1 2 All seven Wine Routes have special road signs to assist your trip! Laona-Akamas Vouni Panagias- Diarizos valley Krasochoria of Beautiful locations and Ampelitis Idyllic expedition to the Lemesos beaches, picturesque Panoramic route through natural beauties of a Well known wine villages, villages with rich cultural mountainous terrain with relatively ‘unknown’, yet each with its own and wine traditions. an endless choice of local rich in vineyards, route. character, all with wines. remarkable winemaking tradition. Cape Kormakitis Keryneia Kormakitis Lapithos Karavas E N G Myrtou R A S P L O E N K T Y Kontemenos T A D A T U R K I S D E R H U N E A MORFOU BAY R O Morfou A Lefkosia Nicosia C C Kato Pyrgos Mammari U Astromeritis Pomos Akaki P Kokkinotrimithia A Cape Peristerona T Akamas I TILLIRIA O Kato Koutrafas Agioi Trimithias 4 CHRYSOCHOUS BAY N 1 9 7 S I N E Vyzakia Kato C Argaka Deftera Tseri SOLEA Mitsero Polis Kampos Evrychou ΑΚΑΜΑS Kampia Kakopetria T Kykkos Kalo Chorio Drouseia R Kapedes ΜΑRATHASA E Ineia Akourdalia O PITSILIA Fikardou O N G Chandria Gouri Kato Arodes D O S R A Polystypos Asprogia Kyperounta Lythrodontas Pano Arodes Pano Panagia Alona Κannaviou Dymes Κathikas Troodos Psathi Chrysorrogiatissa Potamitissa Agros Farmakas Agia Moni Houlou Kato Platres Pelendri Agios Agios Theodoros Vavatsinia Koilineia Agios Pera Ioannis Odou Pegeia Stroumpi Polemi Statos NikolaosΜandria Agios Agios Lefkara GalatariaArminou Pedi Zoopigi Konstantinos Ora Letymvou Lemona Omodos Trimiklini Mamas Kourdaka Mesana Praitori Agios Pavlos LΑΟΝΑ Arsos Kalo Chorio Kofinou Kallepeia Pentalia Filousa Koilani Silikou Tsada Salamiou Kato Amargeti Vasa LaneiaKapileio Louvaras Vavla Κedares Lofou Doros Drys Mesogi Eledio Vouni Ag. Gerasa Skarinou Κelokedara Malia GeorgiosMonagri Stavrokonnou Apsiou Tochni Agios Georgios Agios Kalavasos Choletria Amvrosios Alassa Agia Varvara Mamonia Pachna Paramytha Souni Fasoula Pano Kivides Palodeia Parekklisia Αcheleia Anogyra COMMANDARIA Nikokleia Pafos Souni-Zanakia Agia Fyla Paphos Zygi Kouklia Avdimou Kantou Erimi Pissouri Kolossi Lemesos Limassol EPISKOPI BAY AKROTIRI BAY Cape Cape Zevgari Gata 1 Cape Commandaria Pitsilia Mountainous Apostolos Andreas Known and unknown Beautiful scenery along Larnaka-Lefkosia Apostolos corners that preserve the with excellent wine. Superb locations with Andreas legend of the island’s living traditions. most notable wine. Rizokarpaso ΚΑRPASIA Aigialousa Leonariso Eptakomi Akanthou E G N Bogazi Klepini R A S P Y L O E N T A D A K T Leykonoiko T U R K I S Κythrea D E R H U N Marathovouno E A A R O AMMOCHOSTOS BAY C MESAORIA Salamina C U Vatyli P A T I Ammochostos O Lysi N 7 4 Famagusta S 1 9 Acheritou I N C E Athienou Deryneia Paralimni Pyla Sotira Ormideia Voroklini Agia Napa Aradippou Cape Gkreko LARNAKA BAY Cape Pyla Pyrga Kalo Chorio Larnaka Meneou Kiti Skarinou Cape Kiti Mazotos Wine making regions of Cyprus PITSILIA LAONA-AKAMAS MOUNTAINOUS LARNAKA-LEFKOSIA VOUNI PANAGIAS-AMPELITIS DIARIZOS VALLEY COMMANDARIA KRASOCHORIA OF LEMESOS 2 Contents 5 A very long history Laona-Akamas 17 Vouni Panayias - Ambelitis 30 The varieties of the island 33 Diarizos Valley 45 Krasochoria of Lemesos 65 Commandaria 77 Pitsilia 89 Mountainous Larnaka-Lefkosia 100 CTO Information Offices Accommodation along the Wine Routes Everywhere, in most of the villages along the wine routes, there are agrotourism units and other accommodation. For information and reservations: he rich wine history of presently operate on the island Cyprus Agrotourism Cyprus has been alive and and taste their wines. Agrotour- Company ongoing for something like ism and other small units, Telephone: T6,000 years. Take any of our seven tavernas and restaurants with +357 22 340071 routes to experience Cypriot high modern standards are here Εmail: helpdesk@ hospitality and be introduced to to provide you with accommoda- agrotourism.com.cy the world of Cyprus wine. Visit any tion and the unique dishes of the www.agrotourism.com.cy of the 41 modern wineries that Cypriot kitchen. Go back in time 3 A very long history by visiting restored traditional been implemented by the Cyprus s Vineyards in wine presses and museums that Tourism Organisation with Choulou. Live testimony demonstrate the life, culture and co-funding from the structural to centuries-old traditions of the rural population. funds of the European Union for wine tradition. See the grape harvest, join the initial six routes and by the traditional feasts and enjoy European Fund for Agricultural superb local wines in abundance. Development for the seventh. The Wine Routes programme has Μakounta ΜΑRΙΟΝ (ΑRSINOI) Κynousa ΑΚΑΜΑS Polis Pelathousa Νeo Chorio Β7 Chrysochou Agios Isidoros Androlikou Steni Karamoullides Lysos Ε709 Peristerona Μelandra Fasli Goudi Meladeia Zacharia Trimithousa Kios Drouseia Filousa Tera Evretou Sarama Ineia Kritou Tera Loukrounou SKARFOS BRIDGE Kato Arodes Akourdaleia Simou Pano Arodes Μiliou e org Drymou Lasa s g ka Giolou Ava Milia Kathikas Thrinia Theletra Agios Dimitrianos Ε709 Β7 ΑGIOS GEORGIOS Psathi PEGEIAS Akoursos Polemi Pegeia Stroumbi Koili Letymvou Kourdaka PALAIOKASTRON AGIOS NEOFYTOS Kallepeia Ε701 Legend Tala Tsada Pitargou Kissonerga Tremithousa Β7 STAVROS TIS MINTHAS Lempa Mesogi Main road Empa Secondary road Mesa Chorio Motorway Chlorakas Wine route Armou Episkopi Winery Antiquity Marathounta Place of worship a s Κonia u TOMBS OF o Pafos z Up to 300- 600- THE KINGS E 300m 600m 1200m Α6 Agia Marinouda Geroskipou 0 2000 4000 6000 8000m Αgia Varvara 5 Route 1 Laona Akamas Zacharia Kios Pafos, Mesogi, Tsada, Stroumbi, Kathikas, Akourdaleia, Pano Arodes, Kato Arodes, Ineia, Drouseia, Polis, Pegeia. Sarama his route is in the north-west- visitor may enjoy a unique geography, ern part of Cyprus. It is of unlike anywhere else on the island. unique interest, as it is not Travel along the main roads E701 and devoted exclusively to wine. In E709, which climb to elevations provid- Milia Tthis area, the wine lover and the ing some fascinating views, with various gourmet can visit four wineries and greenery, substantial expanses of forest taste their varied and individualistic and a liberal lacing of vineyards combin- wines, in combination with the tasty ing to attract our attention. Psathi specialities of Cypriot food. Tavernas, of The outstanding feature of this which there are plenty along the route, unique wine zone is the Akamas will be sure not to disappoint. Together peninsula. The diverse characteristics of with these delicious attractions, the the Akamas morphology, the flora and Kourdaka Episkopi s View of Akamas from the high altitude locations in the area. 6 s Vast areas with green vineyards. 7 the wildlife rightfully make it a rare habitat. The visiting explorer/wine-lover truthfully has a feast for the eye, the ears, and the taste-buds. General characteristics The route is mainly located on the Akamas peninsula. It is a unique area with a remarkable and rare variety of geology, growth and wildlife. The relatively untouched environment and the charm of the communities, make it a joy for the walker and nature lover. The area is rich in viniculture and vast areas are covered by vineyards. Along the route, there are four wineries worth visiting. s Entrance to a house in Pano Arodes. Climate: The area varies from 400 to 650 metres and has an annual rate of Franc, Alicante B., Grenache, Shiraz, rainfall of about 610mm. It has a Merlot. generally mild climate. Terroir: Most vineyards of this route are The route on lime (asbestolithic) ground, some in loamy-gypsum. This tour starts by taking the B7, Vines: The Kathikas area is famous for which is the main road to Polis Chryso- its white grape varieties, mainly the chous. After 5km, make the first stop at native Xynisteri. Most of the villages in Mesogi village. On the left side of the the area belong to the Appellation road, within the industrial area, well Controllé (OEOP) “Laona Akamas”. In all, worth a stop is one of the best known a further 19 different varieties are producers in the area, the Fikardos cultivated in the areas. Winery. Even though the winery does White varieties: Xynisteri, Malvasia G, not own a significant area of its own Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, vineyards, the quality dynamic is quite Chardonnay, Muscat. remarkable. Recently, the winery Red varieties: Mavro, Ofthalmo, invested extensively in a unified vineyard Lefkada, Maratheftiko, Carignan, of 2.5 hectares in Kato Arodes and 3.5 Mataro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet hectares in Choulou. 8 Red wine with meat, white with fish We’ve all heard of the “rule”. But how correct is it? In most cases, red wine goes better with meat, simply because the tannins contained in red wines blend with the proteins of the meat. So, the more tannins a wine has, the more robust and rich meat it requires. Chicken, for example, is matched better with a lighter red wine, the rest of the white meats (pork, rabbit, turkey) with a slightly more robust red wine and the red meats, such as beef, game, etc., with a vintage, complex and full bodied wine. The varieties planted there are Pafos region wines. Yiannoudi, Xynisteri, Moschato Samou, Before continuing your wine explora- Maratheftiko, Mataro and Shiraz. This tion, it is worth visiting the monastery of acquisition supplements the long-time Agios Neofytos, by taking the rural road co-operation between the winery and that turns off the B7 at Mesogi. The carefully chosen local contracted monastery, at an altitude of 412 metres, vinegrowers. is considered one of the most important All this means the winemaker here in Cyprus and was built on the spot has a good knowledge of the dynamic in where the hermit saint lived (1134-1214). the area which, in less than two decades Return to the B7 and head north (the unit was established in 1990), towards the village of Tsada.