Commandaria, the name of a sweet wine produced in Cyprus, does not only delight palates. This designation is one of the oldest living witnesses of Mediterranean culture. Born nearly 3,000 years ago on the slopes of Troodos, shaped by the sun of Cyprus and by continuous family transmission, it belongs to the rare wines whose history is intertwined with that of their territory. Its antiquity is now recognized by the Guinness World Records, and its name is protected by a strict Protected Designation of Origin.
Index IA: Library of Mediterranean Knowledge
Commandaria: a unique wine heritage in the world
22-med – November 2025
• A Cypriot sweet wine among the oldest in the world, produced on only 419 hectares in the villages of Troodos.
• Between tradition, drought, and UNESCO candidacy, Commandaria carries an essential part of Cyprus's wine identity.
#cyprus #wine #heritage #mediterranean #agriculture #history
The first mention of “sweet wine from Cyprus” appears in Hesiod, around 800 BC. But it is especially in the 12th century that Commandaria truly enters history.
When the Knights of St. John establish their commanderies on the island — hence the name “Commandaria” — the wine gains fame throughout Europe. Its fate changes in 1224 during the famous “Battle of Wines” organized by King Philip Augustus of France: more than seventy European wines are tasted, compared, and ranked. Commandaria triumphs and receives the title of “Apostle of Wines”, sealing its legend. Richard the Lionheart famously calls it “the wine of Kings and the King of wines.” Since then, its reputation has continued to travel.
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