Κουμανδαρία (Koumandaria)

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Vineyards at 400–900 m altitude, with volcanic, stony soils to the east (an extension of the Troodos massif) and limestone soils to the west.
• Western slopes: poor, arid, limestone soils with gradients of 10°–30° at elevations of 400–700 m.
• Steeply sloping terrain is shaped into terraces to accommodate vineyard establishment.
• μεσογειακό κλίμα: hot, dry summers and mild to cool winters, with a mean annual rainfall of 650 mm.
• Mean daily sunshine of 8.4 hours; rainfall concentrated primarily from December to March (1991–2005).

• The appellation takes its name from the 'Grand Commandery' of the Crusader Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
• The sun-drying technique dates back to Hesiod (10th century BC): ten days in the sun, five in the shade, eight in vessels.

• Produced from sun-dried (semi-raisined) grapes — internationally recognised as a style known as 'Straw Wine'.
• A sweet dessert wine made from the indigenous varieties Xynisteri and Mavro.

• The volcanic, stony, and limestone soils at 400–900 m altitude are directly linked to the organoleptic character of Commandaria.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• National product specification (PDF) — moa-cy
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-CY-A1622