The weight of Xynisteri

At the heart of Cyprus grape harvest with Xynisteri

Harvest season progresses in Cyprus with the main native grapes varieties among which, the white grape Xynisteri. Independent grape growers carry the weight of farming grapes and thankfully in the last 30 years, wineries have been progressively moving in areas of vineyards thus altering the productive structure of the principal winemaking entities in Cyprus. Wineries sit now closer to the concerns and challenges of grape growers.

xynisteri grape load

Wines for Smashing Plates have set sail

Discovering a nature of wine

Cyprus Wines for Smashing Plates Ezousa,Anama,Vouni Panyia Wineries

A bold book launch by Maria Elia #SmashingPlates could not deserve anything less.

Under the Evoinos guidance, we’ve packed Cyprus Indigenous white and red grapes to support the Smashing Plates book launch receptions taking place during the month of October in London.

Three bold wineries of Vouni Panayia, Ezousa and Anama will represent a consequent representation of wines aspiring for renewal and reach, embodying the essence of what we like to call – The New Generation Wines of Cyprus.

Xynisteri, Spourtiko and Promara white grapes will be matched by Maratheftiko and Mavro red and rosé wines for the different plates proposed by enlightening Chef Maria Elia.

We cannot but be thankful and humbled by the effort and willingness to collaborate by the present winemakers, Andreas Kyriakides, Michalis Constantinides and Lefteris Mohianakis at a time where quality winemaking in Cyprus is being challenged by all surrounding elements.

Success to an onward journey to the participants in captivating an eager audience for enhanced Mediterranean Tastes sourced from Cyprus.

Xynisteri reveals it’s second nature for Cyprus dry white wine

A secret about Cyprus Wine not to be taken as an advertisement – Xynisteri actually does age

Ezousa Xynisteri 2008
Most Xynisteri white wines produced in Cyprus are actually meant for year-in consumption. However, a few winemakers, exhibiting patience and care for longevity, have been as of late, pleasantly surprised about how Xynisteri expresses today it’s second nature.

The downside to this is that only few selected wineries and  have any well maintained stock to express this nature for the upcoming interest by Winelovers, yet this upcoming appreciation does open possibilities for expanding future styles of Xynisteri.

Pictured:  Xynisteri 100%, 2008 Ayios Chrysostomos, Ezousa Winery

The coming of Age of Xynisteri

A desirable appetite for New Generation Wines from Cyprus

Petritis Xynisteri Vertical Tasting in Kyperounda PitsiliaThat taste which washed away a 30 year myth – Is this a far fetched afterthought for Cyprus Wines and Xynisteri grape?

Don’t just take it from us,  seemingly, that past and sleepy giant is slowly but surely awakening to be appreciated again; A few years back it was in the words of  a surprised Jancis Robinson.

Some of the worst wine I have tasted since I started writing about wine was what was available the one time we went on holiday to the far-eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus in 1983. The whites showed the most old fashioned of faults, oxidation, clearly having been made without recourse to temperature control. Rather charmingly retro in a way.   BUT THE OTHER DAY,…..I came across this marvel, Kyperounda, Petritis Xynisteri 2011 Cyprus, so fresh and bursting with fruit

You can take reviews for whatever they’re worth, but in the context of wiping out 30 years of sustained negative review – the latest positive appreciation, is quite an achievement by the Petritis Xynisteri from Kyperounda.

Well done to the winemakers at Kyperounda Winery and the efforts of HallgartenDruitt (Novum Wines) and other importers, for taking a risk to  make more Cyprus Wines available on their local markets.

Update 2015: The upcoming 8th Cyprus Wine Competition is to be celebrated in Limassol during the month of April.


For your interest: The actual Cyprus Wine Competition results sets the quality benchmark for Cyprus Wines.

Here: Consult current Cyprus Wine Awards (2012) results.

Wines & Vines ZineFlip Through Cyprus Wines on your Device Wines and Vines from Cyprus - Evoinos Cyprus Wine

Meet me all the way in Limassol with a thirst for Cyprus

That’s our pledge: to meet you half-way today with an open appetite for a Nature of Wine made in Cyprus.

I’ll spare you the pity, envy and the pleas for help.

We are of the idea, that only the goodness, of what one has genetically to offer, is what will prevail. The culture is there, the assets and the people, what remains is a bit of coordination for a common agenda.

Over 6.000 years of winemaking on the island can’t be made wrong by a generation of leadership ill-prepared for that changing nature of modern society which has overtaken them. Here’s to a grand generalisation!

Yet, it’s all around us, and it seems already for too long, that we have been short-changing our efforts, working at odds with each other and increasing the costs for meaningful progress. This affects current branches of government and the boards of semi-public organisations hungry for that presidential decree of renewal. There is still hope , hope that the bail-out crisis is put behind us swiftly, because that’s where it belongs. We make the following words ours too:

We live this unique moment, as a time to assert our readiness to meet you halfway in creating those vital experiences for you to treasure.

Today, it’s in Limassol.  Tomorrow, let’s plan to meet you there.

Limassol Greets it’s WinemakersCyprus Wine Tasting

Pictured Clockwise: Casks at Etko Winery, Wine Country Ayios Amvrosios, Maratheftiko Red from Makkas, Nicolaides Winemaker and Xynisteri from Tsangarides Winery