Venetsanos Winery

Overview

Venetsanos Winery is a historic gravity-fed winery built into the caldera cliffs at Megalochori, offering one of the most dramatic wine-tasting settings in the Mediterranean. The restored industrial architecture combines with panoramic caldera views and premium volcanic wines to create an unforgettable viticultural experience.

Highlights

• Gravity-fed architecture: The winery was designed to use gravity throughout the winemaking process, from grape reception on the top level to barrel storage cut into the caldera cliff.
• Caldera panorama: The tasting terrace has an unobstructed view spanning the entire caldera, Nea Kameni, and Thirassia.
• Industrial heritage: Restored original machinery and equipment from the winery's founding in 1947.

History

Built in 1947 by the Venetsanos family, the winery was one of the first industrial-scale wine production facilities on Santorini. It closed in the 1970s as tourism overtook agriculture, and the building fell into disrepair. In 2014, the Venetsanos family restored the winery to its former glory, preserving its industrial heritage while modernizing its winemaking equipment.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The Grand Tour (€30) includes 6 wines, a guided tour of the gravity-fed production system, and small bites.
• Tip 2: Visit in the late afternoon and stay through sunset — the terrace faces directly west.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.