By Andreas Georgiou Papadopoulos ~
PAPHOS CYPRUS — Basking in the sun-kissed Troodos Mountains hillsides, something is brewing: Cyprus, the world’s oldest wine region, is rekindling tradition dating back centuries and inviting global palates to the gates of a new breed of local wines.
Rediscovering Ancient Varieties
Native up-country cultivars like Xynisteri, Mavro, Maratheftiko, and lesser-known Yiannoudi and Promara were pushed to the periphery by mass-produced wines for centuries. Boutique hotels and small wineries like those in Pitsilia, Pelendri, and Kathikas are now rediscovering these very old vines. Full-bodied reds to crisp whites, they’re being rediscovered for climatic hardness and their expressive character.
The Sweet Return of Commandaria
The mythic Commandaria, pleasure of ancient Greeks and Crusaders and even Richard the Lionheart, is back in fashion again. Doros and village Ayios Mamas micro-wineries employ traditional sun-drying and oak-vat aging to create highly consecrated vintages which are opening new world awareness and local interest.
From Local Roots to Export Success
Cypriot vintners are once more stocking export shelves—with 48% exports growth, between 2020 and 2023, to over €1.3 million jfdi.expert. Spourtiko, Maratheftiko, and Promara wines now lead European, British, and Japanese import menus as a story- and authenticity-driven option.
Climate-Smart, Heritage-Centric
Such local cultivars such as Xynisteri and Maratheftiko, which have been compelled to withstand harsher and more arid weather conditions, are the dominant drivers for Cyprus’s adversity-fostered wine-making. They were tested and experimented with adversity—maintaining variety but with distinct taste.
Tradition Meets Innovation
Winemakers toe the line between retro and modern. They adopt a retro approach when it comes to vine training, selection of vine clones, single-variety wines and emphasis on terroir. Tsangarides Winery, for example, produces organic Xynisteri and Vasilissa wines-retro approaches with green new guideline.
A Toast to Cyprus’s Future
Cyprus is re-defining wine-making procedures—light to life from centuries past and encouraged by technological break-throughs. From the Renaissance sweetness of Commandaria to boutique red and white wine that’s the flavor off-shore, island wineries now emerge with the charm of the day veiled in heritage.
And for the winemakers themselves state: “We are bottling Cyprus itself—its history, its terroir, its resilience.” Drink and taste the island’s sunshine, soul, and transformation.
Sources:
- Indigenous varieties resurgence — GuildSomm, Landscapes Revealed, Circle of Wine Writers meiningers-international.com+3apnews.com+3apnews.com+3circleofwinewriters.org+3guildsomm.com+3landscapes-revealed.net+3
- Commandaria revival — AP News, The World of Fine Wine worldoffinewine.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
- Export growth metrics — JFDI Expert jfdi.expert+1landscapes-revealed.net+1
- Climate resilience studies on indigenous grapes oeno-one.eu
- Boutique winery practices — Circle of Wine Writers, Landscapes Revealed
