Cyprus has one of the oldest wine-making traditions in the world — and much of that story is written in its grapes. While international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are grown everywhere, Cyprus is home to a handful of indigenous varieties found nowhere else on earth. These native grapes are the soul of authentic Cypriot wine.

At Christoudia Winery in Kato Drys, near Lefkara, we have cultivated these indigenous varieties for over three decades — not because it is easy, but because we believe that the most honest expression of Cypriot wine comes from the grapes that belong to this land.

What Are Indigenous Cypriot Grape Varieties?

Indigenous grape varieties are those that evolved naturally in a specific region over centuries, shaped by the local soil, climate and topography. Cyprus has an unusually rich collection of native varieties, many of which have been grown on the island since antiquity. They are genetically distinct from varieties found elsewhere in the Mediterranean world.

The most important indigenous Cypriot varieties are Maratheftiko, Xynisteri, Mavro, and Spourtiko. Each one produces wine with a character that is impossible to replicate anywhere else.

Maratheftiko — The Star of Cypriot Red Wine

Maratheftiko is widely considered the finest indigenous red grape in Cyprus. It produces wines with deep, inky colour, generous tannins and complex dark fruit — plum, black cherry and a hint of spice. The variety is notoriously difficult to grow: its flowers are functionally female, meaning it cannot self-pollinate and must always be planted alongside other varieties to bear fruit.

That challenge makes Maratheftiko rare and precious. In skilled hands, it produces red wines of exceptional depth and ageing potential — wines that can hold their own against the best reds of Greece or southern Italy.

At Christoudia Winery we grow Maratheftiko in the vineyards of Kato Drys, where the altitude and cool mountain air give the grapes an extra dimension of freshness and complexity. We produce both a pure Maratheftiko red and a Rosé Maratheftiko — a light pomegranate-hued rosé unique to this variety.

Xynisteri — Cyprus’s Native White Grape

Xynisteri is the most widely planted white grape variety in Cyprus and the backbone of the island’s white wine tradition. Its name translates roughly as “sour” — a nod to its naturally high acidity, which gives wines made from it a bright, refreshing finish.

Xynisteri wines are typically light, floral and crisp, with aromas of citrus blossom, green apple and herbs. At higher altitudes they develop more complexity and length. Xynisteri is also one of the two traditional grapes used to make Commandaria, Cyprus’s legendary sweet wine.

Spourtiko — The Rare Revival

Spourtiko is among the rarest indigenous Cypriot white grape varieties — nearly extinct just a generation ago, it is now being carefully revived by a handful of dedicated producers. The variety produces wines with a distinctly mineral, slightly saline character that reflects the limestone soils of the Cypriot highlands.

At Christoudia Winery we are proud to grow and vinify Spourtiko, helping to preserve this living piece of Cypriot wine heritage. Each bottle is a small act of cultural conservation — a variety saved from disappearance and returned to the table.

Mavro — The Ancient Workhorse

Mavro (meaning “black” in Greek) is the most widely planted red grape in Cyprus and one of the oldest cultivated varieties in the Mediterranean. On its own it produces medium-bodied, fruit-forward reds with soft tannins. It is also one of the two grapes traditionally used in Commandaria production, where it is dried in the sun to concentrate its sugars before fermentation.

Commandaria — The World’s Oldest Named Wine

No discussion of indigenous Cypriot wine is complete without Commandaria, the ancient amber sweet wine made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. References to a sweet wine from Cyprus date back to 800 BC, and Commandaria as a named wine has been documented since the Crusades — making it the oldest named wine in continuous production in the world.

Our Megas Drys Commandaria is crafted in the traditional style, with rich notes of dried fig, caramel and orange zest. It is a wine with deep roots in the soil of Kato Drys and the wider Larnaca wine region.

Why Indigenous Varieties Matter

As global warming raises temperatures in wine regions worldwide, indigenous varieties adapted to hot, dry climates are increasingly valuable. Maratheftiko and Xynisteri have evolved over millennia to thrive in the Cypriot summer heat — they are naturally resilient in ways that imported varieties are not.

Beyond resilience, indigenous varieties offer something no international clone can: a genuine sense of place. A wine made from Maratheftiko grown in the Larnaca mountains tastes like nowhere else on earth. That is what makes Cypriot wine worth seeking out.

Taste Indigenous Cypriot Wine at Christoudia Winery

The best way to understand these varieties is to taste them in the place where they were grown. Christoudia Winery in Kato Drys, just minutes from Lefkara, offers guided wine tastings where you can explore our full range of indigenous wines alongside the stories of the grapes behind each bottle.

We are open daily and welcome visitors year-round. Book a wine tasting or explore our wines in the online shop.