Thriving Cypriot Wine Industry Captures Domestic Market
In a recent meeting of the House commerce committee, it was revealed that Cypriot wines are flourishing, representing over half of the domestic wine market. The agriculture ministry’s George Neophytou shared that 55 percent of wines in Cyprus are domestically produced, with imports filling the rest of the market. This strong local presence offers Cypriot wineries a significant advantage to further promote Cypriot wine within the country.
Neophytou highlighted the robust nature of the Cypriot wine industry, noting the existence of approximately 130 wine producers and 80 wine producing units on the island. With an average annual production of around 9 million litres of wine against a consumption of 16 million litres, there is ample opportunity for growth. The island boasts 70,000 decares of vineyards, cultivating 40 grape varieties. Notably, three varieties—xynisteri, mavro, and sultana—account for 70 percent of the vineyard plantings.
Cyprus takes pride in its nine indigenous grape varieties, which include xynisteri and mavro, among others. These native grapes are essential in defining the unique character of Cypriot wines. Despite having five Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines that add prestige to the offerings, Neophytou believes that winemakers have yet to fully capitalize on this advantage.
The commerce ministry, represented by Andreas Karamanis, has been actively working on promoting Cypriot wine internationally for the past three years. Efforts include implementing a national action plan and developing a modern visual identity for Cypriot wine. The ministry also supports investments aimed at enhancing winery performance, market adaptation, and competitiveness. Since 2014, grants totaling €14.8 million have been approved for 45 wineries, including 13 new establishments.
Karamanis shared encouraging export figures, with Cypriot wine exports reaching €1.3 million in 2023—a 48 percent increase from 2020. Over the four-year period from 2020 to 2023, exports totaled €5.5 million. As a result of these concerted efforts, Cypriot wines are gaining international recognition and prestige in key markets such as the USA, UK, China, Israel, Estonia, Poland, and Greece.
