![]() He asked an elderly vintner, “ Why do the vines grow like this in Santorini?” She responded with a shrug. Stamatis told us a fantastic story from his time researching Santorini wines. We started our tour by wandering out to the vineyards themselves, which in Santorini look unlike the vines I’ve seen anywhere else in the world - like scrubby bushes hugging the ground. ![]() Our first stop was Boutari Winery, the second largest in Santorini. We accepted Stamatis’s apologies and explanations of traffic due to the many cruise ships in port and put on smiles to meet our fellow wine tasters, who were just joining the tour - a honeymooning couple from San Francisco, two stylish sisters from Chicago (one of whom was a professional wine buyer!), and a man from the Czech Republic. By the time we saw the van rounding the corner, we had spent an hour waiting in total between the delay in our morning pickup and now this one. When he wasn’t there, we tried to sit back and be patient, but our confusion and the unrelenting heat made it hard to relax. When it was time to say our goodbyes we made our way to meet Stamatis at our prearranged time and location. Instead, archeologists have uncovered frescoes and other images of flowers, birds, dolphins, and the bounty of the sea. Unlike in much of the ancient world, the art in Akrotiri showed no signs of war, fear, or human sacrifice. The ruins of the city reveal a peaceful people and a democracy - remains of a parliament, no signs of a palace, and - Malissos pointed out with proper gravity - ubiquitous plumbing, not just reserved for an aristocracy. The people of Akrotiri had a short but good life, estimated to be only about thirty-five years long, on average. Why they never returned, and where they went, is still a mystery. As wealthy seafarers, they had the means to flee, taking all their worldly treasures with them. This along with other clues tells archaeologists that unlike the famous tragedy at Pompeii, the people of Akrotori had warning that an eruption was coming, probably in the form of foreshocks. The most haunting thing about Akrotiri? There are no bodies, no human remains, not even the bones of a single domesticated animal. Malissos was hands down the most engaging guide I’ve ever had at a historical site, patiently answering our endless questions and picking up on the aspects of the history we were most interested in and focusing on those. However, thanks to our private guide Malissos, who Stamatis handed us off to at the gate, we spent over an hour enraptured by the story of this amazing ancient civilization, rumored by some to be the lost city of Atlantis. Yet, to be honest, I think had we strolled through on our own, we would have been there for about fifteen minutes, scanned a few plaques, taken a few obligatory photos, and left with a shrug. The almost 4,000 year old ruins are now one of the Aegean’s most important prehistoric settlements. Looking back, I can’t believe we hesitated - it was one of the highlights of Santorini for me.Īkrotiri was once a lost city that lay buried for centuries after a volcanic explosion. Heather and had I debated about whether or not to do the Akrotori add-on to the winery tour. The fact that the harsh, inhospitable growing environment on Santorini isn’t one of the world’s famous wine regions is exactly what piqued my interest.Īnd so when our guide, a salt-and-pepper-haired Greek sommelier named Stamatis picked us up in the morning, I already knew we were in for an interesting day. But I do have an affection for all things quirky and corked, having enjoyed tastings at wineries in the rural outskirts of Cambodia, in the shadow of a volcano in Hawaii, and in a town predominantly known for brothels in Nevada. So the Ancient Akrotiri and Santorini Wineries tour wasn’t exactly the most natural fit for me - I’m no wine aficionado. Have you seen that episode of Parks and Recreation where April enters a sommelier competition? That’s how I typically feel when I’m around wine enthusiasts and professionals - like I’m swirling grape juice around in a fancy glass that I’m possibly holding upside down and declaring I smell notes of sandwich and the color purple.
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