Mark of a Wine Culture

The historic backdrop and continued uninterrupted winemaking history that the island possesses, are but one of the few reasons that mark Cyprus as a distinguished wine-growing region, driving the quest for distinctive crafted wines.

A Rich History of Material Culture

The long history of material culture in Cyprus, from the Neolithic to the flourishing Middle Ages, attests to how much winegrowing and winemaking influenced daily lives.

At the height of trading and influence that came with medieval royalty, the Knights Templar and Hospitallers, the island’s most famous wine Commandaria was crowned and still stands today as Cyprus’s most reputed wine appellation.

Diversity of Climates and Soils

The diverse climates and soils have always played an important role, even served as an ideal environment for meeting demand for red and white wines during the Phylloxera crisis, enabling for a further expansion of fortified wine ranges, aged brandies and distilled spirits.

Overcoming the dependence of historical sweet wine making and fortification of Commandaria, did come at the expense of excesses of an industrialization of a sector with massive plantings for both red and white grapes driven for exports markets during decades prior to joining the European Union.

Enter the Geographical and Appellation Systems of Origin

As a Cyprus wine sector that has fully turned its focus back to its legacy vineyards, revisiting the better adapted native grape varietals has been a blessing. More native varietals are being sought out to complement or bring out best of the traditional indigenous varieties of Mavro (for red and rosé wines) and the white grape Xynisteri, and its most renowned Commandaria winemaking (Koumandaria).

Modern-day winemaking emerges with a redimensioned viticultural landscape balanced around 7.000 Ha. The focus on ancient own-rooted varieties and the adoption of EU geographical indications has in the last 30 years allowed also for an evolution of the protected designations of origin for altitude vineyard areas of Panayia, Pitsillia, Krasochoria Lemesou, Laona Akamas and Commandaria.

Quest for distinctive winemaking

Reinterpreting white Xynisteri and red Mavro grapes has provided an opportunity to revive other nearly extinct varieties such as Promara, Morokanella, Spourtiko, Lefkada, Vasilissa, Ofthalmo, Maratheftiko, and Yiannoudi. This ongoing pursuit of wines with unique character also embraces international varieties like Chardonnay, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Black Muscat, Cabernet, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.

True wine-growing sanctuaries of indigenous grapes, hand-selected by farmers for thousands of years for their drought-resistance, dry-farmed on volcanic soils and layered limestone terraces bound to the Troodos massif has served as refound inspiration to a handful of pioneers during the last 40 years.

Settled on isolated slopes and altitude vineyard plateaus, this availability of phylloxera-free vines nurtured by farming communities, has driven winemakers and wineries to further invest, experiment and create distinctive wines that enthuse with finesse and character, expressing the story of their land.