Commandaria

Commandaria, Greek Κουμανδαρία, is a wine-growing region on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus and also the name of a Cypriot wine, a fortified Südweines. The also " Comme Daria " said wine may have similarities with a sweet sherry. Its history goes back to ancient times supposedly. Already Hesiod gives instructions on how to make wine from dried grapes (straw wine), but he does not refer to a specific region.

History

During the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart conquered Cyprus and married Berengaria, daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre. At the wedding Commandaria to have been served and expressly praised by Richard. After the fall of Acre, the Hospitallers taught in Kolossi, about 20 kilometers north of Limassol, their commander -in. 1306 the castle belonged to the Knights Templar Kolossi that its new headquarters, the Great Command einrichteten here, which was later taken over by the prohibition of the Knights Templar and their expropriation by the Hospitallers. From the words " Command " comes the name of the area and the wine produced there. The Maltese began to export wine in larger quantities and to make known to the European courts. Especially after Vienna large quantities were shipped annually. This wine was marketed as early as the late Middle Ages as Commandaria, so this Cypriot wine could be the oldest wine brand in the world. The long-lasting British mandate over Cyprus established the popularity of this wine in the UK.

The wine was also medical use. Jaundice three branches of Mandragora were soaked in Commandaria while said a special prayer. Of these, the patient drank three sips every morning.

Region and vines

Wines that bear the name of Commandaria, come from a relatively small wine region north of Limassol on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains. The region includes 14 municipalities; the wine is produced both from the local vineyards as well as by large cooperative wineries, who have their cellars and production facilities in Limassol. The vineyards are located between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on rocky, barren ground; the vines are traditionally taken into bush form and may not be watered. Are planted about 2,000 hectares.

Approved for production of Commandaria are two indigenous grape varieties, the red Kypreiko that mavro Cyprus ( Greek: μαύρο = black) is called and the white Xynisteri. Even at the harvest the grapes have to be very high ( about 230 grams / liter) sugar levels included ( → see also the article must weight ); by the subsequent drying of the grapes on straw mats or films, the sugar content rises to about 400 grams. The grapes are pressed and fermented separately isolated, traditionally in meter, partly buried in the earth earthenware jars in the wineries but in large stainless steel fermentation tanks. After this two - to four -month fermentation period, the musts are usually blended in equal parts, aufgespritet with alcohol at 15 to 20 percent by volume and rusted in large oak barrels. Occasionally, even an aging system is used, which is the solera system not dissimilar; it is popularly called Mana method; also there will be complemented by appropriate young wines from the barrels in the filled bottles set.

Wine

After Fortification store, the young wine in oak, sometimes in chestnut barrels at least two years, but usually longer. They come in different types of bottles on the market, often those that cognac bottles or Tawny Port bottles are similar, sometimes in bocksbeutel.

The Commandaria is a strong alcohol, extract-rich, almost creamy sweet wine. Depending on the mixing ratio of base wines and expanding it is dark amber to dark reddish brown. The Commandaria is a very unconventional product that is best compared with a sweet Pedro Ximenez from Montilla- Moriles about. Many of coming on the market wines are rather average products, lacking subtlety and sophistication: they are heavy, sweet and plump, without being able to develop on the palate sustainable flavors. Some wines carefully prepared but certainly deserve attention: You can track the ever-present sweetness develop a variety of flavors of dried fruits, cherries and wild berries (residual sugar about 180 grams / liter) in addition to a strong coffee flavor. A Commandaria is virtually unlimited shelf life; also opened obtains its drinking water quality in cold storage for weeks. It should be drunk chilled out sherry or liqueur glasses. A few glasses of producers have brought their own Commandaria glasses on the market.