A full season celebrating wine, gastronomy and the distinctive vineyards of Santorini is coming to its final chapter. On October 3, Rizes Gastro Taverna welcomes MIKRA THÍRA from Thirasia for the fourth and final Wine Journey of 2026, bringing to a close a series of memorable evenings that have brought SantoWines, Karamolegos Winery and ARKTOS, GAIA Wines, and now MIKRA THÍRA, to the same table. Four evenings, five winemaking identities and one shared philosophy: to tell the story of a place, its people and its roots through wine and gastronomy. For its final journey of 2026, the series crosses the caldera to Thirasia.

Fira, Santorini, 16 September 2026 – Between July and September, Rizes Gastro Taverna hosted three dedicated food-and-wine evenings with SantoWines, Artemis Karamolegkos Winery and ARKTOS Elevation, and GAIA Wines. Each evening paired a menu created specifically for the collaboration with a selection of wines presented at the table, giving guests the opportunity to explore the wines alongside the dishes and hear directly from the people behind them.

SantoWines – 7 July

The series opened with SantoWines. Assyrtiko Brut, Santorini Selection, Kissiris Rosé, Kameni and Vinsanto accompanied a menu that moved from Greek meze and ceviche to zucchini and giouvetsi, before closing with chocolate, sour cherry and Vinsanto. The Rooted Spritz, made with tsipouro, bergamot, SantoWines Assyrtiko Brut and thyme, introduced the evening.

Artemis Karamolegkos Winery and ARKTOS Elevation – 28 August

The second dinner brought Artemis Karamolegkos Winery and ARKTOS Elevation to Rizes. The menu continued the series’ focus on Greek and Santorinian ingredients and flavours, with beef giouvetsi as the main course and wines from both producers presented throughout the evening. The Sunset Sangria, made with jasmine, Greek Triple Sec and Mystirio Assyrtiko, opened the evening.

GAIA Wines – 11 September

The third event, “Roots of the Earth,” paired Ritinitis Nobilis with artos, taramas and xtypiti; Wild Ferment with kalamari kontosouvli; and Gaia S with the zucchini course. For the main course, guests chose between beef giouvetsi with Agiorgitiko and Aegean fricassee with Clay. Choco Sour Cherry Sokolata and Vinsanto completed the menu. A Retsina Spritz with Ritinitis Nobilis, elderflower liqueur and soda welcomed guests at sunset.

Across the three evenings, the Rizes culinary and service teams adapted each menu to the identity of the participating winery. The 2026 kitchen is led by Executive Chef Alexandros Makropoulos and Head Chef Maria Sylla, with Sommelier Apostolos Maras coordinating the wine programme.

The Continuing Wine Programme

The three events held so far establish a clear format for the Rizes wine programme: focused winery collaborations, menus designed around selected labels and direct contact between producers and guests. From its terraces in central Fira, the restaurant continues to explore Santorini’s wine culture alongside the wider Greek vineyard.

About Rizes Gastro Taverna

Rizes Gastro Taverna is located in Fira, Santorini, opposite the Metropolitan Cathedral. It explores Greek and Santorinian cuisine through a farm-to-table approach, complemented by an extensive selection of wines from Santorini and across Greece. Rizes has received one star from the FNL Guide and has been included in the FNL Guide Skinos List.