What Cyprus wine to drink this Easter

This year, Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, April 12. While it is a very religious time of year, attention is also given to traditional foods, flaounas, red eggs, kokoretsi, lamb on the spit… And, of course, the drinks that go with them.

A classic choice for this period is rosé. They tend to go with everything, but here are our suggestions to pair Easter foods with something more.

2025 Aes Ambelis Winery, Nymfes, PGI Lemesos ABV 13%

From indigenous Maratheftiko grape, this popular rosé has a bright salmon pink colour, with juicy and lively floral and spicy aromas and flavours, along with pink grapefruit, orange peel and red fruits such as cherry and plum, and blueberry. On the palate, it is fresh with medium body and a nice crystalline aftertaste. €16, Tempo

2025 Ezousa Winery Xynisteri, PGI Pafos ABV 13%

100% Xynisteri from vineyards mainly around Kannaviou village. Pale lemon colour with green hints, the nose has typical Xynisteri aromas of stone fruits and freshly cut grass on a background of citrus, green apple and white peach. A rich, fresh and beautifully balanced taste, pleasant, crispy acidity, rounded, creamy and aromatic finish. €7.50, Punin Wines

2025 Makarounas Winery Vasilissa, PGI Pafos ABV 11.5%

The wine has a light yellow colour and on the nose, it expresses a complex aromatic profile, with scents such as lemon blossoms, peach, rose, tropical fruits, citrus, sweet spice, vanilla and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is rich, lively and balanced, with a subtle sense of minerality, refreshing acidity, and a long-lasting finish. €15, Bottles by Bottles

2025 Aes Ambelis Winery Morokanella, PGI Pafos ABV 12.5%

Pale straw yellow colour, the aromatic and crisp indigenous variety Morokanella from Aes Ambelis has an intense aroma with notes of flowers, citrus fruits, white peach, pear, quince and subtle aromatic herbs. On the palate, it is full with excellent balance – freshness and finesse – and has a lively and long-lasting aftertaste. €15, Tempo

2025 Zambartas Winery Promara, PGI Lemesos, ABV 13%

A light yellow colour while on the nose we find aromas of green apple, pear, peach, melon with citrus and flowers following, framed by herbal and honey notes. On the medium-bodied palate, it is full of good acidity, a subtle creamy sensation, and a finish that lasts. €13, Vassos Eliades

And now to the early feast, the table after Midnight Mass signaling not only the Resurrection but the end of fasting period. Magiritsa (lamb offal, herbs, egg and lemon finish) comes first on our plate and gives us a foretaste of the big celebration the next day. The soup is friendly with wine. Offal and vegetables call for a wine with a touch of oak; Chardonnay preferably. As for the alternative soup of the evening, the avgolemono (chicken with egg and lemon) again go for the acidity of Sauvignon Blanc, while its barrel-aged version pairs perfectly with the traditional flaouna (cheese pastry pie with mint raising

2022 Vlassides Winery, Pelagitis Assyrtiko, PGI Lemesos ABV 13.5% 

This crispy Assyrtiko is perfect for the after-mass dinner. Elegant nose where aromas of lemon, grapefruit, nuts, and green apple emerge, and expressive full palate with crisp freshness, subtle hints of minerality and vibrant lively acidity that balances beautifully with the body, refreshing aftertaste. €19, Oenous

2025 Vasilikon Winery, Omma, Sauvignon Blanc, PGI Pafos ABV 12.5%

The wine is fresh and has an aromatic profile, straw-yellow colour. Sauvignon Blanc with an impressive nose with fruity aromas of grapefruit, peach, pineapple, melon and hints of herbal scents, as well as citrus complemented by a full body, with ideal fattiness but also very interesting acidity. €13, Tempo

2025 Tsangarides Winery Organic Chardonnay, PGI Pafos, ABV 13.5%

A Chardonnay sourced from a single vineyard. In the glass, it has a golden colour with green hints, a nose with depth with aromas that suggest flowers and summer tropical fruits such as melon, peach and banana. On the palate, it is intense with very good acidity and a beautiful mineral finish. €13

On Easter Sunday, we can start with a rosé (also incredible with Kokoretsi the lamb and offal BBQ) for the appetizers, or with Xynisteri. Generally, the beginning is made with light white and even light red wines.

With the lamb spit there is a battle between Maratheftiko or Giannoudi. Xinomavro is also in the game as well as Syrah with its sweetness and complex aromatic palette will balance the lamb. The fatty salty flesh and the crispy crust of the spit need rich wines.

2025 Ktima Gerolemo Smileftis Wild Ferment, PGI Pafos, ABV 12%

Light straw yellow colour Xynisteri with expressive aromas of tropical white-fleshed and citrus fruits followed by floral and mineral touches. Its taste is creamy and refreshing with white-fleshed fruits dominating and leaving a nice, enjoyable aftertaste. €14, Cavaway

2023 Dafermou Winery, Giannoudi, PGI Larnaca ABV 13.5%

Dark ruby red nose of ripe fruit jam with sweet spices such as vanilla and hints of the Mediterranean. In the mouth it is dry, exuberant, with ripe-excellent textured tannins, dense fruit and a long aftertaste. The botanical character is also intense in the mouth. €23, Wine Vault

2020 Vouni Panagia Winery, Barba Yiannis Maratheftiko, PGI Pafos, ABV 13

Dark inky red with an elegant nose of sweet fruit aromas such as cherry and plum, discreet vanilla from the oak and pleasant floral notes. In the mouth it is velvety, with smooth tannins, some chocolate herbal aromas making their appearance and the oak aromas a little more intense than on the nose. €18, La Bodega

2021 Fikardos Winery, Shiraz, PGI Pafos, ABV13%

Ruby red colour with complex aroma of violet and ripe red fruits with sweet spices dominated by pepper, cloves and cinnamon, and hints of chocolate. It has volume and fine-grained tannins, with elaborate alcohol balanced with fruit and acidity and a rich velvety aftertaste€12