Cyprus Wine
Cyprus Wine
Wine
Cyprus wine making tradition goes back to ancient times of Greeks, Romans and Egyptians .Several facts and archeological discoveries point out that Cyprus was an active wine making country as well as major exporter for the nearby countries. Shipwrecks full of wine amphorae (wine storing pottery) were discover as early as 2300BC.In the Middle ages Cyprus continued to produce excellent wine with the most famous being Commandaria a sweet wine cherished by the Crusader Nations, It even won the First ever recorded wine tasting competition ,the legendary Battle of the wines .Cyprus legacy in wine making is continued until today with the same passionate desire to produce top quality wine. Some of the most famous Cypriot variety’s are Mavro – Xynisteri –Opthalmo- Maratheftiko. But in recent times the wine industry has introduced several European variety’s as well like Cabernet Sauvignon ,Cabernet Franc,Grenache,Palomino and many more. The government takes wine making seriously as well, enough to give motivation to the wine makers to build small winery processing units near there grape fields so the grapes would not go thought a lot of transferring and handling in order to produce the best possible wine quality. As a result now in Cyprus there are many small wineries’s scattered around Cyprus’s country sides.
Important thinks to know:
A traditional Cypriot alcoholic beverage Zivania is made from distilled grape juice using age old techniques passed on from the 14th century through generation to generation. This crystal clear drink possesses a uniquely strong flavor with a rich fruity aroma. Definitely a drink for the brave as its alcoholic content ranges from 40% up to 99%.Very popular among the locals and used mainly to accompany traditional Meze meals or local dry fruits and nuts.
The annual Limassol wine festival is the biggest wine related festival of Cyprus and it’s held every August through September for around 7 days. If you love wine and you are in Cyprus at the time its being held ,you should definitely attend it. There you will have the chance to taste free wine from all parts of Cyprus and all grape varieties, as well witness multiple events carried out throughout the festivals duration such as traditional music concerts, dancing, and many interactive activities for the visitors as well as various children activities/plays. Also experience the enormous variety of traditional foods and sweets first hand, it would all be there.
Cyprus Wine Routes
Be sure to take advantage of the so called Wine Routes As mention above Cyprus countryside its rich in small traditional winery’s in close proximity of each other therefore ideal for wine tasting expeditions offering a chance to experience and most importantly taste! First hand the assortments of different wines produced on the island and learn about the methods used to make some of Cyprus’s finest wines.