The Greek island of Santorini, with its iconic whitewashed buildings and caldera views, has long been a magnet for global tourism.

But beyond the postcard-perfect scenes, a quieter struggle unfolds in the island’s vineyards. Winemakers like Paris Sigalas and his young colleague Eva Athanasopoulo are fighting to preserve a centuries-old tradition of viticulture on the island’s volcanic soil.

Eva Athanasopoulo, who fell in love with wine and the land after moving to Santorini, now finds herself surrounded by construction sites. Hotels are rising rapidly — even next to their vineyard — threatening not only the landscape but also the future of local agriculture.

The unchecked expansion of tourism infrastructure is pushing traditional wine growing to the margins. As younger generations abandon farming for more lucrative opportunities, land is increasingly sold to developers. Santorini’s reputation as a wine island is fading, replaced by a race to accommodate ever-growing tourist numbers.

Locals like architect Nikolaos Delendas and hotelier Antonis Eliopoulos are calling for a more thoughtful approach: Zoning laws that protect agricultural land and cultural heritage, and a halt to unregulated development. They argue that the island’s charm — its villages, vineyards, and hiking trails — is precisely what draws visitors. If these are lost, so too is the soul of Santorini.