The wine has a rich history, said to date back to the time of the ancient Greeks. A dried grape wine from Cyprus was first known to be described in 800 BC by the Greek poet Hesiod and was known, by much later, as the Cypriot Manna.

 

During the crusades, Commandaria was served at the 12th century wedding of King Richard the Lionheart to Berengaria of Navarre; it was during the wedding that King Richard pronounced Commandaria "the wine of kings and the king of wines". 

 

Knights Templar's estate at Kolossi, close to Limassol was referred to as "La Grande Commanderie (the military headquarter)". This area under the control of the Knights Templar and subsequently the Knights Hospitaller became known as Commandaria. When the knights began producing large quantities of the wine for export to Europe's royal courts and for supplying pilgrims en route to the holy lands, the wine assumed the name of the region. Thus it has the distinction of being the world's oldest named wine still in production.

 

Commandaria is made exclusively from two types of indigenous Cyprus grapes: Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are left to overripe on the vineand and when sugar content reaches acceptable levels they are harvested. The grapes are then laid out in the sun to further increase the sugar density through evaporation. When the must weight reaches the necessary value the juice is extracted thorough crushing and pressing. Fermentation takes place in reservoirs and will arrest naturally due to the high levels of alcohol achieved at around 15%. The above process has to take place within the confines of 14 designated villages that lie in the Commandaria Region.

 

Commandaria, by law is aged for at least four years in Oak Barrels but this can take place outside the above designated area within Cyprus under strict control and under the conditions laid down in Cypriot legislation.

 

Once fermentation has been completed, at a minimum alcohol level of 10% (which is often exceeded), the alcoholic strength of Commandaria may be increased by the addition of pure 95% grape alcohol or a wine distillate of at least 70% alcohol. However, after this addition, the wine's actual alcohol content may not exceed 20%, while its total potential alcohol (including its sugar content) must be at least 22.5%. Thus, Commandaria may be a fortified wine, but fortification is not mandatory.

 

Forget not next the ripen'd Grapes to lay,

Ten Nights in Air, nor take them in by Day;

Five more remember, e're the Wine is made,

To let them ly, to mellow in the Shade;

And in the sixth briskly yourself employ,

To cask the Gift of Bacchus, Sire of Joy. (Hesiod)