Cyprus has been producing wine for longer than almost anywhere else on earth. The island’s winemaking tradition stretches back at least 5,500 years – and Commandaria, produced in the hills above Limassol, is widely considered the world’s oldest named wine still in production. The Knights of St John were drinking it in the 12th century. Ancient Greek poets wrote about it. It predates modern France’s entire wine industry by millennia.
Today, Cyprus has a thriving wine scene that most visitors never properly discover – focused around the Troodos mountain foothills between Limassol and Paphos, with a cluster of boutique estates, family wineries, and centuries-old cellars open for tastings. This guide covers where to go, what to drink, how to get there, and the experiences worth building a trip around.
The grapes you need to know
Before visiting the wineries, it helps to know what makes Cypriot wine distinctive. The island has several indigenous grape varieties found nowhere else on earth.
Maratheftiko
The king of Cypriot red grapes. Maratheftiko produces deep, structured wines with dark fruit, earthy notes, and genuine ageing potential. It’s a difficult grape to grow – it needs to be interplanted with other varieties to pollinate – but the results from top producers are exceptional. If you drink one Cypriot red, make it a Maratheftiko from a serious estate.
Xynisteri
Cyprus’s most widely planted white grape, and increasingly well-regarded internationally. At its best, Xynisteri produces fresh, mineral whites with citrus and herb notes – particularly from higher altitude vineyards in the Troodos foothills. It responds well to cooler growing conditions and modern winemaking.
Commandaria
The legendary sweet wine of Cyprus, made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes in the Commandaria region – 14 villages in the southeastern Troodos foothills that have been producing it under that name since 1191. The wine is amber, sweet, and complex – think dried fruit, caramel, and something genuinely ancient. Richard the Lionheart reportedly called it “the wine of wines” at his wedding banquet in Limassol in 1191.
The wine regions
Limassol wine region – the Troodos foothills
The majority of Cyprus’s best wineries are located in the foothills of the Troodos mountains between 400m and 1,200m altitude – roughly 30–60 minutes from Limassol city. The altitude brings cooler temperatures that preserve acidity and freshness in the wines, and the ancient soils produce grapes with genuine character. The villages of Omodos, Koilani, Lofou, Vouni, and Platres sit at the heart of this region.
Paphos wine region – Kathikas and the northwest
The Paphos district has its own distinct wine identity, particularly around the village of Kathikas on the plateau above Paphos. The climate is drier and warmer than the Troodos foothills, producing wines with more body and riper fruit character. Several of Cyprus’s most interesting boutique estates are in this area, alongside the remarkable Sterna Winery and Wine Museum.
The Commandaria region
Fourteen villages in the southeastern Troodos foothills – including Zoopigi, Ayios Konstantinos, Monagri, and Laneia – form the legally defined Commandaria appellation, the oldest appellation in the world. This is the only area where authentic Commandaria can be produced. The landscape is dramatic – ancient vine terraces, limestone villages, and views stretching to the coast.
The wineries – Limassol region
Zambartas Wineries – Limassol foothills. One of Cyprus’s most acclaimed boutique estates. Marcos Zambartas trained in France and New Zealand and brings genuine international winemaking craft to indigenous Cypriot varieties. The Maratheftiko and Xynisteri here are benchmarks for what the island can produce. Open for tastings – call ahead to book.
Tsiakkas Winery – Limassol foothills. Family winery at altitude, known for elegant reds from indigenous varieties. One of the island’s pioneers in producing serious Maratheftiko. The vineyard views are spectacular.
Vlassides Winery – Limassol wine region. Boutique estate with a strong reputation for both indigenous and international varieties. The Shiraz is particularly well-regarded alongside the local grape wines.
Christoudia Winery – Limassol foothills. Intimate family winery with a beautiful terrace restaurant on-site. One of the most welcoming estates on the island – tastings, food, and genuine Cypriot hospitality combined. A natural Sunday destination from Limassol.
Linos Winery – Limassol. Traditional Cypriot winery with tastings in a beautifully atmospheric setting. Strong on Commandaria and traditional styles.
ETKO – Limassol. One of the oldest and most storied wine producers on the island, operating since 1844. Producers of Emva Cream and a range of Commandaria styles alongside modern table wines.
Lionspirit Winery & Distillery (Lambouri Winery) – Limassol. Winery and distillery combination – unusual on the island and worth visiting for the breadth of products including spirits alongside wine.
Monolithos Boutique Winery – Limassol. Small-production boutique estate. Worth seeking out for something off the main winery trail.
Menargos Winery – Family Commandaria Winery – Limassol. Specialist Commandaria producer in the heart of the appellation. If you want to understand what authentic Commandaria tastes like, this is the place to go.
Oenou Yi Winery – Limassol. “Land of Wine” – a larger estate with a full visitor experience including tastings, tours, and a restaurant.
The wineries – Paphos region
Sterna Winery and Wine Museum – Kathikas, Paphos. A unique combination of working winery and wine museum telling the story of Cypriot winemaking through the centuries. One of the most complete wine experiences on the island – tasting, history, and spectacular views from the Kathikas plateau.
Vouni Panayia Winery – Paphos. High-altitude estate known for producing some of the most distinctive Xynisteri whites in Cyprus. The cool mountain conditions create an entirely different style from the Limassol region estates.
Vasilikon Winery Cyprus – Paphos. Family estate in the Paphos wine region with tastings and a welcoming visitor experience.
Fikardos Winery – Paphos. Long-established Paphos estate producing a full range of wines from indigenous and international varieties.
Antoniades Winery – Paphos. Boutique family winery in the Paphos region, welcoming visitors for tastings.
Kolios Winery – Paphos. Small-production Paphos estate worth seeking out for local variety wines.
Browse all wineries and wine estates in our directory →
Guided wine tours – the best way to explore
Driving yourself between wineries is enjoyable but has an obvious limitation. A guided wine tour solves this – and adds local knowledge, context, and access to producers and village experiences that you wouldn’t find independently.
A Glass of Cyprus – the gold standard for guided wine tours on the island. Full-day and half-day tours through the wine villages and Commandaria region with genuinely expert local guides. Rated a perfect 5.0/5 by every single visitor – the most consistently praised wine experience in Cyprus. Book in advance, particularly in autumn during harvest season.
Cyprus Taste Tours Larnaca – food and wine tours combining Larnaca’s food culture with wine tastings. Rated 5.0/5 by 383 visitors. A different angle on Cypriot wine – pairing it with the food culture that surrounds it.
Suggested wine trail itineraries
One day from Limassol – the Troodos foothills loop
This route covers the heart of the Limassol wine region in a comfortable day from the city. Drive time between stops is 10–20 minutes.
- Morning (10am): Zambartas Wineries – tasting of Maratheftiko and Xynisteri. Allow 1 hour.
- Late morning (11:30am): Drive through Omodos village – the most beautiful main square in Cyprus. Coffee and a pastry at a village kafeneion.
- Lunch (1pm): Christoudia Winery – tasting lunch on the terrace. This is the unhurried heart of the day.
- Afternoon (3:30pm): Tsiakkas Winery – late afternoon tasting, views across the valley.
- Evening (5:30pm): Drive back to Limassol via Lofou village – stop for a beer at Bes Lofou Microbrewery if timing allows.
One day from Paphos – the Kathikas plateau
- Morning (10am): Sterna Winery and Wine Museum – start with context and history before the tastings begin. Allow 1.5 hours.
- Midday (11:30am): Vouni Panayia Winery – high-altitude Xynisteri tasting with views.
- Lunch (1pm): Kathikas village taverna – meze and local wine, long and slow.
- Afternoon (3pm): Antoniades Winery or Fikardos Winery – one more tasting before heading back.
- Late afternoon: Drive back to Paphos via the coastal road through Pegeia.
Weekend wine trail – Limassol and Commandaria
For those with more time, a two-day trail combining the Troodos foothills wineries with the Commandaria villages is one of the finest weekend itineraries on the island.
Day 1: Troodos foothills – Zambartas, Vlassides, Christoudia. Stay overnight in Platres or Omodos.
Day 2: Commandaria region – Menargos Winery for authentic Commandaria, a walk through Zoopigi village, lunch at a Commandaria village taverna, and Linos Winery on the way back to Limassol.
Practical tips for the wine trail
Book ahead
Most Cypriot wineries are family operations – some require appointments, particularly for private tastings or group visits. Call or email ahead, especially for weekend visits in autumn when harvest season brings additional visitors. Showing up unannounced at a small family estate on a Sunday in October is hit or miss.
Go in autumn if you can
September and October are harvest season. The energy at the wineries is different – the winemakers are in the vines, the cellars smell extraordinary, and the connection between the land and the bottle becomes visceral. October is also when the Commandaria Festival takes place across the wine villages. If you can time a visit for autumn, do it.
Designate a driver or take a tour
The mountain roads between wineries are narrow, winding, and genuinely demanding. If you’re planning to taste seriously at three or four estates, a guided tour is the sensible option. A Glass of Cyprus handles transport so you can focus on the wine.
Buy to take home
Almost every winery sells bottles directly – and at cellar-door prices considerably lower than what you’d pay in a shop or restaurant. The Maratheftiko and Commandaria in particular travel well. Most airlines allow wine in checked luggage if properly wrapped. Ask the winery for recommendations on which bottles will age best if you’re planning to cellar them.
Explore more of Cyprus
- Browse all Gastronomy & Estates listings →
- Cyprus Festivals 2026 – including the Wine and Commandaria Festivals →
- Best time to visit Cyprus →
- Search all listings by district →
Winery opening times vary and some require advance booking. Always contact the winery directly before visiting to confirm availability.
