📍 Laona Akamas

Laona Akamas is a wine zone in western Cyprus, on the Laona plateau by the Akamas peninsula, in the Paphos district. It is part of Paphos. The Akamas peninsula is known as a nature reserve: wild mountain paths, bays and nesting places of sea turtles.

Vineyards lie at 600 to 1,000 metres above sea level; the climate is Mediterranean but with cool nights and a wetter spring. Soils are stony, limestone and marl. Small villages lie around the plateau.

The main grapes are Xynisteri (white) and Maratheftiko (red). Xynisteri gives fresh wines with citrus aromas, and Maratheftiko dark reds with black-berry aromas, often suited to ageing. Maratheftiko is a rare local red grape whose popularity has grown in recent years.

Laona Akamas combines wine with nature: roads across the plateau lead through forests and small villages. Limassol, with the island's main vineyards, lies to the east. Xynisteri goes well with fish and meze, and Maratheftiko with grilled meat and halloumi cheese. Laona Akamas lies away from the noisy beach resorts, so it draws people who like quiet holidays, hiking routes and village cooking.