51 Wine School of Montpellier, confirmed that these varieties were indigenous to Cyprus. Over the last 15 years or so, the Cyprus wine scene has undergone a renaissance. Young winemakers, oenologists and viticulturists who studied abroad came back and created smaller wineries. They began to cultivate these indigenous grape varieties, to study the uniqueness of the terroir and to experiment. Nowadays, there are more than 50 wineries in Cyprus and the island’s wines are gaining recognition and awards both locally and internationally. A Sense of Place Cypriot vineyards are unique in the world. They are mainly found in the regions of Lemesos where the wine villages known as “Krasochoria Lemesou” are located, around the Troodos mountains. Moreover, vineyards can be also found in the Pafos region, while a few more in the Lefkosia region. Phylloxera disease destroyed many of Europe’s vineyards in the late 19th century, but did not affect the island, which is why Cyprus boasts old vines. Quite a few are over 70 years old, some are over 100 years old, and all vines are ungrafted. Cyprus also has the highest vineyards in Europe with some at an elevation of over 1,400 metres. Altitude benefits viticulture, as Cyprus is one of the hottest and driest wine-producing countries in Europe. The grape varieties and wines Seven of these newly rediscovered grape varieties are currently being cultivated alongside Xynisteri and Mavro, which are Cyprus’ most widely planted varieties. These grape varieties are used to produce wines of a variety of styles, as local winemakers are experimenting with different methods, including the revival of ageing in clay vessels called “pitharia.” There are also vineyards planted with imported grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, etc. Xynisteri, the flagship variety of local white grapes, is versatile enough to produce exquisite sparkling, fresh and easy-drinking wines, ageworthy ones, aged in oak, orange wines, wines of various sweetness levels and is also used in the production of Commandaria and Zivania. Promara, the earliest-ripening local grape, is The Centenarian Vineyard “Margelina” Harvesting in September
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