A Romantic Past - An Exciting Present - A Golden Future

Wine has been produced in Cyprus as long ago as 1200BC when the Greeks settled in Cyprus and even Dionysos herself could not refuse a glass or two (See the Mosaics at Paphos Archaeological Park).
Because of problems in sealing vessels it was initially difficult to protect the wine from oxidisation from the air.  Due to this most of the early wines of Cyprus were sweet and as such became a tradition on the island.  This made the wines oxidise more slowly and made them better for transportation than dry wines.

As the island was ravaged by wars, drought and pestilence between the Greco-Roman periods and the Middle Ages there are very few records about wine production.  However, in the 11th century the sweet wines of Cyprus where given a generic name of "Commandaria".  This is still produced on the island today by specialist, from grapes that are grown in strictly controlled areas known as "Appellation of Origin".  The grapes are laid out to partially dry before being pressed and then fermented into this dark sweet wine.

The are four big wineries that are based in the Limassol region.  These are EKTO Ltd which is part of the Haggipavlu group of companies who began making spirits and wines in 1893, KEO Ltd was founded in 1927 and at this time purchased an English owned winery at Pera Pedi, just below Platres.  In 1943 LOEL Ltd a public company developed big business with countries of the Eastern Bloc.  Finally, SODAP Ltd a co-opertative for the vine growers was founded in 1947.  These big four have been making the bulk of Cyprus wines and fortified wines since 1940.

With a mild interesting in tasting or just drinking wine you can have a great day out visiting several of the smaller inland wineries.  All are willing to show you their production processes and storage areas however, that ingredient that make each wineries produce unique will of course be kept secret.

There are four main tours that take in a majority of the wineries.

Tour One - this takes you to the big four wineries (listed above) in Limassol town.  They are all within a few hundred meters of each other.  There is an obvious similarity between these companies due to the grapes used, however the wine produced has subtle differences that the drinker can taste.

Tour Two - The East Limassol District, this is the Kourris Valley and holds a number of wine villages.  Starting at the village of Laneia winding your way up the hillside through Monagri, Lofou and Silikou for a bite to eat and an extensive wine tasting session (the full bottle).  After lunch head up further to Pelendri and then across to Platres, Foini and then begin the decent through Mandria Koilani and Vouni before heading to back tpo the motorway for your journey to the hotel.

Tour Three - The West Limassol District, take the route up to Omodos and the Agios Amvrosios winery to start this tour. Heading towards Malia and the newly restored winery, then through onto Arsos and the quaint Nicolettino and KEO's Laona wineries.
After exploring the other wineries of Palouze, Marion and Linos along the way to Pachna before your final destination of Anogyra.

Tour Four - Paphos District, you can either take the long or the short of these journeys dependant or your time available.  The short version is to the SODAP Winery on the Harbour Road for morning tours and tastings after which you are in the right location to enjoy a relaxing lunch and another bottle of wine.  After lunch have a designated drive you up through the town to the Polis Road and the Fikardos Winery.
For the longer tour, start earlier and don't linger so long over lunch before heading further up the Polis Road onto Kathikas and it's two fine wineries.  Higher still is the small but excellent winery at Pano Panagia (the birthplace of Archbishop Makario III) and then the monastery winery at Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa.  A little further along the way you will find the family Kolios at the Amforeas Winery**.  Also in the Paphos region are the wineries at Salamiou and Pretori villages.

Amforeas Winery** - after tasting the wines and having an informative tour around the winery you can have lunch with the Kolios family.  Lunch is served from 1pm each day priced at CY£11.00 including half bottle of wine per person.  Advanced booking is required.

If you are fortunate enough to be visiting Cyprus in September you should make time in your schedule to journey to Limassol for the annual wine festival in the Municipality Garden.  Over 100,00 people come each year to enjoy a week of wine sampling and food festivities.  Due to this event there has been a Museum of Wine in the village of Erimi since 2001, where the history of wine and today's wines are on display.  Wines of all varieties can be tasted and purchased here also.