INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR CYPRIOT WINES
CENTURIES OF KNOWLEDGE
Viticulture on the island is the product of centuries of knowledge. With this in mind, Cyprus wine is sometimes considered to directly reflect the island’s history, culture, and rugged Mediterranean landscapes.
INDIGENOUS GRAPE VARIETIES
There are three indigenous grape varieties on the island. The ‘Maratheftiko’, and ‘Mavro’, grape varieties are mainly used to produce red wines and the ‘Xynestyri’, is used to produce white wines. A combination of these grapes is used to create ‘Commandaria’, the infamous Cyprus dessert wine.
A GOOD RANGE OF WINES
The Cyprus wine industry offers a good range of crisp whites, all the way up to some bold, full-bodied reds. The wine-growing regions of Paphos and, in particular, Limassol, continue to innovate by leading the viticulture movement on the island. Several grape varieties are continually grown in these two regions, producing a wide range of quality wines.
SOMETHING UNIQUE & SPECIAL
Today, Cyprus produces a wide variety of different wines. These wines often use unique grape varieties that have been reared on the island for centuries. Some of these vines can only grow on the rugged foothills and sunny slopes of the Troodos Mountains, not only invoking something unique, but also something special.
WINES TO BE ADMIRED
Rapidly gaining international recognition, a thriving island-wide wine industry is now firmly in place across Cyprus. This is further enforced by the fact that seasoned wine connoisseurs, as well as curious novices, from all over the world, are continually found admiring and recommending wines from Cyprus, constantly highlighting their quality and all they have to offer.
NEW WINES
Constant innovation by the island’s wine producers continues. This has seen indigenous Cypriot grape varieties merged with other mainstream European grape varieties. This continual experimenting has created several new Cypriot variations of good quality wines.
Here are just a few examples of the rich and diverse world of Cyprus wine
Commandaria: The Wine of Kings
One of the most iconic and traditional Cypriot wines is Commandaria. This sweet, amber-coloured dessert wine has a history that dates back several centuries. Dubbed as ‘the wine of the kings, and the king of wines’ by none other than Richard the Lionheart, this wine is made from sun-dried grapes that are aged in oak barrels. Commandaria is the perfect accompaniment to a cheese platter or a chocolate dessert.
Ayia Mavri Moshatos: A Sweet Pleasure
The lesser-known Ayia Mavri Moshato is another Cypriot amber sweet dessert wine. It offers a rich clarity and a sweet floral aroma for a unique and indulgent drinking experience. The wine’s sweet taste is balanced by a delicate acidity, providing a smooth and satisfying finish. Ayia Mavri Moshato is best paired with desserts such as fruit tarts, chocolate, or cheesecake.
Xynisteri: The Flagship White Wine of Cyprus
This indigenous grape is grown exclusively in Cyprus and produces a crisp, refreshing white wine that offers several citrus and floral notes. Xynisteri is often compared to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio but maintains its distinctive character. Reflecting the island’s sunny climate, Xynisteri is the perfect accompaniment to seafood, salads, or light pasta dishes.
Maratheftiko: A Bold Red with its own Unique Personality
This indigenous grape is grown exclusively in Cyprus and produces bold, full-bodied red wines. This grape has been gaining popularity in recent years thanks to its intense colour, rich fruity flavours, and spicy finish. Maratheftiko is often blended with other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, to add depth and structure. Maratheftiko pairs well with hearty meat dishes or mature cheeses.
CYPRUS VITICULTURE
6,000 YEARS OF HISTORY
Today, Cyprus has worldwide recognition for its viticulture, which is thought to have begun around 6,000 years ago. The island’s hot climate, fertile soil, and native grape varieties contribute to the distinct characteristics of unique Cypriot wines and spirits. Today, there are several small independent boutique wineries that produce a wide range of all types of quality Cypriot wines. They co-exist with the four largest wineries on the island, which dominate the Cypriot wine-making market on the island.
THE BIG FOUR
The larger wineries include ETKO, which is still run by its founding family. ETKO is also the oldest wine producer on the island. Another is LOEL, which was formed by a breakaway group of ETKO trade union members after repeated industrial action failures throughout World War 2. KEO, which also produces the most popular local beer, was formed nearly one hundred years ago. The British-owned Chaplin winery was purchased by a group of prominent local businessmen from Limassol, and they decided to produce beer along with wines and spirits. SODAP was founded just after World War 2, by vine cultivators themselves. This co-operative focused its efforts on protecting the rights of the vine cultivators themselves. The SODAP company enabled these workers to create and then control their product from the vineyard to the shop shelf.
INDIGENOUS GRAPE VARIETIES
Cyprus viticulture offers unique wine varieties, mainly because of its indigenous grape varieties. The island has created several unique wines and spirits for centuries using these varieties and all Cypriot winemaking products are based on the Maratheftiko, Xynisteri and Mavro grape varieties. The island’s wine palette is greatly enhanced when these varieties are blended with other more conventional grape varieties from all over the world.
THE MARATHEFTIKO GRAPE
The Maratheftiko grape variety is the oldest known grape variety on the island. It has a distinctive, unique character that is used to create unique varieties of full-bodied red wines. Due to its difficult cultivation, it is grown in sparse quantities mostly in the northern region of the Troodos mountain range. Maratheftiko requires co-planting with other varieties of grape to achieve fertilisation. This grape is not very resilient, so the yield produced from this grape is very low in comparison to other grape varieties. Maratheftiko wines are usually aged using oak. Maratheftiko is often blended with other red grape varieties, and this creates a drier overall wine. Cabernet or Carignan noir are the most popular wine varieties that are blended with Maratheftiko.
THE MAVRO GRAPE
The Mavro grape variety, meaning black, takes its name from its rich dark colour of the grape. This grape variety is used to create several full-bodied red wines and is the main grape used to create Zivania, which has no freezing point. This grape variety is also used to create the sweet dessert wine Commandaria. This resilient grape is mainly cultivated on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range and is the dominant cultivated vine on the island for red wine production. Unlike most European vines, Mavro continues to grow on original ancient rootstock, which is well-suited to the hot Cypriot climate. Mavro wines are usually aged using oak and are blended with other red wine varieties, such as Shiraz or Merlot noir, to create a blend of drier wine varieties.
THE XYNISTERI GRAPE
The Xynisteri grape variety is used to create a number of light, crisp, fresh white varieties of wine. This variety is also used in the production of Zivania and Commandaria, and is also cultivated on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range. the Xynisteri grape is the dominant cultivated vine on the island for white wine production. Xynisteri wines are also aged using oak and are blended with other white wine varieties such as Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc to create a blend of drier wine varieties. Xynisteri wines are also blended with red varieties to produce rosé wines known locally as Kokkinelli wines.
A FULL RANGE
Cypriot winemaking on the island has expanded due to the introduction of European grape varieties. These new varieties have successfully been blended with the original three Cypriot grapes, and this has expanded wine production on the island. Cyprus now offers a full range of unique quality wines. Locally produced rose options as well as sweet to dry red and white wines are readily available, and recently, production of a new range of sparkling wines has also begun.
