The sweet dessert wine of Cyprus is known under the name “Commandaria”. This legendary wine is one of the first wine types ever to have been prepared anywhere in the world. Nowadays , Commandaria is considered to be the most ancient type of all existing wines, something for which it was given the title “Appelation d’ Origine Controlee”. This wine has graced the banquets of the Egypt and other Kings of the Mediterranean .
The history of this wine is more fully documented in the period after 1192 when the Knights Templar bought Cyprus from King Richard Coeur de Lion of England. Under their rule, in order to ensure more efficient control of the island , Cyprus was divided into various areas of command or “commanderies” as they were then called. The largest of these areas of command was that of the Limassol region with Kolossi as the headquarters. This area was called “La Grande Commanderie” in order to be distinguished from the two other smaller commanderies of Paphos , which was called “Phoenix” ,and that the Kyrenia , called “Templos”. Due to the fact that this superb wine was being product in the area of “La Grande Commandaria”, the Knights named it “Commanderie-Commandaria”, a name that has been retained to this day. Kolossi castle is still well-preserved, the base and symbol of the power of the Knights of “La Grande Commanderie”C
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