Cyprus’ proud winemaking and distillation heritage is embodied through the rich history of the LOEL Winery. Established in 1943 in Limassol, the winery holds the status of being the island’s first Public Company whose many thousands of original joint-stock shareholders were local vine growers and dedicated viticulturists. Now, more than 80 years on, LOEL continues to be widely celebrated as one of the island’s leading producers of wines and spirits and a flagship member of the Laiko Group of Companies, formed in 2002.
Earlier this year, the wine producer was awarded with a Double Distinction for LOEL Wines at the 16th Cyprus Wine Competition 2026, achieving the highest score of 97.60 points among all entries and receiving the Grand Gold Medal for ALASIA 1984 Commandaria. In addition to the Gold Medal for Euambelos Gi Cabernet Shiraz 2020.
The prestigious awards, presented by the Ministry of Agriculture, are a fitting achievement for LOEL and the company’s General Manager, Mr Charalambos Pittakas, who, for the past 12 years, has played an integral role at the helm of this organisation, shaping cherished traditions with innovation, creativity and his state-of-the-art knowledge of modern distillation techniques.
We spoke to Mr Pittakas recently to congratulate the company on their achievement and to hear more about how LOEL is looking ahead to the future, while remaining true to its past.
LOEL’s historic legacy has dominated the Cyprus wine industry for decades; renowned for its Cypriot spirit known as Zivana Loel and its highly acclaimed Commandaria Alasia, how do you balance preserving tradition with embracing innovation?
It is well documented that Cyprus is home to Commandaria, the world’s oldest named wine still in continuous production. Antiquity records show that the wine dates back over 5,000 years. LOEL is proud to continue its provenance, crafting this unique wine from the centuries old local indigenous grapes, Mavro (red) and Xynisteri (white), grown across 14 villages on the outskirts of Limassol, under strict “Appellation of Origin” conditions. LOEl is one of the few wineries in Cyprus that produces Commandaria entirely in-house, from grape to bottle, including the production of its own Commandaria base. We honour this tradition and are especially proud of the distinction awarded to ALASIA 1984 Commandaria at this year’s Cyprus Wine awards – this exceptional wine has been maturing for more than four decades; it is the living expression of our passion for our traditional and cultural heritage, and LOEL’s winemaking expertise.
As for our signature spirit Zivania, our brand new, state-of-the-art vinification facility in Agios Sila opened in 2019 and we are delighted with the technical advancements we have been able to achieve; new micro-vinification features isolate the Mavro and Xynisteri grapes to create cleaner fermented batches before distillation is completed at Tsiflikoudia Factory; we have new automated temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation vessels; computerised controls have enhanced safety and precision distillation methods; in-house quality control laboratories can now test the spirit’s purity and consistency before bottling; French Oak barrels now allow for the three-year aging process of our premium Zivana Gold.
Tradition and innovation must work side by side; LOEL is committed to honouring Cyprus’ wine history and heritage, yet we remain ready to learn, improve and innovate. How are Cyprus wines viewed on the international stage? How important is wine Tourism to LOEL’s future?
Cyprus wines are growing in popularity and appeal on the world stage, largely driven by the global demand for niche, premium, boutique wines produced in smaller batches by independent wineries that are cultivating indigenous and authentic grape varieties, like for example, Maratheftiko and Xynisteri. For Cyprus, this is excellent news.
There are 110 wineries currently in operation on the island producing anything from 5 000 to 200,000 bottles; the international export market looks healthy! Interestingly, we are seeing other countries look to plant some of our indigenous varieties – Australia, for example, imported Xynisteri grapes from Cyprus about four years ago with plans to cultivate the variety for their own local wine production. Clearly Cyprus grapes have a far-reaching appeal.
On a personal note, winning awards is always an honour; we are proud to be recognized by our industry peers and delighted to consolidate our position as a leading ambassador of Cypriot wines, both in the domestic market and abroad.
Tell us about LOEL’s participation in the annual Limassol Wine Festival.
An annual highlight for LOEL is our participation and sponsorship of the traditional 9-day celebration of Cyprus wines, beers and spirits, that is the Limassol Wine Festival. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to join our fellow commercial producers, large and small, and to showcase our products to more than 50 000 people who are expected to attend across the nine days. The festival attracts international and national visitors, locals, and tourists.
We look forward to sharing LOEL’s achievements with a new audience.
