Cyprus · Other producers

Zambartas Wineries

Zambartas Wineries manages 27 hectares in Cyprus and works with indigenous varieties from Xynisteri to Maratheftiko.

The producer

The Margelina vineyard, first planted in 1921, is mainly Mavro with Xynisteri, Ofthalmo, Kanella, Yiannoudi and Maratheftiko. The 2023 Single Vineyard Xynisteri spends six to seven months in 225-litre, 300-litre and 400-litre oak-bodied barrels with acacia heads, without racking, and shows lime, floral notes and persistent length. Maratheftiko is aged for a year mostly in used oak with a touch of new oak and can age for seven to eight years.

Known for

Cypriot indigenous varieties

Notable facts

From the atlas

Zambartas Wineries

A Cyprus family winery focused on indigenous varieties, high-elevation vineyards and bottlings ranging from everyday wines to ageworthy reds.

At A Glance

CountryCyprus
Founded2006
Vineyards27 hectares
Main varietiesXynisteri, Mavro, Maratheftiko
Annual productionAround 150,000 bottles

The Producer

Akis Zambartas founded Zambartas Wineries in 2006 as a boutique winery focused on wines showcasing indigenous Cypriot varieties. He studied chemistry in Lyon and enology in Montpellier before becoming Cyprus's first university-educated enologist.

During the 1980s, Akis spent four years identifying and recording 13 largely forgotten indigenous Cypriot grape varieties. Marcos Zambartas studied chemistry at Imperial College London, gained practical experience in Provence and New Zealand, and completed a Master's degree in Enology at the University of Adelaide. Marleen Zambartas manages the winery's online presence and export markets. The winery reports annual production of around 150,000 bottles.

Place

Zambartas manages 27 hectares. Most vineyards are in Mandria and Agios Nikolaos at 800-1,000 metres, with lower sites in Agios Amvrosios and Pachna at 550-700 metres. These named vineyard areas appear directly in the wine sourcing: regular Xynisteri draws from Omodos, Agios Amvrosios, Mandria and Pachna.

Margelina was first planted in 1921 and is mainly Mavro, with Xynisteri, Ofthalmo, Kanella, Yiannoudi and Maratheftiko also present.

Wines

Regular Xynisteri is 100% Xynisteri from Omodos, Agios Amvrosios, Mandria and Pachna. It is fermented mostly in stainless steel, with a small oak-fermented portion. The 2023 bottling is chalky and citrusy, with palate grip, a bone-dry profile and notable length.

The 2023 Single Vineyard Xynisteri is entirely barrel-fermented in 225-litre, 300-litre and 400-litre oak-bodied barrels with acacia heads. It remains there for six to seven months without racking, showing lime, floral notes, no aggressive oak and persistent length.

Maratheftiko is 100% varietal fruit from Pachna, Omodos, Vasa and Agios Therapon. It is fermented in stainless steel and aged for a year mostly in used oak with a touch of new oak. The 2022 bottling opens with elderberry, then finishes refreshing, grainy and faintly bitter, with enough acidity. The wine can age for seven to eight years.

Shiraz-Lefkada combines 80% Shiraz and 20% Lefkada from Agios Amvrosios and Pachna. It is fermented in stainless steel and aged for a year in new, second-use and third-use oak, with silky tannins, layered dark fruit and subtle spice. The Koukouvagia range adds white, rosé and red wines intended as fruity, aromatic everyday bottles.

Final Word

Older vineyards are gobelet-pruned, while restored terrace walls provide shelter for reptiles and beneficial insects.

Sources

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