Summarise this page 6 key points · 1 minute
- Which Cypriot grapes should you know?Maratheftiko and Yiannoudi are the reds most wine lovers will want to try.
- Which Cypriot wines go with each Christmas dish?Cyprus Mail's wine column has published Christmas pairings for Cypriot wines two years running (December 2024 and December 2025).
- What is Commandaria, and how do you serve it?It is made only from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes, picked late and dried in the sun, from non-irrigated vineyards in 14 villages in the hills north of Limassol, between about 400 and 900 metres.
- Where can you buy Cypriot wine in Cyprus?You must be 18 to buy alcohol in Cyprus.
- Are there wine events before Christmas?Cyprus Wine Expo Oenognosia 2026 is listed for Sunday 6 December 2026, 12:00–20:00, at the Pavilion Hall in Lakatamia, Nicosia, with tickets at €12 early bird or €15 including a glass.
- Taking Cypriot wine home as a giftIf you or your guests are flying to Great Britain, GOV.UK's personal allowances are 18 litres of still or sparkling wine, 42 litres of beer or cider, and either 4 litres of spirits over 22% or 9 litres of drinks up to 22%…
Quick answer
For a Cypriot Christmas table, serve a crisp Xynisteri or Promara white with starters and fish, a Yiannoudi or Maratheftiko red with turkey, lamb or pork, a Mavro-based rosé with ham, and finish with a glass of Commandaria, the island's sweet wine from sun-dried Mavro and Xynisteri grapes, with melomakarona or Christmas cake. Most bottles cost €10 to €25 in Cypriot wine shops; buy from shops such as Punin Wine in Limassol (island-wide delivery), from winery cellar doors or, for visitors flying home, at Cyprus Duty Free in Larnaca and Paphos airports.
- Commandaria is made only from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes, dried in the sun, in 14 villages in the Limassol hills, and is matured for at least two years.
- KEO's St John Commandaria Luxury 1984 won Grand Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025; a 50 cl bottle was €86 at Punin Wine (checked 19 October 2026).
- Cyprus makes traditional-method sparkling wine: Vlassides' EDDIAL Blanc de Noirs, from Maratheftiko, won Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026.
- The Cyprus Wine Expo Oenognosia 2026 is listed for Sunday 6 December 2026 at the Pavilion Hall in Lakatamia, Nicosia.
- Visitors flying to Great Britain can bring 18 litres of wine, plus 9 litres of drinks up to 22% such as fortified wine, without paying UK duty.
The safest Cypriot wines for a Christmas table are a fresh Xynisteri or Promara white to start, a Yiannoudi or Maratheftiko red for turkey, lamb and pork, and a small glass of Commandaria with the sweets. Most good bottles cost €10 to €25, and you can buy them from wine shops, winery cellar doors or online with delivery anywhere on the island.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Prices are the ones shops and the Cyprus Mail wine column published on the dates shown; check the current price before you buy.
Which Cypriot grapes should you know?
Cyprus grows international grapes, but its own varieties are what make a Christmas table feel local and what your guests will not find at home:
| Grape | Style | What to serve it with |
|---|---|---|
| Xynisteri | The island's main white grape: fresh, citrusy, light | Meze, fish, salads, halloumi |
| Promara | A rediscovered white with thick skins and more body | Seafood, salmon, pork and chicken |
| Spourtiko | A light white whose name means "bursting" | Aperitif, starters |
| Mavro | The main red grape, also used for rosé | Rosé with ham; light reds with pork |
| Maratheftiko | Deep red with soft tannins and coffee and cocoa notes | Lamb, souvla, roast pork |
| Yiannoudi | A rediscovered red with red fruit, floral and sweet-spice notes and ageing potential | Turkey, roast lamb, stews and aged cheese |
Maratheftiko and Yiannoudi are the reds most wine lovers will want to try. Yiannoudi even has its own day: International Giannoudi Day, on 1 March, was declared in 2025.
Which Cypriot wines go with each Christmas dish?
Cyprus Mail's wine column has published Christmas pairings for Cypriot wines two years running (December 2024 and December 2025). The suggestions below come from those pairings and from the wineries' own notes, with the prices shown at the time:
Turkey and ham
- Vlassides Oraman (Yiannoudi and Syrah), suggested with roast turkey; €15 in December 2024. Its 2022 vintage won Silver at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026.
- Vouni Panayia Plakota, suggested with roast turkey; about €10 in February 2025. The Paphos-hills winery has no website; call 26 722770.
- Tethys "Ma Ma" rosé (Mavro and Maratheftiko), suggested with Christmas ham; €14 in December 2024.
Lamb, pork and souvla
- Zambartas Maratheftiko 2023, with baked lamb with feta and oregano; €13.75 in December 2025.
- Kyperinos Maratheftiko 2021, with lamb souvla; €17.
- Ktima Gerolemo Yerambellos 2021, with lamb chops; €12.
- Vouni Panayia Giannoudi, with roast lamb, stews and kefalotyri cheese; €25 in February 2025.
A special bottle for Christmas Day
- Vlassides Artion 2020, suggested with duck magret, ceps and chestnuts; €25 in December 2025. It won Grand Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026.
- Kyperounda Skopos Shiraz 2023, for steak or a mushroom risotto; €14.50.
Starters and fish
- Kyperounda Petritis, the high-altitude Xynisteri aged on its lees in oak, with stone-fruit and citrus notes.
- Vouni Panayia Promara, suggested with salmon carpaccio and white fish.
- Kamanterena Project X Xynisteri (€15) and Kolios Iris Spourtiko (€12) were both medallists at the 16th Cyprus Wine Competition in 2026, where 145 wines from 30 wineries were judged.
Bubbles for New Year's Eve
Cyprus makes real sparkling wine. Vlassides EDDIAL Blanc de Noirs 2021 is a traditional-method Extra Brut made from 100% Maratheftiko and aged at least 30 months on its lees; it won Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026. For something more casual, Tsiakkas in Pelendri makes The Vagabond, a sparkling Mavro pet-nat (€13.50 in June 2025).
What is Commandaria, and how do you serve it?
Commandaria is the island's famous sweet wine and the perfect end to a Christmas meal:
- It is made only from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes, picked late and dried in the sun, from non-irrigated vineyards in 14 villages in the hills north of Limassol, between about 400 and 900 metres.
- By law it is matured for at least two years, typically in oak. It has been protected in the EU since 2006.
- Its name comes from the Grande Commanderie of the Knights of St John at Kolossi. The Commandaria Wine Route runs through the villages.
How to serve it: chilled, in small glasses. Kyperounda recommends serving its Commandaria, aged in 225-litre oak barrels, at 6–8°C with light desserts and dried fruit, which makes it a natural partner for melomakarona, kourabiedes, Christmas cake and a bowl of nuts. KEO suggests its St John Commandaria as an aperitif, after dinner or in long drinks.
Bottles to look for:
- KEO St John Commandaria, the classic and easiest to find. A 500 ml bottle was €20 at the Limassol shop Thewinelist.cy on Wolt (checked 19 October 2026).
- KEO St John Commandaria Luxury 1984, which won Grand Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025; a 50 cl bottle was €86 at Punin Wine (checked 19 October 2026). A memorable gift.
- Kyperounda Commandaria from the Pitsilia mountain winery.
Zivania, the island's grape spirit, is the other local drink to offer with coffee; see our Zivania guide.
Where can you buy Cypriot wine in Cyprus?
| Where | What to know |
|---|---|
| Punin Wine, Georgiou A' 67, Germasogeia (Limassol) | Open daily; Limassol delivery from 15 minutes; island-wide delivery in 1–3 working days, free over €50 (otherwise €5); international shipping quoted on request |
| Winery cellar doors | Buy direct at Vlassides (Kilani), Tsiakkas (Pelendri), Kyperounda and others; call ahead in winter. Our 10 best wineries guide has details |
| Cyprus Wine Museum, Erimi | Tastings for €15 including Commandaria and a Zivania trio; good for choosing before you buy |
| Cavaway, Larnaca and Limassol | Wine shop on Wolt; Cyprus Mail named it as a stockist of Kalamos, Gerolemo and Kyperinos in December 2025 |
| Cyprus Duty Free, Larnaca and Paphos airports | Handy for visitors; it added an aged Zivania as an exclusive in February 2026 |
You must be 18 to buy alcohol in Cyprus.
Are there wine events before Christmas?
- Cyprus Wine Expo Oenognosia 2026 is listed for Sunday 6 December 2026, 12:00–20:00, at the Pavilion Hall in Lakatamia, Nicosia, with tickets at €12 early bird or €15 including a glass. We could not open the organiser's own site, so confirm before you go.
- Kathikas Christmas Wine Celebration: in 2025 the Paphos wine village held free tastings by Vasilikon, Sterna and SODAP on 26 and 27 December. The 2026 edition has not been announced yet (checked 19 October 2026).
Taking Cypriot wine home as a gift
If you or your guests are flying to Great Britain, GOV.UK's personal allowances are 18 litres of still or sparkling wine, 42 litres of beer or cider, and either 4 litres of spirits over 22% or 9 litres of drinks up to 22% (which includes fortified wine), or a split of the two. Go over one allowance and you pay duty on everything in that category. Northern Ireland has separate rules. Pack bottles in checked luggage with a wine sleeve. Cyprus Post does not list alcohol as prohibited, but the destination country's rules apply, so ask at the post office before posting wine.
What to do next
- Pick two or three local bottles early: small wineries make limited quantities.
- Plan a winery stop on a wine route during your festive outings.
- Get the rest of the table ready with our guide to Christmas shopping in Cyprus, and see what is on in Christmas in Cyprus.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best Cypriot wine to serve with Christmas turkey?
Medium-bodied reds with soft tannins work well. Cyprus Mail's wine column has suggested Vlassides Oraman (Yiannoudi and Syrah) and Vouni Panayia's Plakota with roast turkey, and Tethys 'Ma Ma' rosé with Christmas ham.
What is Commandaria?
Commandaria is a protected sweet wine made only from sun-dried Mavro and Xynisteri grapes grown in 14 villages in the hills north of Limassol. By law it is matured for at least two years, typically in oak, and it has been protected in the EU since 2006.
How do you serve Commandaria at Christmas?
Chilled, in small glasses, as an aperitif or with dessert. Kyperounda recommends serving its Commandaria at 6–8°C with light desserts and dried fruit, which makes it a natural match for melomakarona, Christmas cake and nuts.
Where can I buy Cypriot wine in Cyprus?
Wine shops such as Punin Wine in Germasogeia (Limassol), which delivers island-wide in one to three working days and free over €50, winery cellar doors, the bigger supermarkets and, for visitors flying home, Cyprus Duty Free at Larnaca and Paphos airports.
Is there Cypriot sparkling wine for New Year's Eve?
Yes. Vlassides makes EDDIAL, a traditional-method sparkling wine aged at least 30 months on its lees; the Blanc de Noirs from Maratheftiko won Gold in Brussels in 2026. Tsiakkas also makes The Vagabond, a sparkling Mavro pet-nat.
How much Cypriot wine can my guests take back to the UK?
Travellers arriving in Great Britain can bring 18 litres of still or sparkling wine and 9 litres of alcoholic drinks up to 22%, such as fortified wine, duty-free, plus 42 litres of beer. Northern Ireland has its own rules.
Useful links
- Punin Wine (Germasogeia, Limassol)Island-wide delivery in 1–3 working days, free over €50
- Vlassides Winery (Kilani)Artion, Oraman and EDDIAL sparkling
- KEO – wines and St John Commandaria
- Kyperounda WineryPetritis, Skopos and Commandaria
- Tsiakkas Winery (Pelendri)
- Cyprus Wine Museum (Erimi)Tastings with Commandaria and Zivania
- Visit Cyprus – Commandaria Wine Route
- GOV.UK – Bringing alcohol into Great Britain
Sources (17)
- UNESCO Cyprus – Commandaria and the wine traditions of the Commandaria villages (national inventory)
- Visit Cyprus (Deputy Ministry of Tourism) – Commandaria Wine Route
- Cyprus Mail – Dreaming of a red Christmas (11 December 2025)
- Cyprus Mail – Cyprus wine pairings for Christmas (23 December 2024)
- Cyprus Mail – Where Cyprus winemakers dare (3 February 2025)
- Cyprus Mail – Prize-winning Cyprus wines (9 July 2026)
- Cyprus Mail – Complete Cyprus wine experience (5 June 2025)
- Cyprus Mail – High altitude, new and aged (8 January 2026)
- Vlassides Winery – Four distinctions at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026 (25 July 2026)
- Concours Mondial de Bruxelles – St John Commandaria Luxury PDO 1984 (2025 results)
- Photiades Group – Kyperounda Commandaria
- JancisRobinson.com – Cyprus's vineyard treasure trove (May 2017)
- Cyprus Chamber of Commerce – Zivania, Protected Geographical Indication (18 January 2024)
- Business in Cyprus (gov.cy) – Alcoholic drinks trade
- GOV.UK – Bringing goods into Great Britain for personal use
- TRBusiness – Cyprus Duty Free champions Cypriot heritage with new exclusive spirits (10 February 2026)
- Cyprus Mail – Free wine for all at this village event (24 December 2025)
