Cypriot Wines

Like many wine-producing islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus has a winemaking history dating back thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that its indigenous varieties, such as Xynisteri and Maratheftiko, have been cultivated since antiquity.

Some of the world’s oldest archaeological wine residues were discovered on the island, dating back to periods of Phoenician settlement when the island was home to colonists from the city of Tyre in modern-day Lebanon.

Cyprus' most famed wine export is the fortified wine Commandaria, which is said to trace its lineage back to the Knights Templar and their involvement in viticulture on the island during the Crusades. Notably, Cyprus is also free of phylloxera, with plenty of old vines from indigenous grapes.