Fodor's Expert Review Limassol Wine Festival

The history of wine-making dates from at least 2000 BC in Cyprus, and many great wines (Madeira, Tokay, and others) are said to have originated from Cyprus grapes. The best-known Cypriot wine is the sweet red Commandaria, known in antiquity as Nama. It so reminded Marc Antony of Cleopatra's kisses that he gave the whole island to his legendary lover because of it. There are dozens of other world-class wines from Cyprus. At the annual 11-day Limassol Wine Festival during the first half of September, local wineries offer free samples and demonstrate traditional grape-pressing methods. There are open-air music and dance performances over a period of nine days in the seaside Municipal Gardens.