Paphos Wine Villages

Mountain villages producing wine from indigenous Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. Family wineries with traditions spanning generations. Cool elevation creates distinct terroir.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Taste Xynisteri - The Soul of Cyprus in a Glass Wine · Price: moderate

   Xynisteri is ESSENTIAL to Commandaria—the world's oldest named wine—and has been continuously cultivated in Cyprus for over 3,000 years, making you taste the genetic descendant of grapes that ancient Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, and Knights Templar all drank. At Tsangarides Winery in Lemona village (one of Cyprus's first certified organic wineries) or Tsalapatis Winery, request a tasting of pure Xynisteri (not blended) and smell for pine, mineral, lime, white peach while tasting for citrusy brightness and distinct minerality. This light-bodied wine with very low alcohol is Cyprus's answer to Assyrtiko.

   Backup: If Tsangarides is booked, any winery on the Vouni Panagias-Ambelitis Wine Route will have Xynisteri. It's 33% of Cypriot vineyards—you can't miss it.

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2. 2 Find Mavro on Ancient Rootstock Wine · Price: moderate

   Mavro grows on ORIGINAL ROOTSTOCK from before phylloxera—Cyprus was spared the 1860s-1890s plague that forced every other major wine region in Europe to graft vines onto American roots. At any Paphos mountain winery at ~900m altitude (especially Fikardos Winery with vineyards at Pano Arodes and Choulou), ask to see the vineyards during your tour and touch the trunk of an old Mavro vine. Feel how thick and gnarled it is—some are centuries old, genetically IDENTICAL to the vines Romans drank, not descendants but the SAME.

   Backup: If vineyard tour isn't possible, ask during tasting: 'Is your Mavro from ungrafted rootstock?' They'll be PROUD to say yes. Then taste for balanced tannins, red berries, plums, hints of spice.

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3. 3 Walk Roman-Era Terraces at Kathikas Village History · Free

   Roman-era vineyard terraces carved into hillsides 2,000+ years ago are still visible and actively used by modern Cypriot winemakers because the engineering was perfect. From any Paphos winery veranda in Kathikas village (Tsangarides has excellent views), look out across the valley and identify the stepped terraces—unmistakable horizontal lines carved into slopes. Ask your host: 'Are those original Roman terraces?' Many are, and they love explaining which vineyard plots rest on ancient foundations.

   Backup: If weather is poor or views are obscured, ask winery staff to show photos of the terraces or explain which vineyard plots are on ancient foundations. They love talking about this.

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4. 4 Taste Maratheftiko - The Lost Grape Rescued Adventure · Price: moderate · Optional

   Akis Zambartas RE-DISCOVERED 12 native Cypriot grape varieties during a pioneering 3-year research project in the 1980s after these varieties had been LOST—not just forgotten, but botanically MISSING from cultivation for decades. At Fikardos Winery or Tsangarides Winery, request a Maratheftiko tasting (also called Bambakada) and ask the winemaker: 'When was Maratheftiko rediscovered?' They'll tell the rescue story with pride—this medium-bodied red with spice notes was extinct for decades and now it's back.

   Backup: If Maratheftiko isn't available, ask about other indigenous varieties like Promara (white, the FIRST Cypriot grape to ripen every year) or Lefkada. The rescue story applies to all 12.

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