The Omodos Wine Press, also known as Linos tou Charilaou, is a remarkably well‑preserved medieval wine press tucked away in the cobbled streets of Omodos, a wine‑growing village in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. Just a short walk from the historic Timios Stavros Monastery, it occupies a small stone room that today serves as a tiny museum of traditional winemaking. Inside, visitors find vats, cauldrons, and tools that evoke centuries of rural life. According to accounts from the current owner, the site has been used for winemaking for roughly 700–800 years, making it one of the oldest surviving installations of its kind on the island. At the heart of the room is the spectacular press itself: an enormous double wooden beam that spans the space, ending in a massive wooden screw weighted by a heavy stone. In its working days, grapes were heaped into a large tray under the beam, then covered with sturdy planks. Two workers would turn the screw, raising the stone so that the beam dropped and squeezed the grapes with immense force. The juice ran into partially buried clay or stone vats, which were sealed to ferment and protect the must from spoilage. Although wineries in […]
Omodos 4760, Cyprus
The Cyprus Wine Museum Located in Erimi village, this museum celebrates 5,500 years of Cypriot winemaking history. Features include historical exhibitions, the exclusive “Senses” wine collection, and a venue for regular cultural concerts and events.
42 Odos Pafou (42 Paphou Street, B6, Erimi 4630, Cyprus
Discover the legendary Commandaria wine at this award-winning museum in Zoopiyi village, one of Cyprus’s historic wine-producing communities. Opened in 2010 in a striking contemporary building, the museum takes visitors on a 5,000 year journey through the history of “the wine of kings.” Explore four galleries showcasing ancient wine vessels, traditional equipment, and the story of this unique dessert wine. The museum also features wine tasting facilities, a café-restaurant, and the still-operational Zoopiyi Commandaria Winery founded in 1940.
Commandaria street, 4565 Zoopiyi, Lemesos
