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Chatzicharalampous Winery, nestled in the picturesque village of Koilani, Cyprus, is a third-generation family-owned estate where tradition and innovation converge in winemaking. The winery’s origins trace back to the 1960s when grandfather Michalis (Takis) first planted vineyards, with the initial winery established in 1975, first in his home and later in the village center. Today, the estate is led by the third generation: Marios Chatzicharalampous (viticulturalist and former firefighter), his daughter Argyro (who holds a master’s degree in oenology from Athens Agricultural University), and son Michalis (a mechanical engineer). Notably, it is one of the few female-led wineries in Cyprus. The vineyards, cultivated by Marios, are situated around Koilani at elevations ranging from 650 meters to 1,050 meters on the renowned Afames mountain, benefiting from diverse microclimates that contribute to the complexity of the wines. The winery has expanded significantly over the years, increasing its annual production from 3,500 to 7,500 bottles while maintaining a focus on artisanal methods and indigenous grape varieties. The winery currently produces three labels, showcasing a blend of local and international varieties. These include a crisp white wine made from 100% Xynisteri (a native Cypriot grape), a rosé crafted from Grenache Noir and Syrah (60%-40% […]

Deli by day, casual bar-restaurant by night, Limoncello is all about fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Its main suppliers – the grocers and butchers of Ayios Antonios Municipal Market – are just a stone’s throw away. The small menu features piadina (Italian pizza-style flatbread), steaks, fish and meat dishes (the oven-roasted duck is delicious), as well as quirky artisan burgers. You will find the tables of the Limoncello Deli-Bar huddled amongst various food stalls of this old (but recently renovated market), but don’t let this put you off. Limoncello is the perfect lunch stop or the great place to spend the evening. Its name ‘Limoncello’ is that of the popular Italian lemon liqueur and certainly hints at the fact that most of the dishes have a distinctly Italian flavour! Another real bonus is that it has the best delicatessen for miles around and it has a lovely casual ambience which is perfect for relaxing. The menu is small but definitely tempting with steak and real good burgers as the two main dishes but an array of pizzas and salads also on offer and delicious piadina (sandwiches). If you are enjoying lunch at Limoncello there will be the colourful bustle of the market in the background […]

Nestled in the scenic village of Farmakas in Cyprus’s Nicosia District, Santa Irene Winery is a modern boutique winery founded in 2015 by Daniel Anastasis. After building a life in Australia and South Africa, Anastasis returned to his native village to realize his vision of a premium winery surrounded by the very vines that produce its wines. The winery is named after the village’s patron saint, Agia Irene (Saint Irene), and is an integral part of the local community, which lies at an altitude of approximately 950–1000 meters, making it one of the highest villages in Cyprus. This elevated location, combined with the region’s mineral-rich soil and traditional viticultural practices, creates a unique terroir that imparts distinctive character and complexity to the wines. Santa Irene Winery manages over 20 hectares of vineyards, with some plots situated at altitudes reaching up to 1350 meters. The vineyards are dominated by the indigenous Mavro Ampelisimo red grape variety, which thrives in the rocky, mountainous terrain, alongside smaller plantings of Xynisteri, a prominent Cypriot white grape. Many of these vines are over 150 years old, with deep root systems that absorb nutrients from the mineral-rich soil, resulting in wines with profound depth and authenticity. […]

Dafermou Winery is a modern boutique winery established in 2007, perched above the scenic Lefkara Valley in Pano Lefkara, Cyprus. The winery’s architecture harmoniously blends contemporary elements like concrete, glass, and stainless steel with traditional Lefkara building techniques, creating a unique aesthetic that bridges new and old world styles. Committed to organic production and limited-quantity winemaking, Dafermou emphasizes quality over quantity, allowing its wines to authentically express the estate’s distinctive terroir. The winery’s strategic location just seven kilometers from the Nicosia-Limassol highway makes it easily accessible for visitors seeking a tranquil yet sophisticated wine experience. The winery cultivates over 20 grape varieties across its three vineyards in Lefkara, Vavatsinia, and Agioi Vavatsinias. This diverse selection enables Dafermou to craft a wide range of blends, with a primary focus on promoting local Cypriot grape varieties alongside well-known international grapes. Their winemaking philosophy centers on finding the perfect varietal combinations to create balanced, expressive wines that showcase the best of both indigenous and classic styles. The portfolio includes offerings like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Nebbiolo, though some labels, such as those in the Artist Series, are currently inactive. Beyond winemaking, Dafermou Winery serves as a versatile venue for private events, offering both […]

Yiaskouris Winery is a small family winery with deep roots in Pachna village, on the southern slopes of the Troodos range. The family trace their winemaking back to the late 19th century, and the modern winery presents a mix of that tradition with careful, contemporary winemaking. Their vineyards sit on Pachna’s slopes, an altitude that helps retain acidity and freshness in native varieties and in Shiraz. The estate focuses on a compact but well regarded range, with special attention given to Shiraz (including an oak‑aged bottling), Maratheftiko and a Xynisteri white, plus rosé and blended reds, all produced from estate fruit and small, controlled yields. Visitors can usually arrange tastings and tours by appointment, and the winery is known locally for producing high quality small‑batch wines rather than mass outputs. Recent listings and regional guides note the family-run character, modest production scale and several award wins for their Shiraz and white bottlings. For directory use, treat Yiaskouris as a boutique, terroir‑focused producer in Pachna that offers a personal tasting experience and wines that represent the Krasohoria mountain terroir.

Vouni Panayia Winery sits just outside the village of Panayia in the Paphos district, high in the mountains at close to 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by pine forest. Founded in 1987 by oenologist Andreas Kyriakides after 15 years with the government Department of Viticulture and Oenology, it is regarded as the first private regional winery in Cyprus and helped pioneer serious mountain viticulture in the area. What began as a small regional winery has matured into a respected family business, now run with the active involvement of the next generation, who studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Florence and bring fresh ideas while staying loyal to local traditions. The family farms around 25 hectares of vineyards at altitude, all within the Vouni Panayia area. Here they focus strongly on indigenous Cypriot varieties, including Xynisteri, Promara, Spourtiko and Morokanela for whites, and Maratheftiko, Yiannoudi and Ntopio Mavro for reds. The vineyards are planted on their own roots, taking advantage of Cyprus being phylloxera free, and sit on clay and gypsum‑clay soils that, together with the cooler mountain climate, give wines with freshness, character and a clear sense of place. Vouni Panayia also puts a big emphasis […]

Commandaria holds a protected designation of origin (PDO) within EU, U.S and Canada. Other wines produced by the Menargos winery are: Menargos Cabernet Franc, Peratis Dry Red, Elli Dry White, Varvatos Dry Red and Alexandrinos Sweet Desert Sun Dried.

Kalamos Winery is a small, family‑run estate in the traditional wine village of Amargeti, about 20 minutes’ drive from Paphos. The business grew naturally from the Ignatiou family’s long history as vine growers and home winemakers into a regional winery that still keeps its roots very much in the village. Today, Nicos Ignatiou runs the winery together with his son Thanasis, combining traditional know‑how with more modern methods in a compact cellar on Kyra Eleni Street. From this base they produce a range of local wines and spirits that are very much “of the place.” Grapes such as Mataro (Mourvèdre), Xynisteri and Maratheftiko form the backbone of the reds, rosés and whites, with labels including Agia Sotira (Mataro), Demetra rosé (Cabernet Sauvignon), Livades Xynisteri, Kalamos Merlot and the award‑winning Gerani Maratheftiko blend. The winery also makes classic Cypriot specialities: Commandaria from sun‑dried Xynisteri and Mavro, traditional Zivania, an oak‑aged Zivania, a pomegranate liqueur and other liqueur wines, many of which have received local distinctions. Kalamos is open to visitors and offers a very personal, village‑style experience, with tastings often hosted by members of the family themselves.

KEO’s Mallia Winery estate is one of Cyprus’s long‑standing regional wineries, operating since the late 1920s (operation began around 1927–1928) and located at the entrance to Mallia village in the Limassol district. Today Mallia is a major production site for the KEO Group and one of the island’s larger regional wineries, with roughly 50 hectares of estate vineyards and an annual production capacity measured in the millions of bottles (commonly cited around 3 million). The site has been renovated and modernised over time and serves both as a production hub and as a centre for grape research and variety revival work. KEO Mallia produces a wide portfolio that spans everyday table wines to estate and heritage bottlings. The winery is notable for experiments and reintroduction of indigenous varieties (for example Maratheftiko and Yiannoudi) and for making many of KEO’s flagship labels such as KEO Xynisteri, Heritage Maratheftiko and the Commandaria St. John series, alongside international varietals and estate Ktima labels. Mallia also supports KEO’s larger winemaking and research programme across Limassol and Paphos districts.

LOEL Winery is one of the historic “big names” of Cypriot wine. Founded in Limassol in 1943, it was the first winery on the island to operate as a public company, with thousands of shareholders who were, for the most part, vine growers themselves. That cooperative spirit still defines LOEL today. From its base in Limassol and a new, state‑of‑the‑art winery at Ayios Sila, the company has grown into one of the largest producers in Cyprus, handling grapes from both the Limassol and Paphos regions and playing a major role in the island’s wine story. Over the decades, LOEL has moved from simple spirits and fortified wines made from local grapes to a very broad portfolio. The company was an early adopter of imported “noble” varieties such as Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Palomino, planting experimental vineyards to raise quality, while continuing to work with Cypriot classics like Mavro, Xynisteri, Maratheftiko and Spourtiko. Today its vineyards cover over 20 hectares and feed a range that runs from everyday wines in convenient Tetra Pak “Vinotheque” formats to bottled labels like Palomino, Evambelos Gi and Mesogios Chora, plus award‑winning Commandaria Alasia and the popular LOEL Zivania line, including Zivana Gold and Zivana Red.

Nestled in the scenic village of Pachna within the Limassol district of Cyprus, Monolithos Boutique Winery stands as a testament to modern Cypriot winemaking blended with deep familial tradition. Founded by the Kyriakides family, the winery is situated at an altitude of approximately 900 meters in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. This elevated location provides a unique microclimate characterized by cool evenings and significant diurnal temperature variation, which is ideal for the slow, even ripening of grapes. The winery’s name, inspired by the large monolithic rock formations nearby, reflects the strength and endurance of the family’s commitment to producing high-quality wines that express the distinct terroir of the region. Monolithos Boutique Winery is known for its dedication to both indigenous and international grape varieties. The estate manages its own vineyards and collaborates closely with local growers to cultivate grapes such as Xynisteri, Maratheftiko, and Mavro, alongside international favorites like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. Sustainable farming practices are a cornerstone of their viticulture, ensuring the health of the vineyards and the quality of the fruit. The winery produces a diverse portfolio of wines, including crisp whites, elegant rosés, structured reds, the traditional sweet wine Commandaria, and Zivania, a Cypriot […]

LionSpirit (formerly Lambouri Winery) is a family-run boutique producer perched in Kato Platres in the Troodos foothills, with a winemaking lineage the estate dates as far back as the 18th century. Over generations the house has combined traditional Cypriot methods with modern vinification, and in recent years the estate rebranded to LionSpirit as it broadened its focus to include both premium wines and craft spirits. The winery is particularly known for Commandaria and robust varietal wines made from local and international grapes grown at higher-elevation vineyards that give the wines a distinctive mountain character. Alongside its still wines, LionSpirit has developed a notable distilling program producing gin, brandy and a small‑batch malt whisky (some expressions finished or aged in Commandaria casks), which has helped the estate win awards and broaden its portfolio beyond traditional Cypriot wine styles. The operation now presents a modern tasting experience that highlights both its historical Commandaria bottles and newer spirit-led releases (Kingfisher Gin, LionSpirit Malt Whisky, Nutcracker liqueurs, etc.). Visitors will find a warm, approachable tasting experience and a bistro-style offering on site; guided tastings and winery tours are available (tours typically by appointment) and the estate is a popular stop for Troodos day-trippers and […]

Makkas Winery is a small, family‑run estate a little outside the village of Statos – Agios Fotios in the Paphos district, in the mountainous heart of Cyprus. The vineyards sit at around 900–1150 metres above sea level, in fertile mountain soils that the winery highlights as key to producing high‑quality grapes. The estate’s symbol is the ancient ship of Kyrenia, a nod to the island’s long wine‑trading history and to research suggesting Cyprus was the first wine‑producing country in the Mediterranean. Founded in 2007 and run by Andreas Psaras, Makkas has grown into a serious producer, bottling around 250,000 bottles a year and exporting a significant share of its wines. The winery has been recognised with two European innovation programmes, reflecting its investment in modern winemaking. Its range includes Merlot, Maratheftiko and Syrah matured in French oak, red blends based on Syrah, Lefkada, Grenache and Maratheftiko, and whites such as Chardonnay and Xynisteri, alongside a rosé and a newer red label named Lefkada. In total, the estate produces about nine different labels. Wine lovers can visit the winery by prior arrangement. Tastings are offered seven days a week, but strictly by reservation, which keeps the experience more personal and relaxed.

ETKO – Olympus Wineries, more commonly known as Olympus Winery, is the modern face of one of Cyprus’ oldest wine families. The Haggipavlu family have been involved in wine since 1844, when ETKO was founded, making it the oldest winemaking business on the island and one of the oldest in the wider region. After decades focused on bulk wine, ETKO took a decisive turn toward quality, building the regional Olympus Winery in the early 1990s in the traditional wine village of Omodos in the Limassol wine region, right in the heart of the grape‑growing zone. The winery is surrounded by about 70 hectares of privately owned vineyards on the foothills of Mount Olympus, where altitude and cooler nights help preserve freshness and aroma in the grapes. Today Olympus produces a broad range of wines from both indigenous and international varieties, including Maratheftiko, Xynisteri, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, alongside its famous St. Nicholas and Centurion Commandaria dessert wines that showcase Cyprus’ historic fortified style. Visitors to Olympus Winery can book guided tours and tastings that walk you through the vineyards and modern production facilities, from the barrel cellar to the bottling line. It is an impressive, large‑scale operation that still keeps […]

Zambartas Wineries is a family winery in Agios Amvrosios in the Limassol wine villages, built on the vision of the late Akis Zambartas. In the 1970s Akis studied Chemistry in Lyon and Enology in Montpellier, then returned to Cyprus as the island’s first university‑educated enologist and spent many years at one of the major wineries. In the 1980s he carried out a four‑year research project that identified and recorded 13 previously lost Cypriot indigenous grape varieties, work that helped change the course of Cypriot wine later on. In 2006 he finally realised his dream of founding his own boutique winery focused on quality wines from these native grapes. A turning point came when his son, Marcos, left a corporate career, trained in winemaking in Provence, New Zealand and at the University of Adelaide, and came back to join Akis in the cellar. Father and son spent the early years side by side, shaping a style that stays true to Cypriot identity while using modern know‑how. Today the winery produces around 120,000 bottles per year and manages more than 13 hectares of vineyards, farmed organically and planted with both young and old vines in the Krasochoria wine region. Marcos now runs […]

Vlassides Winery sits among the vineyards of Koloni, just outside the wine village of Koilani in the Limassol region. It is the personal project of third‑generation winemaker Sophocles Vlassides, whose path into wine was shaped by his grandfather Sofoklis Metaxas, a respected village grower, and his father Theofanis Vlassides, a pioneering winemaker who replanted family vineyards with international varieties back in the late 1960s. After postgraduate studies in enology at UC Davis in California, Sophocles returned to Cyprus in 1998 determined to craft expressive, modern Cypriot wines. In 2003 he found his ideal site in the Koloni area and, together with architect Heraclis Papachristou, created a strikingly contemporary winery building that was later selected to represent Cyprus for the EU Mies van der Rohe contemporary architecture prize in 2015. The estate today manages about 21 hectares of vineyards around Koilani, planted between 700 and 1100 meters altitude, where plenty of sunshine, mild winters and sandy‑clay soils over calcareous bedrock provide a strong base for quality fruit. Sophocles works with both indigenous and international varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Yiannoudi, Agiorgitiko and Maratheftiko for reds, and Xynisteri, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Assyrtiko and Promara for whites. His philosophy, shaped at Davis, […]