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Discover / Wine & Villages
Roots Run
Deep Here
Eight thousand years of winemaking. Mountain villages where time moves differently. A countryside that rewards those who leave the coast behind.
The Terroir
Eight Thousand Years
of Winemaking
The grape was first cultivated in the Black Sea region eight thousand years ago. Settlers brought vines to Cyprus four millennia later, and by 2300 BC the island was already trading wine across the ancient world. The Erimi excavation, led by Dr. Porphyrios Dikaios between 1932 and 1935, unearthed wine vessels that confirmed it. And then there is Commandaria — the oldest named wine in the world, produced continuously since 800 BC, praised by Richard the Lionheart in 1191 as "the wine of kings and the king of wines."
01 — The Wineries
Fifteen Wineries, Ancient Grapes
The Paphos region holds fifteen wineries working with indigenous grape varieties that exist nowhere else. Xynisteri for crisp whites. Maratheftiko for structured reds. Mavro for the wines your grandmother remembers. Commandaria, made from sun-dried grapes in the same way since 800 BC. The wine villages — Kathikas, Pano Panayia, Chrysorrogiatissa, Vouni, Kilani, Omodos — sit between 500 and 1,200 metres altitude, where cool nights preserve the acidity that gives these wines their character.
02 — Mountain Village
Kritou Terra
At 570 metres altitude, 29 kilometres from Pafos, enclosed by three mountains with views stretching to the Gulf of Morphou. The Kefalovryso spring, built in 1908 with six carved stone faucets, still runs. From 1880, the village held the only casino in Cyprus. Archbishop Damaskinos resided here in 1821. The Church of Agia Aikaterini dates to the 15th century. Today the village hosts an Environmental Studies Centre — quiet proof that these mountains still have things to teach.
03 — Living Traditions
Steni, Kissonerga & Beyond
Steni wears its "Colourful Village" label with quiet pride — sustainability principles woven into traditional architecture, colour into stone. Kissonerga earned "Green Community of Cyprus" in 2023, winning in two categories. Across the hills, agrotourism lodgings occupy restored traditional stone houses with modern comforts — rustic decor, authentically Cypriot, offering the flavour of a traditional way of life that never entirely disappeared.
The Villages
Four Villages Worth
the Drive
Kritou Terra
Enclosed by three mountains, with views to the Gulf of Morphou. The Kefalovryso spring, built in 1908, still pours from six carved stone faucets. The Church of Agia Aikaterini dates to the 15th century. A village that collects history the way valleys collect rain.
Kathikas
One of the central wine villages of the Paphos region. Tavernas line the square. Cellar doors open to visitors without appointment. The kind of place where a quick stop becomes an afternoon, and nobody minds.
Steni
Sustainability principles woven into traditional architecture. Colour painted into stone walls. A village that decided preservation and progress could share the same street.
Phyti
A traditional weaving village where the craft still lives. Handwoven textiles produced in the same patterns passed through generations. The looms are slower than machines — that is the point.
The Gastronomy
The Tastes
Every village has a table set. The food here is not cuisine — it is memory, geography, and stubbornness served on a plate.
Commandaria
Since 800 BCThe oldest named wine in the world. Sun-dried grapes, amber sweetness, centuries of patience. Richard the Lionheart tasted it in 1191 and called it "the wine of kings and the king of wines." The recipe has not changed because it did not need to.
Maratheftiko
Indigenous redAn indigenous grape variety unique to Cyprus, producing structured reds with depth and character. Twelve wineries now celebrate together on Maratheftiko Day — a collective effort to honour a vine that almost disappeared.
Halloumi
Traditional cheeseHandmade from a mix of goat and sheep milk. In the villages, halloumi-making is a morning ritual — the squeak of fresh cheese a sound as familiar as birdsong.
Loukoumi
Cyprus delightFrom Geroskipou, the village whose name means "sacred garden." Rose and pistachio, dusted in powdered sugar. Cyprus delight — not Turkish, the locals will remind you politely but firmly.
The Calendar
Wine Country by Season
Spring
Vine flowering season
Vines push out their first leaves. Wildflower carpets stretch between the rows. The countryside is green in a way it won't be again until next year.
Vineyard walks, wildflowers, village festivals
Summer
Long village evenings
Long evenings on village terraces. Taverna tables set under plane trees. The heat makes the wine taste colder and the shade feel more generous.
Terrace dining, cellar door visits
Autumn
Grape harvest
The grape harvest runs September through October. Maratheftiko Day brings twelve wineries together. The air smells of crushed fruit and woodsmoke.
Harvest festivals, Maratheftiko Day, wine tours
Winter
Fireside taverna season
Fireside taverna meals. Olive pressing season fills the villages with the scent of fresh oil. The countryside belongs to the locals again — and they are glad of the company.
Taverna culture, olive pressing, Commandaria
The Concierge Plans Your Route
Winery reservations, village routes, tastings, transport — our team arranges everything so you can simply follow the road into the hills.
Arrange a Wine Tour