Vineyard along the trail Vothonas - Pirgos

The economic and social life of Santorini has been connected to its vineyards for thousands of years. Archaeological excavations indicate that vineyards existed on the island since the 17th century BC, and after the major eruption of 1620 BC they continued to thrive again from 1200 BC to the present. An unusual characteristic of Santorini vines is that they are self-rooted (unlike most grapevines in the world), and this is necessary to protect them from the epidemic of fyloxiras in the island’s volcanic soil. A distinctive pruning style is used in Santorini, including techniques such as “Gyristi” (meaning “spiral”) and “Koulouri” (usually used for a bread ring) to protect them from strong winds. The resulting wine is high quality, with standard cultivars including the Assyrtiko (80% of total production), Athiri, Aidani (white varieties) and the Mandilaria, Mavrotragano and Voudomato (red varieties). Some of the most famous wines are the sweet Vinsanto, the Assyrtiko, and the Nychteri.