At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Cyprus
- Base
- Limassol
- Named grapes
- Maratheftiko, Spourtiko, Xynisteri, Lefkada, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Mavro
- Signature wine
- Alasia Commandaria
- Defining feature
- Commandaria in classic and vintage versions, alongside wines from indigenous varieties
The Producer
At Ayios Sila in Limassol, LOEL Viomichanoi Ltd has established a state of the art winery designed to produce wines from local indigenous varieties. The company began with spirits and fortified wines made from indigenous grape varieties, then planted its own vineyards in the wine growing areas of Limassol and Paphos.
Those plantings include Maratheftiko, Spourtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. LOEL's named wines include Palomino, Evambelos Gi and the Morfes range. Alasia Commandaria extends the portfolio into a protected geographical origin wine made in classic and vintage versions.
Place
Commandaria is a protected geographical origin wine of Cyprus made exclusively from the indigenous grapes Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are laid in the sun before crushing and pressing, allowing evaporation to increase their sugar density. By law, Commandaria ages for at least two years in oak barrels.
LOEL is based in Limassol and planted its own vineyards in Limassol and Paphos. A bottle labelled Commandaria therefore carries specific grape and production requirements: Xynisteri and Mavro, sun drying, and oak ageing.
Story
LOEL Viomichanoi Ltd was established in Limassol in 1943. The company later established a state of the art winery at Ayios Sila in Limassol, designed to produce wines from local indigenous varieties. The winery buys millions of kilograms of grapes each year, supporting Cyprus's winemaking industry through those purchases.
Vineyards And Cellar
LOEL's vineyard plantings include both Cypriot and imported varieties, with Maratheftiko, Spourtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc among the named examples. The portfolio also draws on older Commandaria reserves that can be used to back blend extra depth and complexity into the wines.
Wines
Alasia Commandaria occupies the fortified wine part of the range and is available in classic and vintage versions. Evambelos Gi and Morfes are built around local Cypriot varieties, while Polyphemus White combines Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and indigenous Xynisteri.
The Morfes range uses labels illustrated with indigenous animals of Cyprus. Morfes Maratheftiko comes from selected vineyards in the Panagia region at 950 metres. The bottles move between protected origin Commandaria, local variety reds, and a white wine built from Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and Xynisteri.
In The Glass
Polyphemus White brings aromas of exotic fruit and Mediterranean citrus. It is golden with bright green tones, with a fresh taste and a full aftertaste.
Evambelos Gi Maratheftiko is full bodied, with balanced acidity, soft tannins and a rich bouquet of ripe red fruit, vanilla and cocoa. Morfes Maratheftiko is bright and deep red, with raspberry, forest fruit and hints of pepper on the nose.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Evambelos Gi Maratheftiko first. It comes from selected vineyards in the mountainous Vouni Panagi region and uses the local Maratheftiko grape alongside Xynisteri and Lefkada. The wine matures for six months in French oak before spending another nine months in bottle. The sequence places a Cypriot grape, a named mountain region, French oak and bottle ageing in one wine.
Anecdote
In 1984, LOEL made Alasia Commandaria from Mavro and Xynisteri. The wine stayed in oak barrels for 35 years, then spent another five years in bottle. Oak ageing gives wine slow oxygen exposure and can soften its texture, while bottle ageing allows aromas to develop without further wood contact. LOEL describes the finished wine as radiant amber with an aroma of remarkable maturity.
Final Word
LOEL's range joins protected origin Commandaria with wines built around Maratheftiko, Xynisteri, Lefkada and other local varieties. Alasia, Evambelos Gi and Morfes carry that work across fortified wine, mountain grown red wine and local variety blends.
Sources
- laikogroup.com/loel-2/?lang=en
- worldoffinewine.com/travel/commandaria-ancient-sweet-cyprus-wine
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandaria
- laikogroup.com/new-alasia-commandaria-1984/?lang=en
- laikogroup.com/portfolio/polyfemus/?lang=en
- laikogroup.com/portfolio/evambelos-gi/?lang=en
- laikogroup.com/portfolio/morfes/?lang=en