Komandaria wine: history, production, types + how and what to drink

Commandaria (Commandaria) - this is an amber-colored dessert wine produced on the island of Cyprus for 4000 years.

The history of Commandaria wine

2000 BC: It was in Cyprus that the first Mediterranean wine was produced. It was several hundred years ahead of Crete, where winemaking also began early. Cypriot wine was considered a delicacy in antiquity, and its reputation survived until the time of the Crusades.

800 BC: Wine was a popular drink at festivals dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. Dried grape wine from Cyprus was first described by the Greek poet Hesiod. It was called "Cyprus Manna".

XII century: Commandaria got its name from Gran Commanderie, the area with the castle of Kolossi west of Limassol. The castle was the headquarters of the Knights Templar. In their circles, wine was very famous. It was sold to the locals and supplied to European royal courts.

Soon the drink became synonymous with Gran Commanderie, the name given to the area where the wine was produced. When he married Berengaria, Richard I the Lionhearted said that Commandaria was "the wine of kings and the king of wines".

XIII century: One legend has it that Philip Augustus of France held the first ever wine tasting competition. The event, called the Battle of the Wines (French. La Bataille des Vins), was described in a 1224 poem by Henri d' Andelie. Wines from all over Europe and France participated, but Cyprus with Commandaria won.

Another is that the Ottoman sultan invaded the island just to get this wine.

1363: There is a version, it was consumed at the celebration of the Five Kings in the City of London. The Crusaders have long ceased to rule Cyprus, but production has not stopped.

1833: Kira Redding in her book "A history and description of modern wines" mentioned Commandery.

1863: Thomas George Shaw wrote the book "Wine, the vine, and the cellar", where he also described Commanderia.

1879: Production volume increases. The British researcher Sir Samuel White Baker recorded that Cyprus annually exported about 230 thousand liters to Austria alone.

2004: A Wine Museum was opened in the Cypriot village of Erimi, not far from the birthplace of the drink. The central place in the collection is given to Commandaria as the king of wines.

2020: Production continues to this day. Products are often bought by Cypriot tourists as a souvenir. In the Liturgy, wine is used in the process of communion.

Production of Commandaria wine

The local grape varieties Mavro (black) and Xinisteri (white) are used for wine production.

Vineyards must be at least 4 years old, no watering is allowed. The grapes are left to ripen on the vine when the sugar content reaches the maximum level, and harvested. Grapes are laid out in the sun to increase the sugar content by evaporating the liquid. As a result, the fruit becomes fermented. The juice is extracted by careful crushing and pressing.

Fermentation takes place within the 14 designated settlements of the Commandaria region. The alcohol level reaches 15%. Aging by law from two years in oak barrels. Sometimes it takes place outside the above-mentioned area of Cyprus under strict control and under the conditions established by Cypriot law.

Popular brands of Commandaria

1. Etko Winery St. Nicholas Commandaria, 15%

   Like all red wines on the list, it has a deep amber color. Smells like red and black berries. Taste with notes of cinnamon, cloves and almonds. Pleasant sweetness, long delicate aftertaste of prunes and raisins.

2. Keo St.John Commandaria, 15%

   Dessert fruity with a long aftertaste. Spicy aroma with hints of nuts and prunes. So sweet that it can become a full-fledged dessert.

3. Barnabas Commandaria, 15%

   Rich flavor, woven from spicy and raisiny notes. Smells of dried fruits: dates, raisins with honey and cinnamon hints. Spices are felt in the long aftertaste.

4. Alasia Commandaria, 15%

   Rich sweet wine with honey tones. The aroma is dominated by dark fruits. Figs and nuts intertwine in the long aftertaste.

5. Tsiakkas Commandaria, 15%

   Balanced fruity wine. Bright aroma of ripe apricot and figs. Nutty aftertaste.

How and what to drink Commandaria wine with

Cool to 6-9 °C before serving. Choose low, wide glasses. They come in a variety of names. In 2006, a company from Austria started producing these for the national pride of Cyprus.

Wine is served after the main meal with appetizers of meat, cheeses, desserts and fruits.

Update: 10.04.2020

Category: Wine and Vermouth