Mykonos is one beautiful backdrop for wine tastings. The Cycladic architectural style creates serene neighborhoods of white-cubed houses and grey-paved alleyways. These picturesque neighborhoods cling to rugged shores with moored fishing boats and intermittent sandy beaches — only when heading inland does Mykonos reveal barren terrain. Flat, blustery, and one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Cyclades, where better for a dramatic wine experience?
Unlike other Cycladic islands (including Paros with its PDO), Mykonos does not have an island-specific appellation. Yet, for those who know where and when to look, the island curates a high-caliber handful of tasty bottles. Embrace its vibrant summer social scene with a guided tour of a vineyard or strategically plot a trip to coincide with harvest season. Mykonos wine tasting is spectacular.
Whether you’re a confessed cabernet sauvignon enthusiast or lean towards an earthier syrah, the island has a revered range of bottles for your tasting. This guide will reveal the Myconian logistics behind an experiential taste of the Aegean.
Types of Wine Tasting Experiences in Mykonos
Mykonos has a multitude of strings to its bow. The island is a thriving museum of architecture and culture, with iconic windmills, flagged mazes of quaint streets, and al fresco restaurants. It has cosmopolitan flair, with upscale nightlife and club events fronted by renowned DJs, while balancing rejuvenation and downtime with its beautiful beaches. But when it comes to wine tasting? On a surface level, Mykonos looks limited.
Did you know there is just one commercial vineyard on Mykonos? Sampling its tastiest bottles will require a little more forward-thinking than volcanic Santorini, which has closer to 20. Fortunately, the solution is simple. Here is the trio to remember for tourists seeking vino: bars, vineyards, and third-party booked tours.
- Bars
Mykonos might be slim on the vineyard front, but it certainly isn’t lacking in bars. Wine bars are the smartest option, and guests can select samples from Mykonos and beyond — potentially pairing tipples with complementary foods. Authentic and sociable, this is one of the easiest wine-tasting experiences to organize in Mykonos.
- Vineyards
With just a single commercial vineyard for the taking, book these experiences in advance to avoid disappointment. Mykonos does have a selection of privately owned vineyards. Yet accessing these can become troublesome, as public entrance isn’t always available or sufficiently advertised. The additional effort is worthwhile, though. A formal vineyard experience involves walking through the vines, learning about cultivation, and finishing the tour with a tasting or two.
- Third-Party Tours
The final option is booking an organized tour through a third-party system like Viator or GetYourGuide. These are simple to book and typically involve small-to-large groups of tourists traveling to experience the wine together. If you don’t mind sharing the experience, it’s a convenient choice when wine tasting in Mykonos.
Best Vineyards and Wineries in Mykonos
Mykonos might have a “needle in a haystack” approach to vineyards, but with the right insights, visitors can still hit the jackpot. These are the vineyards and wineries for tourists to consider — plus a quick explanation of the lost wines of Mykonos. Did someone say pass the corkscrew?
Vioma Organic Farm
Address: Maou Doubakia, PO 844, Ano Mera, 846 00, Greece
Vioma Organic Farm holds the weighted responsibility of being the only commercial vineyard on Mykonos. Set in the Maou Monastery in Ano Mera, this working attraction is located on the northeast of the island, slightly inland from the likes of Paralia Merchias and Fokos. It is open to the public on a strictly seasonal basis; schedule a Mykonos trip between April and October to guarantee a slot on your itinerary.
The wine is organic and cultivated without irrigation (intriguingly utilizing classical music). It’s a fascinating tourist attraction for the epicurious. Vineyard tours are free, with paid tastings available.
Tour in Mykonian Land & Wine Tasting
Address: Marathi, 846 00, Greece
Fancy stepping off the beaten wine trail? Mykonian Land & Wine Tasting is a family-run vineyard and a rare alternative to Vioma’s tours. The attraction is situated on the northwest of the island, on the westerly boundary of beautiful Marathi. It was created in 1932 and — quite literally — grown from the ground up by entrepreneurial founder Lefteris Sikiniotis. He eventually passed the baton down two generations, and his son, Antonios, and grandson, Gerasimos, now lead the family’s vineyard. Tourists receive a privileged insight into their traditional wine growth.
Experiences include food pairings and olive insights, offering much more than a simple sip or two of wine alone. An excellent choice when seeking a holistic and experiential wine tasting in Mykonos, it has tours for around €70.
A Note on the “Lost” Wines of Mykonos
Glancing at the limited vineyards available to modern-day tourists, it’s easy to forget that Mykonos has such an illustrious wine production history. Grape cultivation dates back to 500 B.C.; Greece is one of the world’s oldest wine producers.
The loss of vineyards is predominantly linked to a 19th-century decline, spurred particularly by the outbreak of phylloxera disease. These aphids annihilated many wineries, and the regrowth has been deliberate but small-scale since then. It has resulted in a phenomenon nicknamed the “lost” wines of Mykonos.
When in doubt, it’s worth redirecting your focus back to local history and connections. That goes for recommendation seeking, too. Desperate for a wine tasting tour Mykonos won’t let you forget? Many Mykonos villas for rent have owners who can advise on suitable wine-tasting experiences and venues.
Wine and Food Pairing Experiences
The pairing of food and wine is a universally understood luxury. The right match tastes like heaven on earth, and in Mykonos, there are many venues offering informal and formal pairing advice.
As an Aegean island, Mykonos’ cuisine naturally leans towards serving ample seafood, and, as you know, it has centuries of wine history. However, its fertile lands are not only perfect for viticulture and boat launches; Mykonos also has thriving agricultural industries. Envision fresh vegetables, locally prepared cheeses, and fresh meat like lamb,
Visit any of the authentic restaurants in Mykonos, and you’ll receive thoughtful recommendations about possible pairings. But if you’d rather play match-maker independently, these are the most authentic foods to try in Mykonos, plus some wine pairing suggestions.
Kleftiko and Syrah
Kleftiko is traditional slow-cooked lamb. It has a citrusy element, and an assortment of garlic, oregano, and bay leaves lends an aromatic finish to the dish. Vino enthusiasts will be delighted to know that (typically white) wine is actually poured over the meat during cooking. However, the ultimate finale pairing is syrah — a full-bodied red with smoky and herby notes.
Moussaka and Cabernet Sauvignon
Moussaka is a layered casserole with eggplant and/or meat. Check any taverna menu, and moussaka will be featured. It is a famed Greek dish, especially amongst tourists craving hearty classics. Moussaka pairs beautifully with the Mykonos-grown cabernet sauvignon. The tannin-forward beverage is fruity but bold, allowing it to stand on its own strongly enough to complement moussaka’s meat flavor.
Must-Try Wines from Mykonos
Mykonos might not have the largest selection of wineries, but its rotation of wines is delicious. These are a few varieties that you’ll find scattered across the island:
- Assyrtiko: A white variety is known for its dryness, acidity, and fruity notes.
- Athiri: A white variety that is ultra-dry and versatile for pairing.
- Mandilaria: A full-bodied red or rose variety with fleshy aromas and affinity for cheese and meats.
- Malagousia: A white Renaissance variety with an expressive peachy palette.
In search of specific bottles? These are a couple worth keeping a sharp eye out for on taverna menus and wine-tasting excursions:
- Veggera in Rose: A mandilaria-based rose from Vioma Organic Farm that pairs beautifully with fish.
- Paraportiano: An assyrtiko and athiri-based white from Vioma Organic Farm that has a citric, fruity feel and pleasant acidity. It pairs tastily with white meats and pasta. The vineyard also has a mandilari and agianntis-based alternative for red lovers — a bolder companion for darker meats.
Booking Tips and Best Times to Visit
Mykonos wine tasting is deeply intertwined with its cultural fabric and historical backstory. Sparse as formal opportunities might be, there is an undeniable ode to viticulture in the island’s microsociety, and guided experiences are the perfect way to embrace this as a tourist. With that said, there are considerations to remember.
Best Times to Visit
Despite the mild winters on Mykonos, wine isn’t at the same stage year-round. Acknowledge that its viticulture is fluid and seasonally evolving, and embrace education about each stage of production.
However, when specifically planning a trip to experience the island’s wine, it might be wise to be purposeful with month selection. August until October is an excellent time to visit Mykonos when plotting wine-centric experiences. It is accurate to predict higher crowds in this period (especially in August and early September), so visitors will need to be savvy with advance bookings. However, these months coincide with many seasonal opening periods — including Vioma’s April to October window — and the typical September harvest period.
For those interested in embracing Myconian viticulture at its most flamboyant, the August to October slot is action-packed and accessible. When prioritizing ample foods to try in Mykonos, summer is also revered for seasonal produce and foraged goods, like herbs.
Tips To Remember When Booking
The island is notoriously mysterious about its vineyards, and with so much privately owned, it’s important to understand how to book wine tastings. Floods of tourists pass through the island without realizing the subculture of small-scale wineries quietly growing grapes and bottling masterpieces for personal use.
The best Mykonos wine tasting experience might fall into your lap. However, in reality, the most memorable experiences are more often cultivated from in-depth research and adequate planning. Here are the four tips to remember.
- Utilize local connections. Where possible, always lean on local connections, asking villa owners and hotel concierges about recommendations for authentic wine-tasting experiences on the island.
- Book tours early. With such limited vineyard experiences on the island, reserve a spot in advance to avoid disappointment. With options sold out? There are very few (if any) alternatives.
- Research pairings and varieties beforehand. Sitting down to dine at a taverna, it helps to have learned the Mykonos varieties and their best pairings beforehand. Should you face language barriers or just feel like independently embracing a pairing experience, you’re open to immediate success.
- Be mindful of seasons. That April to October window is the most important season to remember. On Mykonos, the tourist season actually has more of an impact because of the restrictions it places on (already limited) viticulture accessibility. Keep the harvest in mind, too, though.