Cyprus wine in the 21st c.

Cyprus enters strongly and optimistically into the wine landscape of the 21st century, with two important advantages: (a) the historic character of its vineyards, a long tradition of know-how and its vineyards which are immune to phylloxera (b) the uniqueness of its indigenous varieties with a great potential for growth. Several wines of Cyprus have their own identity and already stand up to foreign competition. In this context, Cyprus has the opportunity to showcase its own varieties: Maratheftiko, Opthalmo, Lefkada, Giannoudi, Morokanella and other varieties which may be unknown to many of us. The delicate Maratheftiko with its dynamic quality and the oenologically untamed Lefkada have already produced excellent wines in recent years. The white Xynisteri variety continues to be a stable both in cultivation and in winemaking, while the local red variety has been replaced by other varieties that are more recognised for their quality potential (Kythraiotou, 2010).