Best wineries for wine tasting in Rhodes

Uncorking Rhodes: The Ultimate Guide to Wine Tasting on the Island of the Knights

Discover Rhodes’ secret wine country! From mountain vineyards in Embonas to expert-led tastings in Rhodes Town. Local grape varieties, family wineries, and unforgettable tasting experiences—your complete guide.

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Introduction: Rhodes—More Than Just Beaches and Ruins

When you think of Rhodes, you probably imagine medieval castles, sun-drenched beaches, and the stunning Acropolis of Lindos. But here’s a secret that wine lovers are slowly discovering: **Rhodes is one of Greece’s most exciting wine destinations** .

With a winemaking history stretching back over **2,400 years**, Rhodes offers something special . The island’s volcanic soil, mountain vineyards, and passionate family producers create wines with real character—crisp whites, earthy reds, and aromatic Muscats that you won’t find anywhere else .

Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or just someone who enjoys a good glass with lunch, this guide will help you discover the very best of **wine tasting in Rhodes**.

Book a Wine tour now and visit Rhodes wineries in comfort

🍷 Why Rhodes Wine Is Special: What Makes It Different?

Before diving into where to taste, let’s understand what makes Rhodes wine unique. Travel bloggers and wine experts consistently point to three factors :

⛰️ The Terroir: Volcanic Soil and Mountain Altitude

Most of Rhodes’ best vineyards sit on the slopes of **Mount Attavyros**, the island’s highest peak. The soil here is rocky, volcanic, and mineral-rich—perfect for producing wines with complexity and character .

What really sets Rhodes apart is **altitude**. Many vineyards are planted between **500-800 metres above sea level**, which means :
– Cooler nights that preserve acidity
– Slower ripening for more aromatic complexity
– Grapes that develop deeper, more interesting flavours

🍇 The Grapes: Meet Rhodes’ Signature Varieties

Local experts and travel guides agree on the must-know grapes :

Grape Variety	Type	Flavour Profile	Food Pairing
Athiri	White	Crisp, citrusy, floral, mineral	Seafood, grilled fish, meze
Mandilaria (Amorgiano)	Red	Earthy, rustic, full-bodied, deep colour	Grilled lamb, roasted meats
Moschato (Muscat)	White	Aromatic, floral, sweet/semi-sweet	Desserts, fresh fruit
Assyrtiko	White	Zesty, mineral, excellent acidity	Seafood, Greek salads

*”The island’s most famous grape is Athiri, a white variety that thrives in the volcanic soil and produces crisp, aromatic wines perfect for seafood”* — Worldwide Greeks travel community

🏞️ Wine Country: Exploring the Vineyards of Rhodes

Most visitors never leave the coast. But the real magic happens inland, in the mountain villages where wine is a way of life .

🌄 Embonas: The Heart of Rhodes Wine Country

If you only visit one place for wine, make it **Embonas**. This mountain village, nestled on the slopes of Mount Attavyros, is the undisputed wine capital of Rhodes .

*”In Embonas, almost every family has vines. Harvest season is a celebration: neighbors help each other, grapes arrive in small trucks, and wineries buzz with activity”* .

The village sits at altitude, surrounded by vineyards and pine forests. The air is cooler here, the pace slower, and the hospitality genuine. This is where you’ll find Rhodes’ most authentic family wineries .

🏡 Siana: Not Wine, But Something Special

Just a short drive from Embonas, the village of **Siana** is famous for something different: **souma**, a local spirit distilled from grapes . Think of it as Greek grappa—strong, aromatic, and deeply traditional.

Fun fact: Siana is home to the **only legal souma distillery in the Dodecanese** . Worth a stop if you enjoy spirits.

🏙️ Rhodes Town: Wine Without the Drive

Not renting a car? No problem. Rhodes Town offers excellent wine tasting experiences, particularly in the atmospheric **Old Town**, where wine bars and boutique hotels host expert-led tastings .

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🏆 Top Wineries to Visit in Rhodes

Here are the best vineyards and wineries, selected from travel guides, review sites, and local recommendations .

1. 🏠Anastasia Triantafyllou Winery (Theologos)

**Best for:** Modern wines, close to Rhodes Town

This small, modern winery on the outskirts of Rhodes Town offers beautifully crafted boutique wines with a contemporary style—fruity whites, soft reds, and well-balanced rosés .

**Must try:** Assyrtiko blend — crisp with mineral notes

You can also try on of the top activities in Rhodes – Olives, Olive oil Tasting and Wine tasting

2. 🍷 Emery Winery (Embonas)

**Best for:** Quality wines, established reputation, Amazing setting, easy access, Experience Sommeliers, Family atmosphere.

Emery is one of the best-known labels from Rhodes, producing both still and sparkling wines . Their winery in Embonas welcomes visitors for tastings, and the setting among the vineyards is beautiful .

**Must try:** Athiri — fresh, citrusy, the flagship white of Rhodes

3. 🥂 CAIR Winery (Rhodes Town)

**Best for:** Sparkling wines, historic labels, easy access

One of Greece’s oldest wineries, CAIR is famous for its sparkling wines . Located in Rhodes Town (industrial area), it’s easily accessible without a mountain drive. Their Brut and Rosé sparklings are iconic .

**Must try:** CAIR Brut, CAIR Rosé, CAIR Velvet (sweet)

**Perfect for:** Celebrations, gifts to take home

4. 🌿 Alexandris Winery (Embonas)

**Best for:** Authentic charm, beautiful setting

This traditional winery offers tastings that often feel spontaneous—more like visiting a friend who happens to make wine. The outdoor seating area, surrounded by vineyards, is lovely .

**Must try:** Athiri straight from the tank if they offer it

5. ✨Kounakis Winery (Embonas) — Since 1928

**Best for:** Traditional family atmosphere, rustic reds

One of the oldest and most respected wine producers in Rhodes, Kounakis has been family-run since 1928 . Located in the heart of Embonas, this winery feels like visiting a family home. Tastings are intimate, often led by family members, and the wines showcase local varieties at their best .

**Must try:** Amorgiano Red — earthy, full-bodied, a true taste of Embonas

**Local tip:** Ask about seasonal homemade products like jams or liqueurs

6. 🏰 Stafylos Winery (Embonas)

**Best for:** Boutique tastings, small-batch wines

Smaller and more intimate, Stafylos specialises in traditional Rhodian varieties and offers handcrafted wines with real personality .

**Must try:** Muscat Semi-Sweet — floral, aromatic, beautifully balanced

7. 👨‍👩‍👧 Alexakis Vineyards (Kolymbia)

**Best for:** Hidden gem, authentic hospitality

A family operation producing small-batch wines with passion. You’ll often taste wines right in the family’s kitchen—about as authentic as it gets .

8. 🌅 Emmanouilidis Estate (Afandou)

**Best for:** Stylish setting, food pairings, views

A modern, stylish winery offering guided tours, food pairings, and personalized tastings. Great for couples or small groups .

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🍽️ Wine Tasting Experiences: What You Can Book

Beyond visiting wineries independently, several excellent organized experiences let you dive deeper into Rhodes’ wine culture.

🏙️ Private Wine Tasting in Rhodes Town (with Sommelier)

**Perfect for:** Couples, beginners, cruise passengers with limited time

This highly-rated experience takes place at Anastasia winery, inside the vineyards. A certified sommelier guides you through tastings of Greek wines, explaining grape varieties, production methods, and food pairing.

**What’s included** :
– Guided tasting with professional sommelier
– Selection of red, white, 5 in total
– Private experience or just your group can also be arranged
– 1h30-minute duration, easy to fit into any schedule

**Reviewers rave:** *”Jason is the perfect host for an immersive wine tasting experience, showcasing his incredible depth and knowledge of Greek wines and high-quality produce”*

*”Great Greek wine tasting experience with the supremely knowledgeable Jason. His knowledge of wine and wine history was second to none”*

**Price:** From ~39 euros per person
**Rating:** 5.0/5 based on 107 reviews

🍇 Private Wine Tasting with Food Pairing (Multiple Locations)

**Perfect for:** Travelers wanting a 1-hour introduction

Another excellent option offers a 1-hour private tasting with an experienced sommelier, featuring up to 5 Greek wine varieties paired with local nibbles . This experience takes place in an authentic Greek bar-restaurant.

**What’s included** :
– Up to 5 unique Greek wines
– Food pairing
– Experienced sommelier
– Transfer to/from activity

**Reviewers rave:** *”Small, cozy space, Raphael was an absolute highlight. He took us through a journey through Greece with the wines that he chose. Wonderful service and conversation”*

*”The sommelier was amazing! We learned about the history of the grapes and the winemakers, and the production of the wines”*

🍳 Wine Tasting + Cooking Class Combo

**Perfect for:** Foodies, hands-on travelers, small groups

Several operators offer experiences combining vineyard tours, wine tasting, and cooking classes . These are fantastic value, often running 4 hours and including a multi-course lunch.

**What’s included** :
– Winery, distillery, and vineyard tours
– Wine tasting with certified sommelier
– Cooking class (learn to make tzatziki, dolmades, eggplant salad)
– 10-course lunch with unlimited wine
– Round-trip transfers

**Reviewers rave:** *”What a fabulous experience. Small and intimate enough… Guide was engaging. Cookery class fun and food was plentiful—along with the unlimited and delicious wine”*

*”My mom and I’s favorite tour! We were talked to by the vineyard’s owner’s son, who gave us great information and took us for a walk in the vineyard… My mom described it as the feeling of being in a Hallmark movie”*

**Price:** From approx. $90 per person
**Rating:** 4.8/5 based on 101 reviews

🌿 Olives , Olive oil tasting and Wine tasting

**Perfect for:** Those wanting behind-the-scenes access

This experience, located near Petaloudes (Valley of the Butterflies), includes a walk through working vineyards with the winemaker himself, plus tasting and a visit to the only legal souma distillery in the Dodecanese .

**What’s included** :
– Walk through vineyards with winemaker
– Expert-led tasting
– Visit to souma distillery
– Olive oil tasting
– Small group (max 16)
– 1.5-hour duration

**Price:** ~$45 per person

**Best for:** Travelers who want to understand viticulture and appreciate authentic, small-group experiences

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🚗 Planning Your Wine Day: Practical Tips

Travel experts and local bloggers offer these tips for a successful wine-tasting day in Rhodes :

🚙 Getting There: Do You Need a Car?

**Short answer: Yes, for the mountain wineries.**

The best vineyards—in Embonas, Siana, and around Mount Attavyros—are in mountainous areas with no bus routes . Taxis for long distances can be expensive.

**Options** :
– **Rental car:** Most flexible, lets you explore at your own pace
– **Organized tour:** Removes driving stress, includes transport
– **Taxi:** Possible but costly for mountain areas
– **Private driver:** Luxury option with local expertise

**Driving tips** :
– Mountain roads are narrow but safe
– Goats may wander onto roads—drive carefully
– Villages have very slow traffic

📅 When to Go

**Best season:** Late spring through autumn

– **September-October:** Harvest season—wineries buzz with activity
– **Spring (April-June):** Pleasant weather, green landscapes
– **Summer (July-August):** Hot but beautiful; start early
– **Winter:** Some wineries close or have limited hours; check ahead

🍽️ Food Pairing: Where to Eat

Wine tasting is even better with food. In Embonas, local tavernas serve :
– Goat in the oven
– Grilled meats
– Local cheeses
– Fresh salads
– Dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves)

*”The wines taste better with food—especially Athiri with seafood and Amorgiano with grilled lamb”*

💡 Wine Tasting Tips from Locals

– **Don’t rush** — wineries here love conversation
– **Eat something** before tasting
– **Bring water** in summer
– **Expect generous pours** — Greek hospitality applies to wine
– **Buy bottles directly** for the best price
– **Drive carefully** — or choose a driver/tour

🛍️ Which Wines to Bring Home?

Local experts recommend :
– **Athiri White** — clean, fresh, citrusy
– **Amorgiano Red** — earthy, bold, deeply coloured
– **Muscat** — floral, aromatic, semi-dry or sweet
– **CAIR Brut & Rosé** — Rhodes’ iconic sparklings

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🗺️ Three Wine Routes to Follow

Here are curated itineraries from a local travel guide :

Route 1: Embonas Wine Day (Full Day)

**Perfect for:** Full immersion in wine country

1. Start at **Emery Winery**
2. Visit **Kounakis Winery**
3. Stop at **Alexandris Winery**
4. Lunch in Embonas village taverna
5. Optional: **Attavyros viewpoint** for panoramic photos

Route 2: Town + Butterflies Valley Wine (Half Day)

**Perfect for:** Cruise passengers, limited time, no mountain driving

1. **Anastasia Winery** (Pastida) — modern boutique wines
2. **CAIR Winery** (Rhodes Town) — sparkling wines
3. Optional: wine bar in Rhodes Old Town for evening glass

Route 3: Wine + West Coast Villages (Full Day)

**Perfect for:** Combining wine with scenery and history

1. Drive through **Siana** — souma tasting
2. Continue to **Embonas** wineries
3. End at **Monolithos Castle** for sunset
4. Dinner in a mountain village

*”A beautiful way to combine wine, nature, and history”*

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💬 What Travelers Say: Real Reviews

> *”I went with my partner and the experience was perfection. Small, cozy space, Raphael was an absolute highlight. He took us through a journey through Greece with the wines that he chose. Wonderful service and conversation as well as private time to eat the fantastic food that paired with the wine and enjoy. 10/10 experience”* — GetYourGuide reviewer

> *”My mom and I’s favorite tour! It began with a small group of 6 being talked to by the vineyards owner’s son, who gave us great information and took us for a walk in the vineyard while allowing us to try the grapes… My mom described it as the feeling of being in a Hallmark movie (and she does not even drink)!”* — Viator reviewer

> *”This was an incredible experience! Our sommelier was knowledgeable, fun, and did a great job! The wines were great as well as the food. There was also an issue with our cruise ship, and they were kind enough to move our booking up. 10/10 experience and I would recommend it to anyone!”* — Viator reviewer

> *”We stayed in Greece for over a week and this was my mom and I’s favorite tour!”* — Viator reviewer

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🛳️ For Cruise Passengers: Wine Tasting Near the Port

Short on time? Here are options that work beautifully with a cruise stop:

Option 1: Half-Day Wine + Cooking Tour

Several operators offer **tours with pickup from the cruise port** . You’ll be driven to a family winery, enjoy vineyard tours, tastings, and a cooking class, then returned to your ship with plenty of time.

**Reviewers rave:**
*”We wanted something hands-on and immersive but not too involved and this was a great option while in port from our cruise. Efficient drive to the vineyard where we learned about the wine making process as well as about Greek cuisine”*

Option 2: Butterfly Valley + Anastasia winery tour

With a taxi or private driver, visit **Anastasia Winery** in Theologos (short drive) and combined it with a visit to the valley of butterflies. Both are close to the port and this experience offers excellent tastings without a long mountain drive.

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🏨 Where to Stay for Wine Lovers

**In the wine village: Embonas**
Wake up surrounded by vineyards. Perfect for immersive wine days .

**Near mountain routes: Salakos or Siana**
Quiet villages close to wineries and nature .

**In Rhodes Town**
Best for combining wine tasting with city evenings and easy access to restaurants .

For luxury seekers, **Rokas Luxury Villas** offers a strategic location near top vineyards, plus a complimentary daily bottle of wine from their own family vineyard .

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❓ FAQ: Wine Tasting in Rhodes

Is Rhodes a good island for wine tasting?

**Yes.** Rhodes is one of the best Greek islands for wine lovers, behind only Santorini and Crete. The combination of volcanic soil, high-altitude vineyards, and family-run wineries creates wines with real character .

What wines is Rhodes known for?

– **Athiri** (white) — crisp, citrusy, mineral
– **Amorgiano/Mandilaria** (red) — earthy, full-bodied
– **Muscat** — aromatic, floral, sweet/semi-sweet
– **CAIR sparkling wines** — iconic local bubbles

Do I need a car to visit wineries?

**For mountain wineries (Embonas, Siana), yes.** There are no bus routes. Alternatives: organized tours, private drivers, or taxis .

Can I do wine tasting from a cruise ship?

**Absolutely.** Choose a Rhodes wine tasting tour or a half-day tour with port pickup or a full experience with transfer from and to the port!

What’s souma?

Souma is a local spirit distilled from grapes, similar to grappa. It’s a specialty of Siana village, but you can also try one at Anastasia’s Winery

When is harvest season?

September-October. Wineries buzz with activity, and it’s a wonderful time to visit .

How many wineries should I visit in one day?

**2-3 maximum.** Wineries here love conversation, and rushing defeats the purpose. Plan for leisurely visits .

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🏆 The Bottom Line: Is Wine Tasting in Rhodes Worth It?

**Absolutely.** Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just someone who enjoys a good glass with a view, Rhodes offers something special .

The combination of:
– **Ancient winemaking tradition** (over 2,400 years)
– **Unique local grapes** you won’t find elsewhere
– **Mountain vineyards** with stunning scenery
– **Family-run wineries** with genuine hospitality
– **Expert-led tastings** for deeper understanding

…makes wine tasting in Rhodes an experience you shouldn’t miss.

As one traveler put it: *”Everyone should visit this family-owned vineyard and revel in the amazingness!”*

So next time you’re in Rhodes, venture beyond the beaches and medieval walls. Head inland, breathe the mountain air, and discover why this island’s wines have been cherished for millennia.

**Opa! 🍷**