A new grape day winewednesday

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Fresh new day coming on December 1st – Maratheftiko Day.

You may think…geez…how original!? Well….Grape days may no longer be top of mind, and that’s ok, granted that the concept of grape days has been around for more 40 years, one does have to take things with a certain perspective.

Yet may I ask…Chardonnay Day, who owns that?

Unlike most popular grape days with varieties spread the world across, a Maratheftiko Grape Day has still the opportunity to be claimed locally and emerge as a day for appreciation of something one does own, cherishes and values….and when it does go International…more power to the grape, the growers, the winemakers, the traders and the winelovers. Yia Mas.

Taste of India

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Kudos to local Cypriot tastes exported

Cyprustasting-india
Triple kudos crown to them for organising and to Subhash Arora – Indian Wine Academy for reporting.

For the evening were presented by Sommelier Magan and his colleague, Gagan Sharma WSET Dip. It was a very palatable and educational evening that needs to be repeated frequently, a continual process that needs to be structured. But kudos to H.E Demetrios Theophylactou for spearheading a tasting that was long overdue and would certainly not have been easy to organise.

Also a great read – The wine tasting evening was greatly enjoyed by the guests by Radhika Puar a.k.a The Grape Vine

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The weight of Xynisteri

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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

Cyprus harvest begins….

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If it weren’t for the grapes, we wouldn’t have known

Some are quick to rush with the news, yet when continental Europe’s harvest begins, one almost automatically knows that Cyprus has already harvested its own grapes 10 to 15 days earlier.
It started with Soultanina, moves with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon….#Cyharvest17 Grapes to Press – A good harvest to all – καλό τρύγο.


Pictures above: Mallia Winery

Terroir has to be discovered

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If terroir is everything, yet it’s not discovered, then does it actually even exist?

Bold it is to zip around the world to discover them – that’s the essence of the World Explorers Project Comes to Cyprus.

To bring to light emerging countries. To visit regions in the making. To meet atypical winegrowers. To taste out of the ordinary wines. This is the ambition of WINE Explorers, a unique project to take an inventory of all the wine producing countries of the world.

Cyprus being among those 250 winegrowing regions targeted, the vineyards to be surveyed and wines to be tasted starts today, as project collaborators fly in this evening into Larnaca.
Wish them good luck and let the vineyards speak.

Cyprus wine in Beirut

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A first, is a first – select Cyprus Wine Tasting in Lebanon 🇱🇧 #hapening #privatetasting

Beirut cypruswine by Tirebouchonlb<<The hard work of the producers is reflected in the wine… most of the attendees appreciated that with diverse but all positive feedback on the wines tasted>> Toufic & Antoine ~ Tire Bouchon – terroirs et vins

Tasting took place today at the Baron gastrobar in Beirut among sommeliers and winelovers. A group tasting with the presence of Cyprus Ambassador, the consul and trade relations manager. The presented wines were hand-picked by Antoine and Toufic while on a an earlier visit to Cyprus facilitated by Stelios Afxentiou, Ministry of Commerce liason in Limassol.

Wineries that provided wines were Makkas Winery, Ezousa Winery, Zambartas Wines, Tsiakkas Winery, Lambouri Winery, Vouni Panayia winery

Cyprus-wine-decanted-tirebouchon Cypruswinetasting-beirut

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Results of 10th Cyprus Wine Competition

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The Cyprus Wine Sector celebrated it’s Annual Award ceremony closing 4 days of judging for the 10th Cyprus wine competition. Led by an international panel of judges invited by the department of Agriculture, the event was held again under the auspices of the OIV but hosted by the Union of Cyprus Oenologists.

In a contest with 31 participating wineries, the most testimonial proof of the increasing quality of winemaking in this years edition, is that the judges decided not to award bronze medals so as to better reflect the tendency of a higher number of wines earning higher scores.

A tally of 52 awards were given, a total 16 gold and 30 silver medals, a Grand Gold and 5 special distinctions for wines vinified with local varieties.

While 147 wine labels participated in the competing categories of the 10th Cyprus Wine competition, a worthy mention must be made about the growing number of special mentions for vinified with local varieties. Promara, Morokanella and Mavro have since consolidated themselves in the competition with an ever growing number of references.
The special distinction for vinification with top local varieties Xynisteri and Maratheftiko have had surprise outcomes this year.

The counterpart of the special distinctions shine in their own light, while for Commandaria, Aes Ambelis proves its consistency since it’s recent launch, the Promara and Morokanella whites go to the undisputed Vouni Panayia and Gerolemo wineries.

Of notable observation is the strong show of rosés, an amazing first, that rosé wines have become real contenders of high quality wines. While on a lower note, the few number of outstanding reds performing in the competition is surprising – this either reflects the imbalance of judging tilting negatively the results and/or, possibly a message sent to winemakers, for the need of more patience when setting the release of their wines.
Finally, a subtle observation about the set up for such a small national competition, we found it odd that the line-up of tables in classroom style was one which least facilitated discussion,  for sure differences in points at some instances of the judging must have not been easily consensuated with this table format.

Without further comments, The 2017 Cyprus Wine Competition Awards and Medal list goes as follow:

Grand Gold: Commandaria Wine – Aes Ambelis 2010.

Categories with Gold Medals: Commandaria Wines

  • Ayia Mavri Commandaria 2011, Ayia Mavri Winery
  • Alasia Commandaria 2001, Loel Industries
  • Theodora Commandaria 2013, Karseras Winery
  • St. Nicholas Commandaria 2013, Etko Winery
  • Saint Barnabas Commandaria 2002, Sodap Kamenterena Winery
  • Tsiakkas Commandaria 2011, Tsiakkas Winery

Gold awarded Red Dry Wines

  • Saint Fotios, Maratheftiko 2012, Kolios Winery, Paphos Regional Wine
  • Kolios, Shiraz/Merlot blend 2010, Kolios Winery, Paphos Regional Wine

Gold Awarded White dry Wines:

  • Tsangarides Xynisteri 2016, Tsangarides Winery, Pafos regional wine
  • Grifos 2 Sauvignon blanc 2016, Vlasides Winery – Limassol regional wine
  • Ayioklima Xynisteri 2016, Constantinou Winery, Limassol regional wine
  • Persefoni Xynisteri 2016 White, Kolios Winery, Pafos regional wine
  • Tsangarides Chardonnay 2016, Tsangarides Winery, Pafos regional wine
  • Keo Xynisteri 2016, Keo Winery, varietal wine

Gold Awarded Rosé Wines:

  • Aes Ambelis Rosé 2016, Multivarietal wine

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Commandaria flagship, Commandaria bastion of resilience

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It’s a return to safe harbor – Commandaria excels in quality and appreciation at the 10th Cyprus Wine Award Ceremony 2017.

It happened yesterday, on the closing bell – 6th of May 2017, at the Annabelle Hotel. The Cyprus wine sector can feel at ease again, as  if there were any doubts, Commandaria rises above all.

There are no tribulations which can resist to the charm and quality evidenced by the Grand Gold recognition awarded to Aes Ambelis.
GrandGoldCommandaria - 10th Cyprus wine competition
We would like to see this recognition also as a collective award that honors a living heritage in Cyprus.  It’s a heritage which still provides us with wise wine teachings and all Cyprus Winemakers should celebrate it. This is also as a reward for a collective and persistent belief that further investment in the quality of Commandaria is a key to the future of winemaking in Cyprus.

We would like express our most sincere congratulations to the winners and all participants, to the jury and invited journalists for their commitment, to the numerous individuals involved in the logistics of making the competition happen and most of all, to the Union of Cyprus Oenologists and in particular, Mr George Kassianos whose particular implication and investment, enabling for the 10th Award Ceremony to be celebrated at the Hotel Annabelle, which was undeniably spectacular.

For the list of results of the Cyprus Wine Competition follow the link – Cyprus Wine Competition 2017

She rises above

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A familiar art form or a tradition, women in the vineyards since time immemorial have helped sustain the wine trade and bring it to where it is today. Her progression hasn’t stop here thankfully.

For her presence, ever-lasting contributions, which makes us feel very blessed to join them as travel companions towards the unending feat of balanced authenticity.

women do wine

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