According to Martin Luther, “Beer is made by men, wine by God.” If you are one of the many wine lovers the world has to offer, then Cyprus will definitely be your Heaven. Evidence of winemaking in the country dates back thousands of years before Christ’s birth. The country – which is also an island – is covered with vineyards located near the coasts and in the mountains. Cyprus’ warm and dry climate in high altitude is the perfect condition to produce good grapes.
With the benefits that red wine offers, it is no wonder why people from all parts of the world enjoy the drink. Red wine fight free radicals that are present in the body and decrease the risk of heart attacks as well as other coronary heart diseases. Even a small amount of wine can help in digestion and fight ulcer-causing bacteria. Drinking this beverage moderately is also known to fight obesity.
Wine Production in Cyprus and its History
Travelers who go to the country have heard of the popular wines of Cyprus and visit a few wineries. Big companies like Loel, Keo, Sodap and ETKO have the ability to produce more than 1 million bottles annually. Small wineries owned by local farmers and their families also exist. They often create wines for their own consumption. Some wines of Cyprus such as the Kosher Wine are used specifically during the time of the Passover by the Jewish; the type of wine is chosen because of the way it has been made.
Cyprus is one of the oldest wine-making countries in the world. With 6000 years of experience, they have perfected the creation of great tasting wines which come in a variety of unique flavors that are yet to be discovered by wine enthusiasts. Tourists are surprised at how low the prices of wine are in Cyprus compared to their country. The great amount of tax and inflation applied when the wine has been sold, exported and resold to be put on store shelves is to blame, causing the amount to soar two times higher than its original price.
The Wine Museum and Annual Festival
Another place tourists check out is Cyprus’ national wine museum. The wine museum is a building that was once used as a meeting place for merchants who were on their way to the markets to sell their products. The building is more than 150 years old and took a long time to refurbish. The wine museum presents insights on how the industry came about Cyprus and how it has developed over the years. The entrance fee to the museum is cheap and visitors can get a taste of the extravagant wines.
Every year on the first week of September, Limassol hosts a wine festival. The celebration takes place in the Municipal Gardens, situated on the east side of town. The festival is aimed to celebrate the country’s rich viticulture and has been doing so since 1961. It is also considered a resurgence of ancient festive manifestations of worshipping the god of wine, Dionysus and the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.
More than 100,000 visitors including locals are in attendance of the festival. The beautiful country, its hospitable citizens and the wines of Cyprus make tourists want to return again and again.
