📍 Nicosia (Pitsilia)

Nicosia (Pitsilia) is a high-altitude wine district in Cyprus, in the Troodos mountains, in Nicosia District. The name Pitsilia refers to the mountain area within that district. The district is part of Cypriot wine and is protected as a PDO.

The vineyards lie in the mountains, where summers are cooler than on the coast. For Cyprus this is an important advantage: the island is hot, and it is altitude that helps keep acidity and freshness in the grapes.

The main grapes are Xynisteri (white) and Mavro (red). Xynisteri gives light, fresh whites, and Mavro gives reds and sweet wines such as Commandaria. Red, white and still wines are made.

Cyprus is one of the oldest wine islands of the Mediterranean. Wine was made here long before our era, and in the thirteenth century sweet Commandaria won the "Battle of the Wines", the first known wine tasting competition. Among Cyprus's wine areas, besides Pitsilia, are Krasochoria Lemesou and Laona–Akamas. Mavro means "black" in Greek, and this grape together with Xynisteri makes up most of the plantings on the island. Xynisteri is the island's best-known white grape.