Top 5 'Volcano-to-Vineyard' European Islands to travel to in Summer 2025 - Goh Ling Yong
Sun-drenched coastlines, the gentle clinking of glasses, and a backdrop of dramatic, ancient landscapes. If this sounds like your ideal getaway, then forget the typical beach holiday. For Summer 2025, we're diving into a travel experience that's altogether more elemental, more flavourful, and infinitely more memorable: the 'volcano-to-vineyard' island escape.
There's a unique magic that happens when viticulture meets vulcanology. The mineral-rich, porous soil left behind by ancient eruptions forces vines to struggle, digging their roots deep for nutrients. This struggle results in grapes with an incredible concentration of flavour, a distinct minerality, and a story you can literally taste in the glass. These are not just wines; they are liquid landscapes, each sip a reflection of the fire, earth, and sea that created them.
So, pack your sense of adventure (and a corkscrew). We've curated a list of the top five European islands where you can hike a volcano by day and toast your adventure with its world-class wine by night. These are destinations that ignite the senses and offer a perfect blend of exhilarating exploration and sophisticated relaxation.
1. Santorini, Greece – The Dazzling Classic
When you picture a Greek island, you're likely picturing Santorini. Its iconic, cliff-hugging villages of stark white and brilliant blue are perched precariously on the rim of a massive caldera—the stunning aftermath of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. This cataclysmic event not only shaped the island's breathtaking crescent form but also blessed it with a terroir unlike any other.
The soil here is a dark, ashy mix of pumice and lava called aspa. It's a challenging environment for any plant life, but the local grapevines have adapted in a truly ingenious way. For centuries, islanders have trained their vines into low-lying, woven baskets known as kouloura. This unique method protects the precious grapes from the fierce Aegean winds and the harsh summer sun, trapping a bit of morning dew to provide moisture in the arid climate. The result is a wine that is as resilient and remarkable as the island itself.
Your Volcano-to-Vineyard Itinerary:
The star of Santorini's wine scene is the noble Assyrtiko grape. It produces bone-dry white wines with electrifying acidity, a distinctive saline minerality, and notes of citrus and beeswax. For the quintessential experience, book a tasting at Santo Wines in Pyrgos; the cliffside terrace offers arguably the best caldera view on the island, especially at sunset. For a deeper dive, visit Domaine Sigalas near Oia, a pioneer in elevating the quality of Santorini's wines. Pair a chilled glass of Assyrtiko with freshly grilled octopus at a seaside taverna in Ammoudi Bay for a moment of pure bliss. Plan your trip for June or September 2025 to avoid the peak crowds while still enjoying fantastic weather.
2. Sicily, Italy – The Fiery Soul
Sicily is more than an island; it's a continent in miniature, a crossroads of civilizations with a soul as fiery as the volcano that dominates its eastern skyline. Mount Etna is not a dormant relic; it's a living, breathing giant, Europe's most active volcano, and its influence is felt in every aspect of life, especially in the vineyards that cling to its formidable slopes.
The wine region of Etna DOC is one of the most exciting in the world right now. Here, vineyards climb to astonishing altitudes, some over 1,000 meters above sea level, making them some of the highest in Europe. The soil is a patchwork of black, sandy lava flows from different historical eruptions, each lending a unique mineral complexity to the wines. Growing grapes here is an act of faith and a testament to the symbiotic relationship between the Sicilian people and their volatile mountain.
Your Volcano-to-Vineyard Itinerary:
Focus your attention on the local heroes: the red Nerello Mascalese and the white Carricante. Nerello Mascalese produces elegant, aromatic red wines with bright acidity and earthy, red-fruit notes often compared to fine Burgundy or Barolo. Carricante, on the other hand, yields vibrant, mineral-driven white wines with a distinctive citrus and anise character that can age beautifully. Plan a day that combines a guided trek on Etna's upper slopes with a tour and tasting at a celebrated estate like Tenuta di Fessina or Benanti. For your home base, the charming hilltop town of Taormina offers stunning views of both Etna and the Ionian Sea, though staying at a vineyard agriturismo on the volcano's slopes offers an unforgettable, immersive experience.
3. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain – The Island of Eternal Spring
Often stereotyped as a simple sun-and-sand destination, Tenerife is an island of astounding diversity, a fact I've always championed here on the Goh Ling Yong blog. At its heart lies the colossal Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak and a dormant volcano whose crater and lava fields create a surreal, lunar-like landscape in the island's center. This volcanic spine creates a wealth of microclimates, from the lush, green north to the sun-baked, arid south.
This geological diversity is a paradise for winemakers. One of Tenerife's most fascinating secrets is its treasure trove of ancient, ungrafted vines. Because the Canary Islands were never affected by the phylloxera pest that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century, many vines here are hundreds of years old, producing grapes of incredible character and depth. Winemakers use unique training systems, like the remarkable cordón trenzado (braided cord), where vine branches are woven together into long braids that can stretch for several meters.
Your Volcano-to-Vineyard Itinerary:
Seek out wines made from the indigenous Listán Negro (red) and Listán Blanco (white) grapes. The reds are often peppery and smoky with bright red fruit, thanks to the volcanic soil, while the whites are crisp and saline. Explore the wineries of the Valle de La Orotava on the island's northern coast, where estates like Suertes del Marqués are crafting world-class, terroir-driven wines. A perfect day involves driving through the cloud line into the sun-drenched Teide National Park to hike among the alien rock formations, followed by a late lunch and wine tasting at a guachinche—a rustic, family-run eatery serving traditional food and their own homemade wine.
4. Pico Island, The Azores, Portugal – The Atlantic Enigma
For the traveler looking to truly get off the beaten path, Pico is your destination. This small, dramatic island in the middle of the Atlantic is the rawest expression of the volcano-to-vineyard theme. The entire landscape is dominated by the perfectly conical, 2,351-meter-high Mount Pico, a brooding presence that dictates the weather, the culture, and the wine.
The island's vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a staggering testament to human resilience. To cultivate grapes here, generations of islanders built a vast labyrinth of black volcanic stone walls, or currais. These thousands of small plots protect the low-lying vines from the harsh, salt-laden Atlantic winds while absorbing the sun's heat to help ripen the grapes. Walking through these black-walled vineyards is an otherworldly experience, a starkly beautiful landscape of black stone, green vines, and the deep blue sea.
Your Volcano-to-Vineyard Itinerary:
The wines of Pico are as unique as its landscape. The whites, made primarily from Arinto dos Açores and Verdelho, are intensely mineralic, with a briny, saline quality that speaks directly of their oceanic setting. They are the perfect accompaniment to the incredible local seafood. Rent a car and drive the coastal road, stopping at natural swimming pools carved from lava rock. Visit the Cooperativa Vitivinícola da Ilha do Pico for a comprehensive tasting and be sure to try the fortified Lajido wine, a local specialty. Beyond wine, Pico is one of the world's best spots for whale and dolphin watching, making for a truly wild and unforgettable adventure in Summer 2025.
5. Madeira, Portugal – The Lush Floating Garden
Born of a violent volcanic hotspot, Madeira has mellowed over millennia into a subtropical paradise. It’s an island of jaw-dropping cliffs that plunge into the ocean, lush emerald peaks shrouded in mist, and a unique viticultural tradition forged by fire and time. While its volcano is long dormant, its legacy provides the incredibly fertile soil that makes Madeira the "Floating Garden" of the Atlantic.
The island is famous for its namesake fortified wine, Madeira. Historically, the wine was fortified with brandy to survive long sea voyages through the tropics. Shippers noticed that the heat and movement of the journey actually improved the wine, giving it its signature nutty, caramelized flavours. Today, this process is replicated on the island through the estufagem system, where the wine is gently heated over several months. A personal travel tip from me, Goh Ling Yong: don't just stick to the sweet Madeiras; the drier Sercial style is a fantastic and complex aperitif.
Your Volcano-to-Vineyard Itinerary:
Madeira's most unique feature is its network of levadas, ancient irrigation channels that crisscross the island, now serving as an incredible network of hiking trails. Spend your morning on a breathtaking levada walk, trekking through lush laurisilva forests to stunning waterfalls. In the afternoon, descend to the capital, Funchal, and visit a historic Madeira lodge like Blandy's or D'Oliveiras. A guided tour will walk you through the fascinating history and production process, culminating in a tasting of the different styles, from the dry Sercial to the rich and sweet Malvasia. It's a journey through time, flavour, and the volcanic heart of this magnificent island.
From the iconic cliffs of Santorini to the rugged, windswept vineyards of Pico, these 'volcano-to-vineyard' islands offer a richer, deeper travel experience. They prove that the most dramatic landscapes often produce the most compelling flavours, creating a perfect pairing of adventure and indulgence for your Summer 2025 holiday.
Which of these volcanic gems is calling your name? Have you tasted a wine that truly transported you to its place of origin? Share your thoughts and dream destinations in the comments below—let's start planning our next great wine adventure together
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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