Cyprus Flashcards
Where is Cyprus?
In the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey is 75 km north, Lebanon and Syria 100 km east.
On what part of Cyprus is wine production concentrated?
The southwest of the island; the area not under Turkish occupation
What language is spoken in Cyrpus?
Greek
What is the world’s longest continually produced named wine? When was it first documented?
Commandaria
Its production method was documented in 800 BCE in Hesiod’s “Works and Days”
What are the mountains of Cyprus? Which side are the vineyards on?
The Troodos Mountains
Vineyards are on the south-facing side
What are the grapes of Cyprus?
White: Xynisteri
Red: Mavro
What is the production method of Commandaria?
Grapes are harvested from bush vines and sun-dried for ~2 weeks near the vineyards. The wine must be sweet, and may or may not be fortified. Aged min 2 yrs in wood but often much longer. Often fractional blending is used, but can be vintage.
What is the solera-like system used for Commandaria called?
Mana
Older barrels are topped up with younger wines
How many PDOs of Cyrpus? Name three
7 Commandaria Pitsilia Krasochoria Lemesou Krasochoria Lemesou-Laona Krasochoria Lemesou-Afames Vouni Panayia-Ampelitis Laona Akama
What are the 4 PGIs of Cyprus (much more used than the PDOs)
Larnaka
Lemesos (Limassol)
Lefkosia (Nicosia)
Pafos
What are the two styles of Commandaria?
- non-vintage, fortified, mostly Mavro, tend to be made by the large firms
- vintage-dated, unfortified, higher concentration of Xynisteri
What are the firms of Commandaria?
Sodap
KEO
Etko
Loel
What does Xynisteri translate to?
“Lacking acidity”
When did Cyprus get Phylloxera?
NEVER!
What winery is responsible for ~25% of Cyprus’s wine?
SODAP
it is also the only grower-owned co-op on the island
