Cyprus has a long history and tradition in wine making. There are written
references to the Cyprus wine as old as 5800 B.C. Wines, which were named noble,
godly, drink of the gods, sweet, calming and relaxing.
Today, Cyprus has brought the vine cultivation and wine making to the level
of an important industry covering around 17.000 hectares of land giving more
than 70.000 tonnes of grapes including table grapes of around 15.000 tonnes.
The dominant
varieties of wine grapes of Cyprus are the indigenous, mavro-red,
xinisteri-white and ofthalmo-red followed by maratheftiko, lefkas and malaga
while other international varieties like the cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc,
mattaro, semillion, shiraz, grenache, carignan noir, palomino, chardonnay and
sauvignon blanc, are making stronger appearance and gain significant importance
in the Cypriot vineyard.
More than 70% of the annual production of Cyrpus wines are exported
worldwide, with European countries being the main destination.
The industry comprises four big wine
making concerns i.e. KEO, ETKO, SODAP and LOEL and almost
fifty small-regional wineries which are located in the vine growing areas
or not far from them.
Commandaria, the "Apostle of Wines", is a wine unique to Cyprus produced in
an a strictly delimited area comprising fourteen villages in the Limassol
district known as Commandaria region which gives its name to the only wine of
Cyprus with Appellation of Origin status. It is a very rich sweet wine made from
red or white grapes exposed to the sun for 4-10 days. For its ageing the "mana"
system is followed which is comparable to the solera system of other countries.
Its alcohol content is around 15% while its total sugar is 18 g/ml. It is
found in different brand names but the name Commandaria dominates the label.
Most of the exports are carried out by the four big wineries who although
have customers from all over Europe still welcome new inquiries and are open to
cooperation.
Wine Products Council
P.O. Box
71011
3840 Limassol - Cyprus
Tel: +357 25-892892, +357 26-938309
Fax:
+357 25-819305
E-mail: cwpc@wpc.org.cy
Main Manufacturers:
- ETKO Ltd
P.O. Box 50261
3602 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-573391 Fax:
+357 25-573338
- KEO Ltd
P.O. Box 50209
3602 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-562053 Fax:
+357 25-573429
- LOEL Ltd
P.O. Box 50139
3601 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-569344 Fax:
+357 25-570042
- SODAP Ltd
P.O. Box 56314
3306 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-564605 Fax:
+357 25-564013
These companies are the largest producers in Cyprus. All make a wide range of
table and premium wines, as well as fortified wines, aperitifs, Cyprus brandy,
ouzo, zivania and other distilled products.
The Big Four, as they are known, are unique in the world, because of the
range of grape products they make. They have built and maintained their
businesses by travelling the world and supplying the needs of the markets. Today
they are concentrating increasingly on building a Cyprus wine industry in which
Cyprus-bottled quality wine is the most important part.
Regional Wineries:
Amasgo Winery 
4746 Monagri or
P.O. Box 55048,
3605 Limassol
Tel: +357
25-360612 Fax: +357 25-356893
M. Antoniades Winery
4778 Mandria, or
16 Kritis,
3087 Limassol
Tel: +357
25-422638, +357 25-384121 Fax: +357 25-384121
Ayia Mavri
Winery
P.O. Box 50527, 4776 Limassol, or
4776 Koilani
Tel:
+357 25-370777 Fax: +357 25-365233
Ecological Winery of Ayios
Amvrosios
4710 Ayios Amvrosios
Limassol District
Tel: +357
25-243981 Fax: +357 25-243982
Laona Arsos Model Winery (KEO Ltd)
Arsos Village
4770 Limassol District
Tel: +357 25-363763
La Noyere Winery
4603 Anogira or 24 Feidiou str.
3075 Limassol
Tel and Fax: +357 25-221709
E- mail: winenic @
spidernet.com.cy
Linos Winery
4750 Omodos, or
38, Zakchaiou str.,
4760 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-422700 Fax: +357 25-421354
Marion
Winery
4760 Omodos
Limassol
Tel: +357 25-421797, 422296 Fax:
+357 25-421660
Nikolettino Winery
4770 Arsos, or
P.O.Box 6350
3306 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-244414 Fax: +357 25-356508
Olympus Winery Ltd. (ETKO)
4760 Omodos or
P.O.
Box 50261
3602 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-373391 Fax: +357 25-373338
Pitsilias Winery
4878 Pelendri, or
P.O. Box
3539
3303 Limassol
Tel: +357 25-372928 ? 995080 Mobile +357 29-624449
Fax: +357 25-344683
Yiaskouris Winery
4700 Pachna
Tel: +357 25-242470 or
+357 25-374082
Avakas Winery
Statos
8651 Pafos
District
Tel: +357 26-722425
Fax: +357 26-722425
Fikardos Winery
8280 Mesogi
P.O. Box 62200
8061 Pafos
Tel: +357 26-249814 Fax: +357 26-238517
K
& K Vasilikon Winery
8573 Kathikas
Tel: +357 26-633237 Fax:
+357 26-222964
Paphos
Sterna Winery
8573 Kathikas
Tel and Fax: +357
26-632277
Paphos
Vouni Panayia Winery
8640 Panayia
Pafos District
Tel: +357 26-722770 ? 722878 Fax: +357 26-722879
Monte Royia
Winery
Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery
8649 Pafos
Tel: +357
26-722457
Fax: +357 26-722819
Aes Ambelis Winery
P.O. Box 21212
1504 Nicosia
Tel: +357 29-635469 Fax: +357 22-491945
Kykkos Winery
P.O. Box 4850
Kykkos Monastery
1304 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22-942749 Fax: +357 22-942730
Vachos
Winery Association
