Wine, oh wine! Did you know that Cyprus lays claim to one of the oldest, if not the oldest wine in the world?

The legendary Commandaria which King Richard I the Lionheart pronounced as "the wine of kings and the king of wines” was created in Cyprus and dates back to antiquity. The amber-coloured sweet wine, has the distinction of being the world’s oldest named wine still in production!  The name itself dates back to the crusades in the 12th century and it is believed to have been served at the wedding of King Richard the Lionheart, which took place in the Limassol Medieval Castle.

Proud of its long history in wine-making, Cyprus continues to be a vine-growing and wine-producing island with Limassol district housing a number of enormously reputable wineries that call the district their home. Limassol therefore, is the perfect place to exhibit the affluent history surrounding wine production and this vibrant seaside city is home to one of the most significant and historic festivals dedicated to the magnificent grape produce since 1961: Limassol’s Wine Festival.  

The Limassol Wine Festival takes place every year and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, and although busy at times, the occasion is not one to be missed.  Then again, what more exciting than to celebrate hundreds of years of wine-making? All the fun comes about in the Limassol Municipal Gardens.  Once there, you can try a variety of local wines while enjoying mouthwatering traditional Cypriot food and delights with traditional music, dancing, singing and of course the traditional treading of the grapes.

Four of the city’s major wineries of the city – Etko, Keo, Loel and Sodap – as well as dozens of other smaller wineries will participate. This year the festival will take place from the 31st August till the 10th of September from 7pm-11pm and 7pm-11:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The entrance fee for people over 18 is €5, with a 20% discount on one bottle of wine from the four major wineries. Entrance for those aged 6 to 18 years is €3, and admission is free for children under the age of six. Parents with three or more children can enter for free on a day of their choice while free air-conditioned buses are available from Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa. Pre-booking is required. See you at the wine festival!