Family

Kostas’ introduction to winemaking came through his grandfather, a winemaker and merchant that produced wine from his home basement. He learned to make wine in traditional clay pots, but could not imagine himself carrying it on as a family tradition. Decades later, with an MBA and a promising career in banking, Kostas began to seek alternatives to the prospect of carrying on as a white-collar worker. That is when, together with his wife Marina, they decided to revisit his grandfather’s cellar.

Marina’s earliest aspirations were in fashion rather than winemaking. At a young age, she stepped up to manage the family line of clothing stores, content with promoting a fashion sense in the locals. Things took a big turn when she met Kostas and together decided to delve into winemaking.

During the first years, her endeavour was more of a hobby than a full-time profession. As business became more and more successful, Marina found herself pruning vines and making wine as if she had been doing it since early childhood.

Being an oenologist is like being a chef – the difference is that you get to “cook” once a year and the room for mistakes is non-existent. Cyprus offers a unique terroir, a captivating history and indigenous varieties that long pre-exist the ones brought from abroad. I wish to express these qualities through the wine I make and to help Cyprus rise in the global wine scene.

Growing up among winemakers, I learned to appreciate the hard work and passion that goes into the proper care of a vineyard. Today, it is my turn to step up as the caretaker of the family vineyards, to help them produce the fruit so essential in making quality wine. I value ongoing learning, the knowledge gained from day-to-day labour, but also through the invaluable experiences shared by my colleagues and older generations of vine growers.

Cyprus has always been a crossroads of cultures, ideas, and values. Standing on land where countless generations have passed is a gift, but sharing our family’s legacy with others is, to me, the greatest honour.

At the winery, we live and feel this every day. I cherish every guest who has visited us and shared in our wines and experiences. Inspiring someone with a single sip of wine is a joy; the joy is made even greater when that wine is born from the very soil we call home.