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Photos: Cyprus toasts harvest of the legendary ‘wine of gods’

Harvest of the 'wine of gods' is underway in Cyprus—one of Europe’s oldest wine making regions. Each September the fields are filled with hues of red, purple and gold as 14 villagers authorized to produce the legendary Commandaria wine begin their production process. Locals say that the wine may once have been enjoyed by England's Richard the Lionheart who used Cyprus as a staging post during the Crusades. It stems from the "commandaria" of the Knights of St John and the Knights Templar, who were tasked with creating an income for monks and began selling wine.

Updated on: Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM IST

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Cypriot Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white) grapes being sun-dried in a field at the Karseras Winery in the village of Doros, in the Troodos mountains in Cyprus. Considered as one of Europe’s oldest wine-making regions, the fields are blushed with deep red, purple and gold as the harvest of the “wine of gods” gets underway in Cyprus. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Cypriot Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white) grapes being sun-dried in a field at the Karseras Winery in the village of Doros, in the Troodos mountains in Cyprus. Considered as one of Europe’s oldest wine-making regions, the fields are blushed with deep red, purple and gold as the harvest of the “wine of gods” gets underway in Cyprus. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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A view of vineyards in the village of Monagri. Only 14 villages are authorised to produce Commandaria each September -- a wine which may once have been enjoyed by England’s Richard the Lionheart who used Cyprus as a staging post during the Crusades. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

A view of vineyards in the village of Monagri. Only 14 villages are authorised to produce Commandaria each September -- a wine which may once have been enjoyed by England’s Richard the Lionheart who used Cyprus as a staging post during the Crusades. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Filippos Karseras, co-founder of the Karseras Winery, poses next to barrels of traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine in the village of Doros. “My heart is beating at every moment because there is a high risk,” Karseras said. Although many young Cypriots are leaving their villages to find work elsewhere, 33-year-old Karseras is committed to continuing the tradition which lies “in our DNA.” (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Filippos Karseras, co-founder of the Karseras Winery, poses next to barrels of traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine in the village of Doros. “My heart is beating at every moment because there is a high risk,” Karseras said. Although many young Cypriots are leaving their villages to find work elsewhere, 33-year-old Karseras is committed to continuing the tradition which lies “in our DNA.” (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Indian workers harvest vines for traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine production. Anxiously, Karseras and his father, Panayotis, scour the blue skies daily, hoping for strong sun to dry thousands of bunches of grapes neatly laid out in straight lines in their fields in Doros village, where they produce the sweet Commandaria wine. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Indian workers harvest vines for traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine production. Anxiously, Karseras and his father, Panayotis, scour the blue skies daily, hoping for strong sun to dry thousands of bunches of grapes neatly laid out in straight lines in their fields in Doros village, where they produce the sweet Commandaria wine. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Red Mavro and white Xynisteri grapes are left to dry for 10 days, and any rain would mean the “destruction” of the harvest, Karseras said, surveying his fields also surrounded by olive, fig and almond trees. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Red Mavro and white Xynisteri grapes are left to dry for 10 days, and any rain would mean the “destruction” of the harvest, Karseras said, surveying his fields also surrounded by olive, fig and almond trees. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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An Indian worker holds up a vine of white grapes while harvesting a field in Monagri village. Given the island’s arid climate, Commandaria production can vary hugely depending on the rainfall. In 2014, Cyprus produced 1,971 hectolitres of the sweet wine, compared to 3,339 hectolitres last year, according to figures from the agriculture ministry. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

An Indian worker holds up a vine of white grapes while harvesting a field in Monagri village. Given the island’s arid climate, Commandaria production can vary hugely depending on the rainfall. In 2014, Cyprus produced 1,971 hectolitres of the sweet wine, compared to 3,339 hectolitres last year, according to figures from the agriculture ministry. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Workers empty crates of freshly picked vines into a pressing machine at the Karseras Winery. The finished product will most likely be sipped by Russians, who are “huge fans of Commandaria,” Karseras said. Russians account for around 75% of his sales, an indication of the close ties between the two countries as much as the buyers’ sweet tooth. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Workers empty crates of freshly picked vines into a pressing machine at the Karseras Winery. The finished product will most likely be sipped by Russians, who are “huge fans of Commandaria,” Karseras said. Russians account for around 75% of his sales, an indication of the close ties between the two countries as much as the buyers’ sweet tooth. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Grapes are seen stored in a plastic barrel, ahead of their use for other products, at a winery. The wine’s name has its origins in two military monastic orders which settled in Cyprus in the Middle Ages. “It stems from the ‘commandaria’ of the Knights of St. John and the Knights Templar, who were tasked with creating an income for the monks and began selling wine,” said guide Alexei Golovanov. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Grapes are seen stored in a plastic barrel, ahead of their use for other products, at a winery. The wine’s name has its origins in two military monastic orders which settled in Cyprus in the Middle Ages. “It stems from the ‘commandaria’ of the Knights of St. John and the Knights Templar, who were tasked with creating an income for the monks and began selling wine,” said guide Alexei Golovanov. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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Panayiotis Karseras, founder of the Karseras Winery, poses with a glass of traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine in Doros village. For the island’s agriculture ministry, Commandaria is “the wine of gods and kings,” recalling how it was once called “Nama” or nectar. (Amir Makar / AFP)

Updated on Sep 23, 2018 9:34 PM

Panayiotis Karseras, founder of the Karseras Winery, poses with a glass of traditional Cypriot Commandaria wine in Doros village. For the island’s agriculture ministry, Commandaria is “the wine of gods and kings,” recalling how it was once called “Nama” or nectar. (Amir Makar / AFP)

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