Wine has been made in Cyprus since at least 3500 BC making the Mediterranean island one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world. In the last ten years a small revolution has taken place in the wineries of Cyprus. Modern machinery and the latest production techniques have replaced the often sloppy methods employed by many supposed oenologists.
Wine lovers can now sample an array of great value quality wines on a variety of way-marked routes, whilst enjoying the breathtaking Cypriot scenery along the way.
Paphos Region Wine Tours
Paphos is one of the key wine producing regions in Cyprus along with the Limassol and Troodos regions. The Cyprus Tourism Organisation designates two possible Paphos routes in their Cyprus wine guide, but an alternative is to combine a mixture of the two, omitting some of the larger wineries in favor of exciting boutique wineries focusing on quality rather than quantity.
Best Cyprus Wine
Start the wine tour by taking the B7 from Paphos to Stroumpi. Turn right towards Polemi village and admire the stunning views as the route heads out into the Ezousa valley.
Ezousa Winery
The first stop is at the tiny Ezousa winery in Kannaviou village. A fine selection of wines are on offer here from the award winning Ayios Chrysostomos dry white made from indigenous Xynisteri grapes to the powerful, full bodied Maratheftiko, another local grape variety. Michalis the owner has only been making wine since 2003 but his passion for quality already shines through in his careful production of around 50,000 bottles a year. Tel: +357 70008844
Kolios Winery
From Kannaviou, drive up past the new dam and into Panayia then onwards towards Statos-Ayios Fotios. At 1000m the Kolios winery is located in an imposing stone building with stunning views over the entire Ezousa valley towards the Akamas peninsula beyond.
Lunch can be taken at the winery whilst tasting and there is a wide selection of wines on offer from the excellent value everyday Ayios Fotios red to the fresh and crisp rosé called Cornetto. Quality is always consistent despite the large volume of over 300,000 bottles produced. Tel: +357 26724090
Tsangarides Winery
From Panayia take the scenic road down towards the village of Choulou. The Tsangarides winery is located in Lemona village a few km further on and is run by another young oenologist, Angelos Tsangarides, with an infectious passion for wine making.
His quality offerings made from local Mataro and imported Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties respectively won gold awards in their first year of production, 2005, an exciting start for another boutique establishment pushing quality rather than quantity. Tel: +357 26722777
Tsalapatis Winery
Taking a route back towards Paphos via Letymbou village, make one last stop at the Tsalapatis winery located just off the Tsada road outside Polemi village. Sample the variety of wines produced by owner Andreas who has been making wine for more than 20 years including the refreshing dry white Regina and one of the few Sauvignon Blanc wines to be found in Cyprus. Tel: +357 996249298
Planning a Cyprus Wine Tour
Many of the above wineries are small with only a few staff so always call beforehand to arrange an appointment to avoid missing out on tasting some of the best Cyprus wines on the island.
Related Articles
You may be interested in our article Why Cyprus Wine Deserves to be Recognised or like to try a Nature Walk in Cyprus or Discover Wild Orchids whilst visiting the island.
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