Wine Festival of Cyprus
Stand at the festival, 2006
Official name	Wine Festival of Cyprus
Also called	Greek: Γιορτή του Κρασιού, romanized: Giortḗ tou Krasioú
Significance	Wine festival held annually in Limassol
Celebrations	Wine making
2025 date	27th September- 5th October 2025
Duration	approx. 9 days
Frequency	Annual
First time	1961; 65 years ago (1961)
Started by	Limassol Development Association[1]

The Wine Festival of Cyprus(Greek: Γιορτή του Κρασιού, Giortí tou Krasioú) is an annual festival held in late summer, in Limassol, Cyprus, that celebrates wine and winemaking. It is dedicated to the island’s winemaking heritage.^[2]

Established in 1961 by the Limassol Development Association, this vibrant event has become a cornerstone of Cypriot culture.^[2] Since its inception, it has been overseen and organized by the Limassol Municipality,^[2][3] occurring in the scenic Limassol Public Gardens each year, barring a few exceptions during times of unrest.^[2]

The festival was initially organized by the Limassol Development Association, with responsibility passing to the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1966 and to the municipality in 1978. Although the idea of a wine festival had circulated among producers and local organizations for years, concerns over cost and viability delayed its realization. The first event was held after the Association’s president, Kleanthis Christoforou, presented a plan supported by the major Cypriot wine companies ETKO, KEO, SODAP, and LOEL, which provided wine free of charge. The Limassol Municipality offered the Public Gardens as the venue, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry contributed financial support. Entertainment was provided by local musicians, artists, and dance groups.^[2]

Despite initial doubts about public reception, the first festival exceeded expectations and proved highly successful. Its primary aim was to promote Cypriot wine consumption both domestically and abroad, while also alleviating a wine surplus that had become a concern for producers and the government. At the same time, the event was intended to provide entertainment for Cypriot citizens and foreign visitors.^[2]

One of the most notable decorations was a seven-metre tall figure of a Cypriot vrakas (traditional wide breeches worn in Cyprus and other parts of Greece),^[4] representing a traditional vine grower in local dress. The figure, created by artist Giorgos Mavrogenis, was installed opposite the main entrance of the Limassol Public Gardens. It became the emblem of the Wine Festival in 1962 and remains in use today. Beneath the figure is the motto «Πίννε κρασίν να σιής ζωήν» (“Drink wine to live long”), attributed to Michalis Pitsillides (1920–2008, Cypriot writer, playwright, and poet).^[2][5]

Since its inception, the Wine Festival has become an annual institution, attracting thousands of locals and tourists each year to the Limassol Public Gardens.^[2][6]

The festival was suspended in 1964 due to conflict in the Tylliria region, and again in 1974-1977 following Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974. It resumed in 1978 under municipal stewardship.^[2]

The Limassol Wine Festival is regarded as a modern continuation of ancient Cypriot celebrations connected with winemaking and the worship of Dionysus, god of wine, and Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love.^[2][7][8] Archaeological finds suggest that wine production on the island dates back to the Chalcolithic period (c. 3500 BC), while Cypriot wine was already traded across the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age. In classical times, writers such as Strabo and Pliny the Elder praised the island’s wines, and mosaics from Paphos depict Dionysus teaching viticulture.^[9]

Festivals in antiquity often combined wine, ritual, and community gathering. The Aphrodisia, held in Paphos, involved processions and offerings to Aphrodite, while the Ariadneia, celebrated at Amathus, honoured Ariadne in connection with Dionysus. Such events, blending agriculture, devotion, and festivity, form the cultural backdrop that the modern Wine Festival seeks to evoke.

The festival takes place in the Limassol Public Gardens (also known as the Municipal Gardens), a lush 60,000 m² park established in 1888, located along the seafront in central Limassol. It includes botanical features, playgrounds, an open-air stage, and even the Limassol Zoo.^[2]

The festival lasts for approximately nine days in late September to early October. The 2025 edition is scheduled from 27 September to 5 October. The admission fee is paid through the Gardens' entry points. Historically, tastings of wines were offered free of charge, covered by the municipality.^[1]

During the festival a wide array of Cypriot wines - including dry whites, sweet reds, Commandaria, and Zivania - are available for unlimited sampling, with glasses often purchased at entry. Workshops and seminars featuring local winemakers and sommeliers enhance the educational experience.^[10]

Traditional dishes such as souvlaki, halloumi, and loukoumades are also served. Evening entertainment includes folklore dances, choir and musical performances, comedic theater, and grape treading.^[10]

• Limassol Municipality site
• Cyprus Wine Festival page

34°40′00″N 33°02′00″E / 34.6667°N 33.0333°E / 34.6667; 33.0333