On the Road with the Grape Guy
Cyprus Trip 2024 – the winery visits (part 1)
27 Mar 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Cyprus wine comes to life … I have written a little and talked a lot more about Cyprus wines in the last year (facebook / instagram – podcast 1 – podcast 2 – video review – with more on the way). Now, it’s time to look at some of these wines and see where Cyprus is going and the wines you should be excited about tasting – whenever and wherever possible. 
Back in February 2024, I got a chance to visit Cyprus. What an eye-opening experience that was. I got a chance to taste some amazing wines and learn all about the history and culture of this island. What I thought I knew, I didn’t – and what I didn’t know, a lot, I learned. One thing is for certain – if ever I get a chance to go, again, or taste, Cypriot wines – I will definitely do it – and I recommend you do the same.
Upon my return home … I recorded a few video wine reviews (the one linked above was recorded in Cyprus); and I would like to send out a big thank you to the Kolonaki Group, who facilitated getting these wines into Canada for me; because a winery can’t just send wine into Ontario to a consumer or reviewer (don’t get me started) … check out Kolonaki’s list of Cypriot wines (search Cyprus).
And below, you can check out mine … from the wineries I visited:
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DAY ONE 
(Top Wines from Visited Wineries)
Dafermou 2021 Selection - Yiannoudi
Grapes taken from high altitude vineyards (1100m). The wine spends 12 months in 300L French oak and is also fermented in wood. Soft and elegant, pretty, every with nice dark fruit character, subtly-smoky, cassis and black cherry with backing notes of vanilla and graphite. (****)
Dafermou 2020 Selection - Yiannoudi
This is a bit of an aged Yiannoudi, giving it cherry, vanilla, softened tannins and a nice finish. Looking forward to other wines from this grape. (****)
Dafermou 2023 Selection - Assyrtiko
Nice mouth feel with moments of saltiness and a rich texture in the mouth; lemon zest helps contribute to the lengthy finish. (*** ½+)
Dafermou 2022 Selection Red
(Syrah 70% / Malbec 30%)
Smoky and soft with an easiness about it. Pepper and dark fruit mix it up while keeping everything interesting and together. (*** ½+)
Dafermou 2023 Selection White
(Xynisteri 70% / Sauv Blanc 30%)
Nice Sauvignon Blanc notes adds acidity to the grape known for not having any (Xynisteri), the name literally means "low/without acidity", but there's also a mineral character and soft finish. Proves that the blend is better than the sum of its parts. (*** ½)
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Zambartas 2021 Margelina - Single Vineyard
(Field Blend - 80% Mavro / Xynesteri (w) / Kanella (w) / Marathetiko / Yianoudi / Ofthalmo)
Bright with good acidity and plenty of cherry notes. Light in both colour and body. Very fresh. Good display of tannins. (****)
Zambartas 2022 Maratheftiko
Name of this grape means "trickster" and it resides in (maybe) 2-3% of vineyards: Big, ripe cherry, smoky-vanilla, and even has developed some heft; yet comes across fresh. Another grape I want to see more from. (****)
Zambartas 2022 Promara
There's a softness and juiciness to this wine, the acidity seems quite pleasant - not too harsh. It is a grape/wine that requires some doctoring in the acid department; usually needing up to .5 to 1.0 g; in addition to what it creates naturally. It is a rarely made wine on its own. (*** ½)
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DAY THREE
(A lean day for wines)
Vlassides 2019 Eddial - sparkling
(Chardonnay 60% / Sauvignon Blanc 40%)
Traditional method sparkling spends 34/36 months on less. Hints of creaminess, with green apple crispness. Has 6.5g/L - on the cusp of extra brut. (*** ½)
Vlassides 2023 Grifos 2
(Xynisteri 85% / Sauvignon Blanc 15%)
Fresh, clean and pleasant with decent acidity; grassy with citrus notes. (*** ½)
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Argyrides 2018 Maratheftiko
Soft, and dare I say, sexy. Fresh with lovely dark fruit, black cherry, subtle smoke, good acidity, and gentle tannins. (****+)
Argyrides 2023 Viognier
This wine was bottled 6 days ago and can only get better. Spends time in stainless and on lees 3 months: pleasantly aromatic, with tropical notes and nice texture. (*** ½+)
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DAY FIVE
(Single winery visit today)
Marathasa 2021 Amarantos (eternal flower)
(Yiannoudi)
Spends 12 months in mature barrels developing floral and spicy notes; lovely dark fruit, good acidity, and on the finish tannins kick in with some real bite. (****+)
Marathasa 2021 Marathos (white fennel)
(Syrah)
Syrah that grows at 1080m in a single vineyard, and spends 12 months in oak (20% American - 20/80 new-to-used ratio): spicy and peppery with a touch of oak on the palate and lots of dark berries. (****)
Marathasa 2023 Rosé
(Primitivo 60 / Syrah 40)
3 different soil types – floral and cherry, there's even a little bitter note; plus some grit on the finish which helps to balance this wine nicely. (*** ½+)
Marathasa 2022 Anelikou 
(Sauvignon Blanc)
Single vineyard Savvy B that grows in a theatre shaped vineyard at 1000-1140m - the resulting wine is fresh, soft and aromatic. (*** ½+)
Marathasa 2022 Athassi (means almond)
(Xynesteri)
Grapes come from 3 plots: 2 south / 1 east facing: it's floral, peach and mineral in character; acidity drops a little, but it is good wine for sitting and sipping on a sunny afternoon. (*** ½)
Marathasa 2023 Moschofilero
A rare grape for the island - aromatically it's floral and another fine sipper. (*** ½)
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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ...
Lunchtime with a bottle of Vlassides Shiraz
Drinking with the Mayor (still don't know what was in that glass)
Walking the town ...
Breakfast companion - nice start to the day.
