THE HISTORY
Mr. Apostolos Mountrichas, the Avantis’ winemaker, loved Santorini and he realized the potential of Assyrtiko, so he started his Santorini project in 2012. He completed it in 2021 by founding Anhydrous Winery. His philosophy relies on experimentations in ancient wine-making techniques that produce modern wines with purity and primary varietal characteristics. Anhydrous wines are high-quality wines sealed with the raw beauty of Santorini.
Assyrtiko produces volcanic wines with high acidity, purity, and minerality, with a rich character and long aging potential. Other indigenous grapes are Athiri, Aidani, Mandilaria, and Mavrotragano.
The winery is located in Exo Gonia village which is exclusively their wine production area. The Anhydrous Cellar Door is located in Fira within a 10-minute walk. It opens from April to October for guided tours, tastings, lunch in the restaurant, and cooking lessons.
The soil has a sandy composition – a mixture of terrestrial land, lava, and pumice, of volcanic composition. It has an age of 3600 years. Also, the climate is Mediterranean with strong summer Aegean winds, the Meltemia, and low rainfall. The vines are ‘irrigated’ by the atmospheric humidity of Caldera’s sea mists.
OENOTOURISM
They welcome all wine lovers into a different wine-tourism model, dedicated to wine culture. The old roofless cinema of Fira was transformed in 2009 into our quiet Cycladic courtyard. In that area, between the large oak and concrete oval tanks, the guiding tours, the lunch, and the cooking courses take place.
In the Afoura cellar (“Afoura” refers to a large oak Santorini barrel), the visitor unfolds the Santorini tradition, along with the clay maturation amphorae. There, they offer wine tastings with a “kalosorisma” dip (small welcome complimentary appetizer), or in a combination with Greek meze appetizers, cooking courses, private wine tastings, or private meals. It is located in the southern part of Fira just a 10–minute walk from the center of Fira.
LENGA OENOTHERAPY
From vine to wine… from wine to wellness…
2019 – today
The first time where the bond between wine – wellness is so strong.
Also, a place of relaxation and wellness is been devoted, where the therapist offers the Oenotherapy Lenga face, and body grape ritual.
Lenga Grigoriadou is a wine lady. She has been married to the winemaker, Apostolos Mountrichas. One of her greatest achievements was her innovation in 2009, where she combined the antioxidant power of the two-family wineries in Mainland Greece (Avantis Estate) and in Santorini (Anhydrous Winery) wines by-products to wellness. Thus, she created the first wine & grape Greek cosmetics that embrace the skin with green active ingredients, luxurious textures, and grapey aromas, inspired by the wines of the two wineries. In the wellness area into the Cellar Door (since 2019), our therapist offers an amazing grape therapy ritual. Indulge yourself, and become one with the deep blue Cycladic sky, the blue of the Aegean, and the green landscape of the Santorini vineyards. Elevate your mind and body, relax your senses, smell a glass of Assyrtiko, and let the touch of the Santorini vineyard overwhelm you.
BOOK NOW FOR WINE TASTING
Fira Kontochori, 84700 Santorini
+30 2286023140
Guided Tours: 11:00-21:00 | Restaurant: 13:00-22:00
Cellar Door will be closed from the end of October until the beginning of the Spring. For any questions, please contact us at +30 22210 55350 (9 am-5 pm).