Europe & Britain | Destination Guides

Discovering Santorini's Greek Cuisine and Wine

Recently updated on January 22nd, 2020 at 04:11 pm

With rugged scenery shaped by volcanic activity, the Cyclades island of Santorini is a fascinating landscape of volcanic rock, with whitewashed towns and villages tucked into the cliff-side overlooking the Aegean Sea. Within this unique landscape grows an abundance of sun-ripened produce, fresh fish and seafood are caught off the coast, and vineyards stretch across much of the land. By setting out on a discovery of this captivating island, visitors can take the chance to savour the taste of Santorini’s Greek cuisine.

Santorini's Greek Cuisine

The produce that flourishes on Santorini is believed to develop its unique flavour through being cultivated in volcanic soil, with the added benefit of the island’s warm sun and sea breeze. Throughout spring and summer, wild capers thrive along with juicy cherry tomatoes that are eaten fresh, sun-dried or as a rich tomato paste.

Fava beans are one of Santorini’s celebrated staples, having been grown on the island for around 3,500 years, while the goat cheese Hloro Tyri is considered a local delicacy; usually made in small batches, it can be hard to come by outside of local homes and restaurants. White aubergines, meanwhile, take many visiting gastronomes by surprise, and abundant herbs, pistachios and almonds appear in many dishes, too. Seafood is, unsurprisingly, exceptional here, with a wealth of fresh fish and octopus that’s often left to dry in the sun.

Santorini's Greek Cuisine

The classic Greek salad combines the finest of Santorini’s fresh ingredients, which is a stellar accompaniment to an indulgent spinach and cheese pie, or baked fish with paprika and cherry tomatoes. Fresh octopus is often served in a salad with white aubergine and a generous pour of sweet white wine. And for dessert? What better way to finish the meal than with some locally made ice cream, or a sticky-sweet delicacy combining the island’s honey and almonds.

Vineyards have long been cultivated in Santorini’s volcanic soil, going as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman times. And originatingย from its Venetian ruleย in the Middle Ages, the island has a distinct Italian influence that can still be seen today through its wine. This is most clearly seen in the production of a wine using grapes that have been dried in the sun, called Vinsanto in Santorini and Vin Santo in Italy.

Santorini's Greek Cuisine

But Santorini’s wine certainly has its own identity, with many grape varieties that are indigenous to the island, including white grapes, Athiri, Aidini, Assyrtiko, and red grapes, Mandalieria and Mavrotragano.

Santorini, Nykteri, Mezzo and Vinsanto are the signature wine varieties produced here, each displaying the island’s unique personality; Santorini is made from at least 75 per cent Assyrtiko grapes, along with Athiri and Aidani, while Nykteri (which means to work the night away in Greek), traditionally uses grapes that have been harvested at night, then aged in oak barrels for three months. Vinsanto is made using the island’s ancient winemaking traditions with a minimum of 51 per cent Assyrtiko grapes, with Athiri and Aidani, while Mezzo is a less sweet version of Vinsanto, still using the sun-dried grapes.

Santorini's Greek Cuisine

To delve further into this wine heritage, visit the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum, which is atmospherically situated inside a cave, eight metres below ground on the family-run Koutsoyannopoulos Winery. Boutari Santorini Winery is another that’s well worth visiting as the island’s first to open up to visitors, with a bar for wine tastings.

Considered the greatest wine producer in Greece, Santorini certainly rewards visitors who come to experience its wine heritage as well as the riches of Santorini’s Greek cuisine.

Experience this side to Santorini on Secrets of Greece including Corfu with Santorini Extension, Greek island Explorer, Wonders of Turkey with Greek Island Explorer Extension, Greek Island Hopper, Athens and Aegean, Ancient Lands, Aegean Odyssey, Best of Greece with 4 Day Aegean Cruise, Classical Italy and Greece with 4 Day Aegean Cruise and Best of Turkey with 7 Day Aegean Cruise.

Image credits: Cover photo of the produce in Santorini ยฉย iStock / travnikovstudio. Dining with a view in Santorini ยฉย iStock / Santorines. Octopus drying in the sun onย Santorini ยฉ iStock / nessaflame. Aย local vineyard ยฉ iStock / Dmytro Loboda.ย Aย Vineyard in Santorini ยฉ iStock / Tramont_ana.

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