Photos: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Norbert Nagel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Zde, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Norbert Nagel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Zde, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Underground wineries of Vothonas
Your local guide
Chrysoula Ntounia
View profile
Highlights
- A winery carved into volcanic rock
- Oak barrels ageing in constant cool air
- Basket shaped vines built against the wind
- Assyrtiko wine explained cave to vine
- Vothonas's underground answer to the climate
About this tour
This session covers Vothonas, a village known for wineries carved directly into the volcanic rock rather than built above ground. Chrysoula walks into one of the cave entrances and through to the barrel room before finishing outside among the island's distinctive basket trained vines. She explains why both the caves and the low vines developed as direct responses to the island's climate.
Chrysoula checks her connection at the cave entrance before moving through the tunnel slowly, since the light changes quickly inside. She answers questions about the wine making process as she goes and finishes outside among the vines. A short list of what was seen follows the call.
This suits travellers interested in wine and unusual architecture together. It also works well for anyone planning their own winery visit who wants context first.
Included
- Live video session with a local guide
- A close look at the dishes and where locals buy them
- A short list of places and dishes to try later
Not included
- Food and drinks shown on camera
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Santorini before heading out.
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A cave carved winery entrance 17 min
Chrysoula steps into the entrance of a winery carved directly into volcanic rock, the camera catching the cool, dark tunnel leading to the barrel room.
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The barrel room 17 min
Deeper inside, rows of oak barrels line the cave walls, and Chrysoula explains why the constant cool temperature underground suits ageing the island's Assyrtiko wine.
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The vine baskets outside 17 min
Back in the daylight, she shows the low, basket shaped vines trained close to the ground, a method developed here specifically to survive the island's strong winds.
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Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Santorini: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Assyrtiko wine and Fira, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Athens time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Santorini, showing you A cave carved winery entrance and The barrel room live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to buy or cook anything?
No. This is a conversation: the guide describes the dishes and where to find them, so you can try them yourself whenever suits you.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on Google Meet, the link arrives with your booking. I move slowly through the tunnel since the light changes quickly inside.
Times shown in Athens time (EET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Tue 3 Nov · 8 seats left From 28,00 €
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