Cyprus wine

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The Cypriot wine industry ranks 37th in the world in terms of total production quantity (37,500 tonnes).^[1], and much higher on a per capita basis. Although, chronologically, Cyprus belongs to the old world of wine producing countries, the industry has gone through changes that place it more on par with the new world.^[2] The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Cypriot economy through cultivation, production, employment, export and tourism.

Contents 1 Overview 2 History 2.1 Ancient 2.2 Medieval 3 Grape varieties 4 External Links 5 References

[edit] Overview

Cyprus has been a vine growing and wine producing country for millennia. Internationally, it is best known for Commandaria wine.

[edit] History

[edit] Ancient

Exactly how far back wine production in Cyprus goes is unknown. Wine was being traded at least as early as 2300 BC, the date of a shipwreck (similar to the Kyrenia ship) carrying over 2,500 amphorae, discovered in 1999. Its origin and destination are unknown, but must have been along the trade route between Greece and Egypt.^[3]

More recently, two discoveries have put that date back by a few more years. The first was the discovery of a Bronze Age (2500-2000 BC) perfumery near the village of Pyrgos.^{[4] [5]} Near this perfumery, an olive press, a winery, and copper smelting works were also discovered. Wine containers and even the seeds of grapes were unearthed.^[6]

The second discovery involved an intriguing sequence of events. Dr. Porphyrios Dikaios, a major figure in Cypriot archaeology, had carried out excavations on the outskirts of Erimi village between 1932 and 1935. During these excavations, several fragments of round flasks were unearthed (amongst other artefacts). These pottery fragments ended up in the stores of the Cyprus Museum still unwashed in wooden boxes. They were dated to the chalcolithic period (between 3500BC-3000BC). In 2005, well after Dr Dikaios’ death, the chemical signatures of 18 of these were examined by a team of Italian archaeologists led by Maria-Rosaria Belgiorno. Twelve of these showed traces of tartaric acid (a component of wine) proving that the 5,500-year-old vases were used for wine.^{[7] [8]}

[edit] Medieval

Commandaria wine won the Battle of the Wines, the first recorded wine tasting competition, which was staged by the French king Philip Augustus in the 13^th century. The event was recorded in a poem by Henry d'Andeli in 1224.^[9]

[edit] Grape varieties

The climate allows for cultivation of most grape varieties. However local varietals (Mavro and Xynisteri) constitute the bulk of current plantations. Maratheftiko is an ancient grape varietal that is currently being revived. ^[10]

Table showing areas and quantities cultivated by Vines for Wines by variety: ^[11]

	Variety	2004 Cultivation (decares)	2004 Quantity (kg)[12]	% of total	2003 Quantity (kg)	% of total
1	Mavro	92,140	35,690,050	49.6	33,124,678	52.5
2	Xynisteri	26,573	11,102,700	15.4	6,750,800	10.7
3	Carignan Noir	26,573	8,894,350	12.4	7,609,261	12.1
4	Cabernet [13]	8,129	2,446,508	3.4	1,435,575	2.3
5	Malaga	3,786	1,501,930	2.1	1,551,251	2.5
6	Mataro	2,331	1,196,940	1.7	1,946,431	3.1
7	Shiraz	1,968	149,750	0.2	60,656	0.1
8	Ofthalmo	1,843	1,119,800	1.6	1,122,278	1.8
9	Palomino	1,800	2,509,350	3.5	2,189,155	3.5
10	Grenache Noir	1,768	960,611	1.3	1,007,031	1.6
11	Alicante Bouschet	1,509	589,105	0.8	527,685	0.8
12	Oeillade	1,281	526,735	0.7	500,540	0.8
13	Maratheftiko	1,249	204,660	0.3	185,961	0.3
	Total [14]	159,076	71,996,587		63,083,177

[edit] External Links

• The Cyprus wine story - Information material from the Cyprus Tourism board. [1]
• Bacchus Association of the Regional Wine Producers of Cyprus. [2]

[edit] References