Cyprus Flashcards
Year Cyprus gained independence
1960
- NE under Turkish occupation since 1974
World’s oldest continually produced named wine
Commandaria
- documented in 800 BCE
What was Commandaria originally referred as?
nama
- meaning “sweet wine”
Commandaria is made from what native red and white varietals?
- Mavro: red
- Xynisteri: white
- sun-dried for about two weeks, often adjacent to the vineyards
How are Mavro and Xynisteri trained?
bush vines
Four large beverage companies that dominated Commandaria production throughout the 20th century.
- KEO
- Etko
- Sodap
- Loel
Cyprus
Number of PDOs
7 (nearly completely unused)
- Commandaria
- Pitsilia
- Krasochoria Lemesou (the Winemaking Villages of Limassol)
- Krasochoria Lemesou-Laona
- Krasochoria Lemesou-Afames
- Vouni Panayia-Ampelitis
- Laona Akama
Cyprus
4 PGIs
(more common)
- Larnaka
- Lemesos (Limassol)
- Lefkosia (Nicosia)
- Pafos
Cyprus
most widely planted grape
Mavro, “black”: red
Cyprus
most planted white grape
Xynisteri
- “lacking acidity”, although aging potential and complexity
Two other native white grapes bottled varietally from Cyprus
- Promara
- Morokanella
Two other native reds bottled varietally from Cyprus
- Maratheftiko
- Yiannoudin
Oldest continually produced named wine
Commandaria – 800BC, raiisinated/fortifiied wines from Mavro/Xynestri
Notable mountain range of Cyprus:
Troodos Mountains
Differences between vintage and non-vintage Commandaria PDO
Vintage
Typically higher in Xynisteri unfortified, smaller batch (more frequently smaller producer)
Non Vintage
Mass produced (typically by large firms) fortified
Differences between PDO and PGI in Cyprus:
Producers favor PGI for regionality/freedom
Most planted grape in Cyprus:
Mavro (“black”)
T/F: Most of Cyprus is planted on its own rootstock
True – phylloxera never made it to the island
T/F - Vines on Cyprus are mainly own-rootstock
True
What is the most widely planted red grape of Cyprus
Mavro
What is the only widely-used PDO of Cyprus
Commandaria PDO
What are the allowed styles of Commandaria PDO
Raisin wine, Fortified wine
What is the minimum vine age for a PDO wine from Cyprus?
5 years
Name 3 PDOs of Cyprus?
Pitsilia, Vouni Panayia, Laona-Akama, Krasochoria:Lemesour, Lemesou-Afames, Laone, Commandaria
All Cypriot PDOs EXCEPT Commandaria require what min % of what grape?
Min 85% Xynisteri
Name 3 Cypriot indigenous red grapes?
Maratheftiko
Yioannoudi
Ofthalmo
Lefkada
What is the most planted grape of Cyprus?
Xynisteri
What are pitharia?
The great pitharia or wine-jars of Cyprus are made up of successive thick coils of clay that need to dry before the next is added.
Where is most Cyprus viticulture concentrated and why?
South - north is controlled by Turkey
Name 3 producers of Commandaria?
KEO, Etko, Sodap, Loel, St John
What is the minimum aging period for Commandaria?
2 years
What is mana?
Solera-like aging system of Commandaria
What is the dominant mountain range of Cyprus?
Troodos Mountains
Where does Commandaria get its name?
In 1191 King Richard I (called the Lionheart) departed on the Third Crusade. He passed Cyprus on the way to the Holy Land and he conquered the island which was later purchased by the Knights Templar. The Knights settled on a place on the island that they called Commandaria. The local wine was given the same name.
