The wine in Cyprus

Cyprus is one of the oldest wine producing countries. According to archaeological sources and testimonies, viticulture and wine production date back to 4000-2000 B.C. Dionysus cult was widely spread and this is also evidenced by the mosaics at the “House of Dionysus” in lower Paphos.
Cyprus’ wines were and still are very famous. It is widely known that in antiquity, Aphrodite was worshiped in Paphos and festivities were held with the participation of many visitors who drank the Cyprus’ sweet wine “Kyprion nama” (predecessor of Commandaria wine).
After the Knights Templar’s settlement on the island at the end of the 12th century, a particular type of sweet red wine used also in the Holy Communion (Nama) started to become known as “Commandaria”, because it was produced in the region of the headquarters of the Knights Templar and later on of St John’s Knights or Nights Hospitaller. The name came from a reference to the Grand Commandarie (headquarters) of the Kolossi castle, in the village of Kolossi (1210), 11 km west from Limassol, where the seat of the supreme military administration of Cyprus was situated during the Knights’ era.
Apart from Cyprus, St John’s Knights made Commandaria known in Western European countries as well. It is reported that in 1352 the Master of the Vintner's Company of London, gave a banquet to five west European kings (of England, Scotland, France, Denmark and Cyprus), and served exclusively Commandaria.
St Gregorious mentions that in 1490, John, king of Portugal, chose vines from Cyprus, and had them transplanted in Madera (island – Portugal’s colony in the North Atlantic Ocean), due to the high quality of their wine making grapes.
Various travelers that visited Cyprus reported that its wine was so sweet and thick that it was eaten on bread like honey. In 1735 the Russian monk and traveler Basil Barsky reported that Cyprus produced huge quantities of wine, especially Commandaria, a sweet and flavoured wine, loaded into ships arriving at Cyprus, in order to be sold in Venetia and other western countries.
Until today, Commandaria, as geographical area, is strongly related to this type of wine whose production is permitted only in certain villages of the region of Limassol (Presidential Decree, CPD 214/2005). For the production of Commandaria the two major grape varieties of Cyprus are used, that is Xinisteri and Mavro.
In modern times almost all of the issues concerning the vine/grape/wine products, are regulated by the Vine Products Commission (S.Α.P.), which is a public law legal entity (authorised by the Republic of Cyprus).

from: http://ct-srv2.aegean.gr/krasia/pgs.php?lng=ZW5nbGlzaA===&sbj=6&isle=Y3lwcnVz