Santorini Wines at the Volcanic Wine Awards 2026

Santorini had a strong presence at the Volcanic Wine Awards 2026, with the island’s wines standing out in a new but emerging international competition that focuses exclusively on wines from volcanic regions, highlighting the importance of terroir and special growing conditions.

What is the Volcanic Wine Awards Competition?

The competition is organized by the Volcanic Wines International network in collaboration with the JancisRobinson.com platform, one of the most trusted international sources for wine.

The Volcanic Wines International network was founded in 2019 on the initiative of producers and organizations from volcanic wine-producing regions, with the aim of promoting and highlighting the uniqueness of volcanic wines worldwide. The network’s inspirer and driving force is Canadian Master Sommelier John Szabo. Countries with significant viticultural areas in volcanic soils participate in this, namely: Armenia, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, Hungary.

In its second year, this year’s competition was held last February in New York with the participation of 260 wines from volcanic soils worldwide. The evaluation was carried out by specialized tasters over the course of three days and after the samples were grouped by region or country, with a maximum number of 40 wines per session. During the tasting, only the origin, year and varieties of each wine were revealed. The wines were rated on a scale of 100 points, with the threshold for distinction at 86 points and categories from honorable mention to gold medal.

The results are gradually revealed by region and in a short time the gold medals will be re-evaluated by the presidents of the judging committees, in order to distinguish those that will receive an additional special distinction. Many of the distinguished wines will be exhibited during the 5th international conference of Volcanic Wines, which will be held in June in New York.

The Volcanic Islands Awards for 2026

In the first phase, the awards of the “Volcanic Islands” group have been announced, that is, from volcanic island regions. There we find a total of 69 award-winning labels from Santorini, Sicily, Madeira, Tenerife and the Azores. Wines from Santorini won 19 medals (eight gold, eight silver and three bronze).

With bold letters the wines from Santorini. Click on the links to find out more information and ship worldwide.

Gold Medal (91+ points)

Animaetnea, Animalucente Bianco Contrada Santo Spirito 2024 Etna
Animaetnea, Animardente Rosso Contrada Santo Spirito 2021 Etna
Arautava Listán Blanco 2024 Valle de la Orotava
Arautava, Finca La Habanera Listán Blanco 2021 Valle de la Orotava
Argyros, Cuvée Monsignori 2022 Santorini
Argyros, Late Release Vin Santo 2002 Santorini (2004 label available)
Azores Wine Company, Vinha dos Utras Criação Velha 1os Jeirões 2022 Pico
Benanti, Pietra Marina Superiore 2020 Etna
Blandy’s, Verdelho 10 Años Meio Seco/Medium Dry NV Madeira
Caravaglio, Malvasia Secco 2024 IGT Salina
Donnafugata, Sul Vulcano Bianco 2022 Etna
Donnafugata, Sul Vulcano Rosso 2022 Etna
Donnafugata Ben Ryé Passito 2023 Pantelleria
Gaia, Thalassitis 2024 Santorini
Giovanni Rosso, Pietra Marina 2024 Etna
Madeira Wine Company, Bual 10 Year Old Meio Doce/Medium Sweet NV Madeira
Mikra Thira, Nykteri 2024 Santorini
Mirella Buscemi, Tataraci 2020 Sicilia
Pietradolce, Barbagalli 2020 Etna
Passopisciaro, Passobianco 2024 IGT Terre Siciliane
Passopisciaro, Passorosso Nerello Mascalese 2024 Etna
Passopisciaro, Contrada G 2023 IGT Terre Siciliane
Passopisciaro, Contrada PC 2023 IGT Terre Siciliane
Pietradolce, Feudo di Mezzo 2021 Etna
Planeta, Contrada Feudo di Mezzo 2023 Etna
Planeta, Eruzione 1614 Carricante 2022 Sicilia
Planeta, Eruzione 1614 Edizioneduemilaventitre Carricante 2018 Sicilia
Santo, Grande Reserve 2022 Santorini
Santo, Vinsanto 2020 Santorini
Sigalas Mavrotragano 2022 Santorini (2023 label available)
Suertes del Marqués, Vidonia Listán Blanco 2024 Valle de la Orotava
Suertes del Marqués, Vidonia VP Listán Blanco 2024 Valle de la Orotava
Tenute Ballasanti 2023 Etna
Torre Mora, Chiuse Vidalba 2022 Etna
Torre Mora, Scalunera 2024 Etna
Vassaltis, Gramina Cuvée des Vignerons Assyrtiko 2023 Santorini

Silver medal (89–90.9 grades)

Argyros, Cuvée Palatia 2023 Santorini
Argyros, Cuvée Gerontampelo 2020 Santorini
Caravaglio, Occhio di Terra Malvasia 2022 IGT Salina
Gaia, Wild Ferment Assyrtiko 2024 Santorini
Generazione Alessandro, Croceferro 2022 Etna
Giovanni Rosso, Contrade Nuove 2024 Etna
Giovanni Rosso, Contrade Nuove 2023 Etna
Herdade do Rocim, Oceânico Arinto dos Açores 2024 Pico
Ilha do Pico, Terras de Lava 2024 IG Açores
Insula Verdelho 2022 Pico
Artemis Karamolegos, Ftelos Assyrtiko 2022 Santorini (2021 label available)
Mikra Thira Assyrtiko 2024 Santorini
Mirella Buscemi, Il Bianco 2023 Sicilia
Tenute Orestiadi, La Gelsomina Blanc de Noir Metodo Classico Brut NV Etna
Passopisciaro, Contrada C 2023 IGT Terre Siciliane
Pietradolce, Archineri 2024 Etna
Sigalas, Kavalieros Assyrtiko 2023 Santorini
Santo, Kameni 2022 PGI Cyclades
Tenute Ballasanti 2023 Etna
Tenute Orestiadi, La Gelsomina 2022 Etna
Titerok-Akaet, Akaet Valle del Malpaso 2023 Lanzarote
Vassaltis, Alcyone Cuvée Mythologique Assyrtiko 2023 Santorini

Bronze Medal (87–88.9)

Envínate, Migan 2021 Spain
Generazione Alessandro, Trainara 2023 Etna
Mikra Thira, Terrasea 2022 Santorini
Palmento Carranco, Villa dei Baroni 2021 Etna
Santo, Assyrtiko 2024 Santorini
Santo, Nykteri 2023 Santorini
Torre Mora, Cauru 2024 Etna
Torre Mora, Scalunera 2023 Etna

You can discover the wines of the Santorini vineyard on the pages of the santorini.net eshop, which currently hosts more than 170 labels from 18 wineries on the island. Among them you will find all the award-winning wines of the Volcan Wine Awards that are in circulation.