Everyone flocks to the beaches and the ancient ruins — but the real magic of Paphos is hiding in the hills, one tasting glass at a time.

A complete, no-fluff guide to wine tasting in the Paphos region of Cyprus.

If you think Cyprus wine begins and ends with Limassol, you're missing the island's best-kept secret. Just 20 to 40 minutes inland from Paphos town, a string of mountain villages quietly produces some of the most characterful wines in the eastern Mediterranean — yet they see a fraction of the crowds. The Paphos wine district sits a little lower than the famous Omodos cluster (roughly 350–700 m versus 700–900 m), which makes the climate a touch warmer and drier. The practical result for your glass: riper, more fruit-forward whites and surprisingly bold, age-worthy reds.

Cyprus has been making wine for an astonishing 5,000-plus years. Chalcolithic-era flask fragments found near Erimi tested positive for tartaric acid, proving wine was being stored on the island around 3,500 BC — older than almost anywhere on earth. King Richard the Lionheart famously fell for the local drop during the Crusades, and Sultan Selim reportedly eyed the island for its "treasure" of Commandaria. So when you swirl a glass on a Paphos hillside, you're tasting living history.

This guide pulls together the verdict of travel sites, official tourism routes, winery records and hundreds of real visitor reviews to give you the clearest picture anywhere of which Paphos wineries are actually worth your afternoon — honest pros and cons included.

How We Ranked Them

We cross-referenced visitor ratings from major review platforms, the official Pafos tourism wine routes, and individual winery records. Wherever a TripAdvisor traveller score was available we've included it, alongside the things reviewers consistently praise and the niggles that come up again and again. No winery paid to be here — this is about what gives you the best day out.

1. Tsangarides Winery — The Organic Crowd-Pleaser

★ 4.8 (327 reviews)  |  Lemona village

Consistently the top-rated winery in the whole Paphos district, Tsangarides is a family operation in the tiny village of Lemona that launched its modern winemaking chapter in 2005. Run today by Loukia and Angelos Tsangarides, it was among the first wineries on the island to commit to organic production. Expect estate-grown Maratheftiko, Xynisteri, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and a lovely rosé, tasted in a relaxed courtyard. They even run an "Adopt a Vine" scheme for visitors who want a lasting connection to the place.

Reviewers repeatedly highlight the personal, unhurried tastings — one recent guest raved about "a fabulous afternoon wine tasting" and chatting at length with the host. It's the closest thing to being welcomed into a family's home.

2. Vouni Panayia Winery — Mountain Views & a Mini Museum

One of the most modern wineries on the island, and one of the oldest in this revival generation, Vouni Panayia was founded in 1987 in the village of Panayia, about 30 km from Paphos. It pairs meticulous cellars with a tasting room, a restaurant, an observation deck and a small museum, all set on a dramatic hillside. The grapes grown in this specific terroir give the wines a distinctive edge — the white Alina and the red Plakota, with their mineral streak and notes of wild herbs, are the bottles to seek out.

3. Vasilikon Winery — The Award Magnet in Kathikas

★ 4.2 (50 reviews)  |  Kathikas village

Established in 1993 by brothers Heracles, Georgios and Giannis Kyriakides, Vasilikon is one of the largest family-owned wineries in the region and a genuine quality benchmark. It draws on the excellent grapes of Kathikas and the Akamas Laona plateau. The flagship Vasilikon white has collected international awards, but connoisseurs single out the Methy Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak. A modern tasting room with panoramic windows and an on-site restaurant make it an easy half-day in itself. The age-worthy Vasilikon Maratheftiko is one of the bottles worth shipping home.

4. Kolios Winery — Big Production, Even Bigger Views

★ 4.4 (173 reviews)  |  Statos-Ayios Photios

Perched on a mountain peak near Statos-Ayios Photios at altitude, Kolios is a family business founded in 1999 by Marios Kolios and is now one of the largest wineries in Paphos, turning out around 400,000 bottles a year. The elevation and cool mountain air give the wines real freshness. Look for the premium reds Persefoni and Shiraz, plus a fortified Commandaria. The terrace, with sweeping valley and vineyard views, is a highlight, and tastings often come with local food.

5. Sterna Winery — Cellars Carved Into the Rock

Also near Kathikas and close to the Akamas Nature Reserve, Sterna is the district's most atmospheric visit: its cellars are cut directly into the rock. You can tour the underground chambers where wine ages in oak, and sample traditional spirits including grappa-style distillates and liqueurs alongside the estate wines. It's a committed estate-grown producer and a brilliant change of pace from glassy modern tasting rooms.

6. Fikardos Winery — Indigenous Grapes, Done Properly

Founded in 1990 by Theodoros Fikardos, this modern and functional winery focuses heavily on indigenous grapes — Gannoudi (Yiannoudi), Maratheftiko and Xynisteri — grown in vineyards at Pano Arodes and Choulou, supplemented by fruit from across the district's villages. Both the hospitality and the diverse range make it a rewarding, lower-key visit for anyone curious about Cyprus's native varieties.

7. Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery — Wine With a 12th-Century Soul

For something completely different, the Monastery of Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa in Panagia village pours wine made from its own vineyards — and it's regarded as the oldest regional winery in the area. Founded by the monk Ignatius in the 12th century and revived commercially in the 1980s, it offers reds and whites from the monastery's own grapes, a small museum, a gift shop and a café with lovely surroundings. Wine lovers rate the bottles highly, and the setting alone justifies the drive.

8. Kamanterena (Sodap) Winery — The Decorated Heavyweight

★ 4.1 (17 reviews)  |  Stroumbi village

In the village of Stroumbi, the Sodap-Kamanterena winery has been producing wine since 1947, making it one of the most established names here. It's a modern, highly productive operation spanning regional, classical and premium ranges, all tastable in the tasting rooms. Its trophy cabinet is real: silver at the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition plus accolades at the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. Reviewers call it one of the most complete modern wineries on the island.

9. The Wildcards: Kalamos, Ezousa, Tsalapatis & More

Beyond the headline acts, a handful of smaller names reward the curious. Kalamos Winery earns a strong ★ 4.6 (26 reviews) and Ezousa Winery a glowing ★ 4.8 (4 reviews) — both small enough that you'll likely meet the people who made the wine. Tsalapatis, in business over 20 years, lets you taste straight from the barrel, with excellent Xynisteri, Lefkada, Mataro and Sauvignon Blanc. Add boutique producers like Avakas, Sterna's neighbours Petritis and Tsikkouris (a great fresh, unoaked Xynisteri), the larger Oenou Yi / Ktima Vassiliades near Tsada (one of the few with a proper full-meal restaurant), and the off-radar Lagria and Nelion wineries in the Diarizos Valley, and you have enough to fill a long weekend.

At-a-Glance: Paphos Wineries Compared

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What to Actually Taste While You're There

Don't leave without trying the island's signature grapes. Xynisteri is the native white — in the warmer Paphos hills it leans toward peach and tropical fruit, and it's best young and unoaked. Maratheftiko is the celebrated native red: earthy, tobacco-edged, with dark cherry fruit and fine tannins that can age a decade or more. Look out too for revived rarities like Yiannoudi and Spourtiko, the workhorse Mavro, and of course Commandaria — the amber, sun-dried-grape dessert wine recognised as the world's oldest named wine still in production. A small glass to finish is one of Cyprus's most distinctive culinary moments.

Planning the Perfect Paphos Wine Day

The easiest self-guided loop runs Paphos → Tsada → Kathikas and back via Pegeia — roughly 60–80 km and four to five hours with two tasting stops. If you'd rather drink than merely sip, hand the keys to someone else: organised tours genuinely change the day. Group day trips into the Troodos villages with wine tasting start from around €55, 4x4 jeep safaris that include a tasting run about €60–70, and premium small-group or private wine tours run from roughly €115 to €145 per person. Walk-in tastings at the wineries themselves are typically €5–15 for several wines, with the fee often credited against any bottles you buy.