Vinsanto: Libations of the World

Our Featured Libation of the World comes from the island of Santorini, Greece.

Greece, like any country, has unique regions, each with its specialties and persona. One of the most beautiful and fascinating islands is the island of Thira, known as Santorini to non-Greeks. The island is one of the world’s oldest wine-growing regions and is home to indigenous vines found nowhere else on earth. With such a long history of winemaking that dates back millennia, you can imagine it has its own exceptional libation worthy of special recognition. Vinsanto is a sweet Greek wine made in a passito style (sun-dried grapes) and harks from Santorini, made with Assyrtiko grapes.

First, a bit about Vinsanto’s home

The crescent-shaped island of Santorini is surreal in its beauty and has an energy that is hard to describe. The whitewashed buildings, set against the backdrop of the deep azure Aegean Sea, are stunning. But Santorini is much more than that; it is home to ancient civilizations and archaeological sites of buried cities 2000 years older than Pompei. 

Santorini majestically rises out of the sea with a magnificent caldera (a collapsed volcano crater) sitting cradled within the crescent. The mythical legend of Atlantis is believed to have originated here. It is one of the most photographed locations in the world due to its near-perfect weather and the deep blues of the.

That impressive caldera is a testament to a massive eruption in 1613 BC. The explosion was one of the most devastating in the last 10,000 years and formed the Santorini we see today. The island is unique; it is one of the few places in the world where people have rebuilt after massive destruction, doing so against the rock face of the caldera. This tiny island draws visitors from all over the world to view the mystery of this natural wonder. To add to the mystique of these dramatic sunsets viewed from the caldera, the horizon illuminates in ways that appear to be paintings on canvas.

The Unique Composition

The island of Santorini has rocky, dry soil that contains basalt, granite, pumice, obsidian, and ash. It has a high silica oxide and metal content, making the soil acidic. Additionally, the island has scorching sunlight, minimal rainfall, and constant strong winds. You may assume this is the last place fruit can grow to produce wine; however, Santorini is a haven for delicious and unique wines. It is Greece’s top destination for wine tourism. Evidence shows that the vines existed on Santorini before the massive eruption almost 4,000 years ago.

What is this island gem Vinsanto?

Vinsanto is a sweet white wine known as the “ambrosia of the gods.” It has been renowned since the 12th century; however, it didn’t gain widespread recognition until the 1700s, when it became favored in Russia. It remains a favorite dessert wine worldwide, often scoring over 90 points in wine competitions. Do not mistake it for Vin Santo, a wine from the Tuscany region of Italy. The main difference is that Tuscany’s Vin Santo gets its character from barrel aging, whereas Santorini’s Vinsanto derives from sun-drying the grapes.

Vinsanto is a naturally sweet, velvety dessert wine. Although it is red in color, it is made from overripe white grapes. The grapes undergo an additional step after harvesting. They are usually harvested in late August, laid to dry in the harsh Aegean sun for 6-8 days, and made into raisins for practical purposes. This process yields a concentrated, sweet, golden wine with aromas of dates, quince, dried figs, honey, and caramel. As the wine ages, it darkens and develops intense aromas of dried fruit, nuts, coffee, and molasses. It holds a gentle minerality and acidity that balances out its sweetness. 

The Vinsanto wine matures for years in oak barrels and then continues to develop in the bottle. The alcohol content is usually around 13%.

What is the main grape variety used?

It belongs to the category of wines with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) – Santorini. According to the regulations, it must be made from grapes of the Assyrtiko variety, comprising at least 51% of the blend, with the remaining types traditionally originating from Santorini. The most common mix we saw was 85% Assyrtiko and 15% Aidani. No added sugar is allowed in the designation. The blend of the remaining 49% of the grapes makes each Vinsanto very different. We can attest to that from our many tastings.

If you have traveled to Greece, you know it is one of the most hospitable countries you will encounter. The tradition at most restaurants is to present you with a “gift” at the beginning and end of your dinner. This is often a complimentary appetizer to start your meal, and a complimentary mini bottle of liquor and dessert at the end. In mainland Greece, it is usually Raki liquor. On Santorini, they give you Vinsanto. As you see in the photo with the decanter, they were incredibly generous that evening. How can you not love Greece?

Are you interested in visiting beautiful Santorini? Check out our photo gallery by clicking here.

The Fruit and the Soil

These are not standard grapevines, though. What appears from a distance as fields of low-lying weeds are the grapevines. The vines are trained to form coils, commonly referred to as baskets, that are kept low to the ground. Grapes grown inside these baskets are protected from wind, and the leaves deflect sunlight, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly.

The minimal rainfall Santorini receives in a year adds strain to these grapes. Most of the water they need comes from sea mist, which is absorbed by the pumice stones that cover the island’s soil. The pumice then releases the water to the vines. The result of these harsh conditions is a very low fruit yield. In the early years of establishing new vines, irrigation lines are used but are removed once the vines are established.

The unique soil and growing conditions yield a wine with a lower pH and an enjoyable mineral taste. Wines from Santorini are fresh, acidic, have higher alcohol content, and exhibit a slight salinity. Due to their growth in volcanic soil, they are full-bodied wines with the potential to age for ten years, which is unusual for white wines. The wine is truly unique and indigenous to the island. There are nine indigenous grape varieties, with Assyrtiko being the most common. Traces of this dry white wine have been found in the prehistoric village of Akrotiri, buried under the volcanic eruption of 1613 BC.

The vines on the island are almost impenetrable to disease. During the late 19th-century phylloxera epidemic, most vineyards in Europe were destroyed, yet the grapes on the island remained untouched. Following the devastation, interest in Santorini wines increased. This also strengthened the island’s resolve not to introduce varietals other than those indigenous to the island.

How best to experience Vinsanto

The wine tasting was an essential part of the trip during our visits to Santorini. The first time, we took a wine tour that regaled us with the fascinating story of the wines. Our tour guide was an Oenologist professor (specializing in the study of wine and winemaking) from Athens, who did this as his summer job. His passion for wine had us all spellbound. It was an excellent way to be introduced to Santorini wines, and we encourage you to do the same. Due to this, on our second visit, we visited wineries independently over several days. We tried every varietal and were amazed at the differences in the wines.

There are over 20 wineries to visit in Santorini. It has more wineries in its small space than anywhere in the world. So there will be plenty to enjoy. In the end, our absolute favorite was Vinsanto.

Picking the best Vinsanto can get tricky, as each year, method, and winery is unique. Then, of course, some years have better grapes than others. One reputed to be excellent was in 2013. One rule is that the older it is, the better it will be. However, even in our various tastings, we ultimately preferred the 8-year Vinsanto over the older ones. This is when wine tastings become even more critical.

What to pair with the wine

Vinsanto can be enjoyed with any dessert or on its own. It is served cold, without ice, and is typically served at the end of the meal in Greece, as it is pretty sweet. It pairs exceptionally well with nutty Greek desserts, such as baklava or kataifi tart. With a dense chocolate cake, it was superb. We imagine it would go very well with cheese and fruits as well.

It would be a lovely aperitif, but we did not see it served that way in Greece.

Taking Vinsanto home

Since the fruit yields are low and the grapes are small, their production is limited. To make it even more restricted, Vinsanto is made from dried grapes, which requires a significantly higher amount of grapes to produce one bottle. You can only purchase most Vinsanto wines when visiting the island. One of our regrets was not purchasing more before leaving the island. We anticipated we could buy some at the Athens airport on our way home. Sadly, there was only one choice; it was three times the price of what we saw in Santorini, and we did not recognize the winery.

Our advice is to buy the one you enjoyed the most during your time in Santorini.

Are you planning a trip to Greece? Check out our Greece Travel Guide here.

Purchasing Vinsanto at Home

Some of the wineries on Santorini ship Vinsanto and other wines to the US. Santo Winery ships to the US using FedEx. It can be quite pricey based on which one you buy, but overall, it is less than expected. We ordered some and will report back on how the process went. To reach Santo Wine online ordering, click here.

Once home, it has been challenging to find any Santorini Vinsanto in our local liquor/wine stores. Our search continues, but we have seen a few options.

1. Wine-Search.com will search online stores for any wine, beer, or spirits. When entering Vinsanto, numerous options from several wineries in Santorini appear. The collection was impressive. They ship to your home if your state allows it. We have not placed an order from this site.
   
2. Interestingly, many Vinsantos are for sale on eBay. We have no way of knowing if this is a reliable source. Therefore, if you purchase any Vinsanto using this method, let us know how it goes.
   
3. It is also worth contacting your local specialty liquor store to see what they can order for you.

Try some Vinsanto recipes to expand your experience

Cocktail

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Dessert

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 6-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or butter.

 2. In a double boiler, melt 3 ounces / 90 g of the chocolate, continually stirring. Add 4 ounces / 120 g of the softened butter and whisk to combine. Remove from heat. Cool slightly.

 3. Microwave alternatively: Place chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving, if needed, stirring every 15 seconds until completely melted. Let cool slightly.

4. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of the Vinsanto wine, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla, and salt. Sift confectioners’ sugar, flour, and cocoa over the batter until smooth. Divide the batter evenly among the greased muffin cups.

5. Bake until the edges look dry and puffed, but the centers still look soft and gooey, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack until firm, about 2 minutes. Place a cutting board or flat, wide serving platter on top of the pan and invert the cakes onto it. If they stick, run a knife around and under them to loosen them.

 6. Meanwhile, melt the remaining chocolate in a double boiler and whisk in the butter and wine. Or do this in a microwave: heat the remaining 1 ounce / 28 g chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving, stirring every 15 seconds, until completely melted. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of wine.

7. Using a thin spatula, transfer the cakes to serving plates. Drizzle the cakes with the chocolate sauce, about 1 teaspoon each. Serve warm.

 8. Serve with Vinsanto wine.

Recipe from Greek Recipes by Diana Kochilas

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© 2025 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

Check out our article on Santorini, Greece, by clicking here.

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Learn more about Santorini, Greece. Check out Santorini’s Official Tourism Site.

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