Why it matters
The producer
At Ayios Sila in Limassol, LOEL Viomichanoi Ltd has established a state of the art winery designed to produce wines from local indigenous varieties. The company began with spirits and fortified wines made from indigenous grape varieties, then planted its own vineyards in the wine growing areas of Limassol and Paphos.
Those plantings include Maratheftiko, Spourtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. LOEL's named wines include Palomino, Evambelos Gi and the Morfes range. Alasia Commandaria extends the portfolio into a protected geographical origin wine made in classic and vintage versions.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Commandaria is a protected geographical origin wine of Cyprus made exclusively from the indigenous grapes Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are laid in the sun before crushing and pressing, allowing evaporation to increase their sugar density. By law, Commandaria ages for at least two years in oak barrels.
LOEL is based in Limassol and planted its own vineyards in Limassol and Paphos. A bottle labelled Commandaria therefore carries specific grape and production requirements: Xynisteri and Mavro, sun drying, and oak ageing.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
LOEL's vineyard plantings include both Cypriot and imported varieties, with Maratheftiko, Spourtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc among the named examples. The portfolio also draws on older Commandaria reserves that can be used to back blend extra depth and complexity into the wines.
Wines to know
The range in view
Alasia Commandaria occupies the fortified wine part of the range and is available in classic and vintage versions. Evambelos Gi and Morfes are built around local Cypriot varieties, while Polyphemus White combines Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and indigenous Xynisteri.
The Morfes range uses labels illustrated with indigenous animals of Cyprus. Morfes Maratheftiko comes from selected vineyards in the Panagia region at 950 metres. The bottles move between protected origin Commandaria, local variety reds, and a white wine built from Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and Xynisteri.