The island of Cyprus (Greek: Κύπρος Kypros, Turkish: Kıbrıs) in the eastern Mediterranean covers 9,251 square kilometres. It is only around 70 kilometres from the south coast of Turkey, just under 400 kilometres from the east coast of the Greek island of Rhodes and over 800 kilometres from mainland Greece. Although Cyprus belongs geographically to Asia, it is usually categorised politically and culturally as part of Europe. The island was under British rule from 1878 to 1960. It was not until 1925 that it was officially declared a British Crown Colony and thus also legally part of Great Britain (United Kingdom).
It became independent in 1960 and was absorbed into the Republic of Cyprus. Since 1974, a part of the island (3,355 km²) in the north of the Republic of Cyprus has been militarily occupied by the Turkish Republic in violation of international law. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus propagated in this area is only recognised by Turkey. The description regarding viticulture refers to the unoccupied part of 5,384 km² with the capital Nicosia. It still includes the two British military bases Akrotiri and Dhekelia (255 km²). These are a remnant of the colonial era and are under British control.
History
Viticulture dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. According to mythology, the Greek god of wine Dionysus favoured wines from the island for his drinking parties. The foam-born Aphrodite emerged from the sea at the "Roman Rock" and came ashore on the Akamas peninsula. The Phoenicians and Greeks established the tradition of sweet wines in ancient times. This is evidenced by floor mosaics with wine motifs in the harbour town of Paphos on the south-west coast.
After the Third Crusade, the island came into the possession of the Order of St John in 1191, later the Order of the Knights Templar and from 1312, after their dissolution, the Order of St John again. The Order managed so-called Kommenden (estates with vineyards). Their headquarters was the still existing Kolossi Castle, known as the "Grand Commandery", which gave its name to the famous wine-growing region and the legendary sweet wine Commandaria. At that time, this coveted wine was supplied to many European ruling houses. From 1489 to 1571, Cyprus belonged to the Republic of Venice. Ottoman rule from 1571 to 1878 and the associated ban on alcohol caused a total decline in wine culture.
Viticulture in modern times
Under British rule from 1878 to 1960, there was a boom in viticulture. Commandaria and similar wines formerly known as "Cyprus sherry" developed into export favourites. From the early 1990s, Cypriot viticulture was reinvented, so to speak, by young, well-educated descendants of long-established families and a few investors. This new generation broke...
