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Commandaria is the oldest "appelation d'origine" wine in the world. The Cypriot Nama drunk by Gods and mortals ever since Aphrodite's time was tasted by the Crusaders in the 12th Century. |
| The King of France
crowned it the "Apostle of Wines" in 1223 after wine testing
more than 100 wines from all over the world. This wine soon became
famous all over Europe as "Commandaria" from the name of the
area where it was produced. The Templars built the Kolossi castle
and in 1210 the Knights of the Order of St. John came to Cyprus taking an
estate near by establishing their chief headquarters known as the
"Grande Commanderie". The lands controlled by the Templars
and the Knights of St. John were the richest of the Island, yielding sugar
cane, cotton and grapes, which were used by the people to produce the rich
sweet wine which was distinctive to Cyprus. In 1307 the Knights of
St. John became masters of the whole area around Kolossi, and the wine
became "Vin de la Commanderie".
Ever since the name of the area has been associated with this wine, and even in its method of production has been maintained to the present day. Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that, today, the medthod of making Commandaria is very similar to the one mentioned by Hesiod 2000 years before the Crusaders. "The celebrated Greek poet, writing soon after Homer's time in "Works and Days" describes to his brother Perses how a special sweet wine is made..." |
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 At "Seagull Restaurant"
you will find large variety
of local wines, new and old as we try to keep the "Cypriot Traditional Wine
Making " alive.
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