Drink Commandaria before you die!
Why? Because it holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously produced wine on the planet and was famously served at the wedding of King Richard the Lionheart.
Ten Second Summary
- What it is: Cyprus’s historic sun-dried sweet wine, made from local grapes and often fortified, though not always.
- Tastes like: Dried apricots, figs, raisins, orange zest, and deeply concentrated sweet fruit lifted by surprising freshness.
- Buying shortcut: For the best drinking experience, look for bottles with a high proportion of Xynisteri — or go straight to the best producers ↓
- Best with: Blue cheese, nutty desserts, fruit tarts, baklava, or simply on its own after dinner.
- Why it matters: This is not just one of the best sweet wines; it is one of the most historically significant wines in the world.
What’s on this page
Jump to the section you’re interested in.
- 1. Why drink Commandaria before you die?
- 2. The extraordinary history of Commandaria
- 3. What Commandaria tastes like
- 4. The grapes behind Commandaria
- 5. Watch: Commandaria the world's oldest wine
- 6. Best Commandaria producers
- 7. What to pair with Commandaria
- 8. Commandaria FAQ
1. Why drink Commandaria before you die?
It holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously produced wine on the planet. Plus, King Richard the Lionheart served it at his wedding.
This sweet Cypriot wine made from sun-dried grapes was first mentioned by the Greek poet Hesiod around 700 BC. But archaeological records suggest its production started long before that.
Around 450 BC the Greek playwright Euripides gave it the moniker Cyprus Nama, with “nama” meaning nectar of the gods. It was referred to by this name until medieval times, when the Knights of St John took over the sun-kissed island and made their new headquarters there.
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| Kolossi Castle in Cyprus, the historic heartland of Commandaria | © romanevgenev / stock.adobe.com |
2. The extraordinary history of Commandaria
The region occupied by the Knights became known as the Grande Commanderie. Hence, as returning crusaders took this highly prized wine back west, they called it Commandaria, and the name has stuck ever since.
That alone would make it noteworthy. But Commandaria is more than a historical curiosity. It is living heritage in a glass: a wine style that has survived empires, invasions, changing fashions, and modern indifference.
If you love wines with meaning, history, and distinction, this is exactly the sort of bottle that belongs on your bucket list.
3. What Commandaria tastes like
As you might imagine, being made from sun-dried grapes, Commandaria is sweet and concentrated. The wine is typically fortified, although not always, to varying degrees ranging from 15% to 20% alcohol. I’d always opt for one towards the lower end if possible.
Despite often having a stupendous amount of residual sugar — above 200 g/L in many cases, which is roughly twice as much as Port — the wines are rarely heavy and usually have a refreshing, uplifting quality.
The aromas and flavours are typically of dried apricots, figs, and raisins, with a signature note of orange zest. The best examples feel luscious and concentrated without ever becoming clumsy.
That combination of richness and lift is a big part of what makes Commandaria one of the world’s most underrated sweet wines.
If you enjoy historic wines such as Madeira, oxidatively aged styles like Amontillado Sherry, or wines made from sun-dried grapes such as Amarone della Valpolicella, Commandaria is absolutely worth exploring as another great sweet wine. Like Amarone, it begins with grapes dried in the sun to concentrate sugars and flavours, but unlike Amarone it remains sweet, producing a rich wine layered with dried fruit, caramel, spice and remarkable longevity.
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Old vines in Cyprus used for traditional Commandaria production | ©
zambartiswineries.com
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4. The grapes behind Commandaria
Commandaria can only be made from the local grape varieties Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white), either as single-variety wines or as a blend of the two.
Xynisteri has a finer, more refined fruit quality and higher natural acidity, which is very useful for cutting through the abundant sweetness. For the best drinking experience, if you can, choose a wine that is at least 80% Xynisteri.
That extra brightness can make all the difference, especially in a style with this much natural concentration.
5. Watch: Commandaria, the world’s oldest wine
Commandaria holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s oldest continuously produced wine. You're literally tasting history ... and a world record!
If you want a quick visual introduction to why Commandaria matters, this short video is worth watching. It helps bring the story to life: Cyprus, sun-dried grapes, medieval history, and one of the most distinctive sweet wines in the world.
Guinness World Record: oldest continuously produced wine
Video: Commandaria, Cyprus’s ancient sweet wine and the world’s oldest continuously produced wine
6. Best Commandaria producers
Because this is Cyprus’s historic sun-dried sweet wine — and when you taste the best examples, you’re not just drinking “dessert wine”, you’re drinking living heritage. If you want producers with a serious track record — the pioneers, custodians, and flag bearers — these five belong at the top of your Commandaria bucket list.
Famous Commandaria wineries to try
If you want to explore Commandaria properly, these historic houses and modern producers are among the most respected names in the region.
1) ETKO
If you want the deep roots, start here. Founded in 1844, ETKO is widely presented as the oldest winemaking business in Cyprus — a genuine multi-generation custodian of the island’s wine identity.
While the company modernised its approach, it has kept Commandaria at the heart of its story through flagship bottlings such as St Nicholas Commandaria and the prestige Centurion Commandaria.
Importantly, ETKO’s Commandaria is not notable just because it is old. It has also built a serious reputation for quality, making it one of the benchmark names in the category.
2) KEO
KEO is the “big institution” name many people encounter first when looking into Cypriot wine and Commandaria — and for good reason. Established in 1927, KEO has spent decades putting Cypriot wine and Commandaria in front of local drinkers and export markets alike.
Its best-known bottle in this category is St John Commandaria, a long-standing reference point for the style.
This is one of the names that helped keep Commandaria visible, relevant, and widely recognised — exactly the sort of producer you want on a bucket-list shortlist.
3) LOEL
LOEL is another cornerstone. Established in Limassol in 1943 and closely tied to the growers who kept Cypriot vineyards alive through changing times, LOEL is exactly the sort of producer you want in a wine with this much history behind it.
Its iconic bottle here is Alasia Commandaria, a label with the kind of long-standing presence that makes it feel like a true custodian of the style.
If you want a classic, traditional expression from one of the established houses, LOEL more than belongs in the conversation.
4) SODAP
If your idea of a flag-bearer includes community and tradition at scale, SODAP is essential.
Founded in 1947 by thousands of families from vine-growing villages, it was built to protect growers and preserve viticulture. That cooperative spirit is a big part of why SODAP matters in the story of modern Commandaria.
For bucket-list purposes, the key bottle to know is St Barnabas Commandaria. It is one of the wines that helped show Commandaria could still compete seriously on quality.
5) Tsiakkas Winery
Founded in 1988, Tsiakkas Winery is the youngest producer on this list, but it has brought a distinctly modern feel to Commandaria and treats it with the seriousness of fine wine that it really deserves.
Its Commandaria is a more terroir-driven, artisanal take on the style: sun-dried fruit, careful élevage, and a clear sense that this ancient wine can still feel vivid and contemporary.
In other words, Tsiakkas is a modern craft custodian — proof that Commandaria can be both ancient and sharply contemporary.
These wineries represent some of the most important custodians of Commandaria, producing wines that preserve one of the world’s oldest surviving wine styles.
If you want to understand the category properly, taste across both the historic institutional names and a more artisanal producer like Tsiakkas. That will give you the clearest picture of why Commandaria deserves far more attention than it gets.
Commandaria remains one of the most historic and distinctive examples of great sweet wine.
7. What to pair with Commandaria
Commandaria works brilliantly after dinner, but it is more versatile than many people realise.
- Blue cheese
- Walnut tart
- Baklava
- Almond-based desserts
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Strong hard cheeses
That said, one of the best ways to drink it is simply on its own, slightly cool, in a small glass, when you actually have the time to pay attention.
8. Commandaria FAQ
What is Commandaria?
Commandaria is a historic sweet wine from Cyprus made from sun-dried grapes. It is often fortified, though not always, and is widely regarded as the world’s oldest continuously produced wine.
Why is Commandaria famous?
Commandaria is famous for its extraordinary history, its association with medieval crusaders and King Richard the Lionheart, and for holding the Guinness World Record as the oldest continuously produced wine.
What does Commandaria taste like?
It typically tastes of dried apricots, figs, raisins, and orange zest, with very high sweetness balanced by freshness.
Is Commandaria fortified?
Often yes, but not always. Some of the most interesting modern examples are unfortified.
What grapes are used in Commandaria?
Commandaria is made only from the Cypriot grape varieties Mavro and Xynisteri.
Which Commandaria is best?
That depends on your taste, but producers such as ETKO, KEO, LOEL, SODAP, and Tsiakkas are excellent places to start.
Is Commandaria one of the best sweet wines in the world?
Yes — especially if you value not just flavour, but history, rarity, and a genuine sense of place.
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