VIVA LA VITA

Just before we hop over to 2018 here is probably the last post of 2017 – another winery visit!

I could write a whole novel about Kolios, but I will try to keep it short. I came across the winery very soon after we moved to the island in 2013 and I discovered their wines in our local shops.

I have mentioned it before, but in my 5 years in Cyprus, I haven’t found better wines than those from Kolios. Their winery tour is unlikely any other – you can book ahead and enjoy the guided tour by the owner followed by a mezze lunch cooked by his wife.

All of this from the stunning traditional stone building, food from homegrown ingredients and I haven’t even mentioned the view yet!

Kolios winery is near a village of Agios Fotios at the edge of Troodos Mountains. This was probably my 5th or 6th visit and a few things have changed since I was there first time – there is now a new summer terrace in progress where you will be able to enjoy the stunning views even more, due to open in summer.

They also introduced a new wine with the spourtiko grapes and their bottles have changed labels since we started drinking them. Thankfully the quality is still the same and I haven’t got bored of enjoying their wines.

The production facility is right by the entrance to the building on the left side, there is a big industrial-size kitchen in this modest-looking building and of course the wine cellar in the basement, where they also have a bottle-packaging facility.

The guided tours are only once a day, at 12.30pm followed by mezze lunch at 1pm. They now offer also vegetarian mezze!!! For each 2 people having mezze you get a free bottle of wine at the table, in addition to the free wine tasting of course.

The food is absolutely delicious, made from the freshest ingredients and cooked to perfection. At 23 eur per person, including a bottle of wine, you can hardly get a better deal anywhere in Paphos. If you want to buy some wine, they offer generous discounts for a whole case, you pay a fraction of the price compared to shops. By the way, my favourite wines – Statos and Agios Fotios – are only around 6 eur in the local shops! Currently they produce 3 varieties of white wine (Persefoni – medium dry and dry, and the Iris with spourtiko grapes), 2 varieties of rose (also medium dry and dry – called Cornetto) and a few options for reds.

If you are coming to Cyprus next year, put this one on your to do list. It must be good if I’ve been there 6 times! =)

PS: I specifically requested their wines at my wedding too!