Of the few wines that exist in the world to count so many centuries of history and quality, Commandaria dates back to the ancient times and is directly connected with Limassol. Having to show a splendid journey through time, Commandaria is referring on important historical periods of the city and carries around its name great legends and remarkable historical references.
Though the history of this wine begins in the ancient times, when it was known as "Nama", the quality and sweet taste of Commandaria began to spread during the Middle Ages. The great acknowledgment of the sweet wine was made by the Hospitallers, Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John, who were maintaining the military force “Commandarie” on the island and were having the Kolossi area, at Limassol district, as their base.
The knights, therefore, were the first to recognize the value and the advantages of wine and they are the ones who started to use it. With a great interest and passion for the wine, they planted vines to their feast and improved its production, while starting its trade across Europe. Thus, Commandaria, the sweet wine, which took its name from the homonymous military battalion, ended up being consumed by kings and lords of the time and one of the most important wines of the whole Europe today.
Recent archaeological excavations, have revealed remainings of sweet wine, found in ancient amphoras in the area of Erimi. Thus, it is proved that at the antiquity, the inhabitants of the first settlements in Limassol produced and consumed this sweet drink, since 3500 BC.
Source of information: Cyprus Wine Museum
* NOTE: The tributes of the Project "History of Limassol" present information that has emerged from historical research thus far. Any new data is embedded into the tributes, once it has been confirmed.
