
• need very slow pacing without long driving blocks

One more signal from the trip’s feedback: people consistently mention that planning feels like it runs on rails. Names like Mikaella and Argiris show up with credit for smooth coordination, which is what you want from a company managing logistics across multiple transport modes.

Should you book Greece Wine Roads: Athens, Nemea and Santorini?

If you’re the type who keeps a mental list of favorite wines and wants to learn while you taste, I think this is a strong pick. You get a real wine route across Nemea and Santorini, with private transport and the kind of tasting structure that makes comparisons easier.

Book it if you can handle a busy itinerary and you want the convenience of hotels plus ferry plus flight handled for you. If you’d rather drift with no schedule, you may resent the driving and tasting blocks.

FAQ

How long is this tour?

It’s about 5 days and 4 nights.

Where are the included hotel nights?

You get 2 nights in Athens (4-star) and 2 nights in Santorini (4-star).

Which wineries are included in the tastings?

In Santorini, the tour includes Anhydrous Winery, Gavalas Winery, and Santo Wines. In the Nemea area, you visit 2 wineries. Overall, you visit 5 wineries.

How many wines are tasted during the tour?

The package includes tastings of about 4 to 5 wines at each winery. At Gavalas Winery, the tasting includes up to 12 varieties.

Do you travel by ferry and flight?

Yes. You take a ferry from Piraeus (Athens) to Santorini with assigned seats, and then you take a flight from Santorini back to Athens (Aegean Air) with luggage included.

Is pickup from hotels included?

Pickup is offered, including pickup from most hotels on Santorini during the sunset wine tour day.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It’s private, meaning only your group participates.

Can anyone join, and is there a wine drinking age rule?

Most travelers can participate. The minimum age for wine consumption is 18 years old, per Greek law.

Is tourist city tax included in the price?

No. The tourist city tax is listed as 3€/room for 4-star hotels and is not included.

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