On April 25th, Cyprus Wine Sector hosted it's 2015 Annual Award ceremony celebrating Cyprus Wine appreciation and honoring efforts of Cyprus Winemakers in special remembrance of Akis Zambartas.
Celebrated at the Paticchion Museum in Limassol, the Cyprus Wine Awards marked a moment of reconciliation for the sector in an evening that culminates a Wine month full of activities. The ceremony which also closed 3 days of the 8th Cyprus wine competition, representing the official national quality evaluation for Cyprus Wine and led by the international panel of judges invited by the department of Agriculture.
The Cyprus Wine Awards seem to highlight a growing commitment from wineries to Commandaria, it also set a challenge to the judges which decided not to award bronze in favour of high number of wines qualifying for silver.
With a tally of a total of 3 grand golds, 16 golds and 24 silver medals awarded, the Commandaria Wines swept top awards, seemingly seducing the judging panel and confirming its good health among the 139 wines labels that participated in the 10 categories of the 8th Cyprus Wine competition.
The special distinction for vinification of top local varieties Xynisteri and Marathetiko went to Ezousa Winery, while for Commandaria, it was Keo 1984 Commandaria which captured the distinction.
The 2015 Cyprus Wine Competition Awards and Medals list goes as follow:
Grand Gold:
Commandaria Wine – St.John 1984 from Keo Winery
Commandaria Wine – Centurion 2000 from Etko Winery
Commandaria Wine – Alasia 2004 from Loel Winery
Categories with Gold Medals:
Commandaria Wines
Tsiakkas Commandaria 2008, Tsiakkas Winery
Kyperounda Commandaria 2005, Kyperounda Winery
Kalamos Commandaria 2009, Nicholas Ignatiou & Sons
St. John N.V Commandaria, Keo Winery
G.Athenodorou Commandaria 2007, G. Athenodorou & Sons
Saint Barnabas Commandaria 2005, Sodap Kamenterena Winery
St. Nicholas Commandaria 2010, Etko Winery
Gold awarded Red Dry Wines
Metharmi 2009, Ezousa Winery – Paphos Regional Wine
Vlasides Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Vlasides Winery – Limassol regional wine
Constantinou Shiraz 2012, C.G. Constantinou – Limassol Regional Wine
Kolios, Shiraz 2008, Kolios Winery, Paphos Regional Wine
Constantino, Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Erimoudes Winery, Limassol Regional Wine
Gold Awarded White dry Wines:
Ezousa Xynisteri 2014, Ezousa Winery, Pafos regional wine
Epos Chardonnay 2013, Kyperounda Winery, Limassol Regional Wine (gold)
The best sweet white wine:
Mosxatos 2012, Ayia Mavri, Limassol regional wine (gold)
The best semi-dry or semi-sweet wines:
Gerolemo Xynisteri 2014 White, G. Athenodorou & Sons (silver)
Persefoni Xynisteri 2014 White, Kolios Winery (silver)
The best Rosé wines:
Gerolemo Maratheftiko 2014 Rosé, G. Athenodorou & Sons (gold)
Eros Maratheftiko 2014 Rosé, Ezousa Winery (silver)
Kamanterena Lefkada 2014 Rosé, Sodap Kamanterena (silver)
The best White dry wines – Silver awarded wines
Ayioklima Xynisteri 2014, Constantinou Winery, Limassol regional wine
Tsiakkas Xynisteri, 2014, Tsiakkas Winery, Limassol regional wine
Vlasides multivarietal, 2014, Vlasides, Limassol regional wine
Petritis Xynisteri, 2013, Limassol regional wine
Gerolemo Xynisteri 2014, G. Athenodorou & Sons Paphos regional wine
Persefoni Xynisteri 2014 White, Kolios Winery Paphos regional wine
Melapsopodi Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Tsalapatis Winery, Paphos regional wine
Alina Xynisteri, 2014, Vouni Panayia Winery, Paphos regional wine
Epos Chardonnay 2014, Kyperounda Winery, Limassol regional wine
Kamanterena Xynisteri 2014, Sodap Kamanterena, Varietal Wine
The best Red dry wines – Silver awarded wines
Maratheftiko Varietal
Tsiakkas Vamvakada Maratheftiko 2012, Tsiakkas Winery, Limassol regional wine
Makkas Maratheftiko 2011, Makkas Winery – Paphos regional wine
Argyrides Maratheftiko 2012, Vasa Winery, Limassol regional wine
Barba Yiannis Maratheftiko 2012, Vouni Panayia, Paphos regional wine
Zambartas Maratheftiko 2013, Zambartas Winery, Limassol regional wine
Cabernet Sauvignon Varietal
Constantinou Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, C.G. Constantinou – Limassol Regional Wine
Kyperounda Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Kyperounda Winery, Limassol regional wine
Shiraz Varietal
Vardalis Shiraz 2013, Vardalis Winery, Limassol regional wine
Lefkada Varietal
Kamanterena Lefkada 2014, Sodap Kamanterena, Paphos
Multi Varietal
Epos Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2102, Kyperounda, Limassol Regional wine
Zambartas Shiraz-Lefkada 2010, Zambartas Winery, Limassol regional wine
Special Distinctions
Maratheftiko: Metharmi 2009, Ezousa Winery, Paphos regional wine
Xynisteri: Ezousa Xynisteri 2014, Ezousa Winery, Paphos regional wine
Commandaria: St.John 1984 from Keo Winery
Judging Commitee:
Alissa Gortsinskaja, Angeliki Tsioli, Denis Rudenko, Nikolas Varvarigos, Savvas Constantinou, Vasos Manoli and Maria Netsika (president)
All celebration of events and the ceremony were held in remembrance of winemaker Akis Zambartas
