What is the oldest wine brand in the world?

Commandaria, the sweet dessert wine from Cyprus, is the oldest manufactured wine in the world, its origins traced as far back as 2000 BC. This wine also holds the record for the oldest “Appelation d’origine”.

How do you drink commandaria?

The drink can be served at ambient temperature, with the addition of some ice-cubes or even ice-cold, as you can kep the bottle in the fridge. Commandaria is considered to be a dessert wine, that is you enjoy it after a meal and especially after dinner.

How is commandaria made?

Commandaria is made exclusively from two types of indigenous Cyprus grapes: Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are then laid out in the sun to further increase the sugar density through evaporation. When the must weight reaches 19 to 23 °Bé the juice is extracted thorough crushing and pressing.

How long does commandaria last once opened?

How Long Does Commandaria Last When Open? Due to its high alcohol content, Commandaria lasts much longer when opened than table wines. Even when stored at room temperature, you can enjoy it for up to 6 months.

Can wine age too long?

Aging changes wine, but does not categorically improve it or worsen it. Fruitiness deteriorates rapidly, decreasing markedly after only 6 months in the bottle. Due to the cost of storage, it is not economical to age cheap wines, but many varieties of wine do not benefit from aging, regardless of the quality.

How do you serve commandaria?

Before serving, Commandaria should be chilled to a temperature of 8-10 C degrees in order to best disclose its flavours and aroma. Commandaria is usually served as a dessert wine. Commandaria is best served in tulip glasses to perfectly reveal its flavour.

Is Madeira wine fortified?

Madeira is a fortified wine that hails from the island of Madeira in Portugal, about 300 miles off the coast of Morocco. Ranging from sweet to dry, it’s primarily made with a handful of grape varieties, including Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual (also known as Boal), and Malvasia (aka Malmsey).

Where does the world’s oldest wine still in production come from?

In 2011, a wine press and fermentation jars from about 6,000 years ago were found in a cave in Armenia. The world’s earliest non-grape based wine is believe to be a fermented alcoholic beverage of rice, honey and fruit found in China and dating to about 7,000 BC.

How long is dessert wine good for unopened?

Unopened bottles of dessert wine are best stored under 5 months and are made to drink right away.

How long does wine last unopened?

Generally, wine should be kept in cool, dark places with bottles placed on their sides to prevent the cork from drying out. The shelf life of unopened wine can last 1–20 years depending on the type of wine.

When was the first wine of Commandaria made?

Commandaria was first produced around 800-1000 BC. It was praised by the ancient Greek poet Homer. It was also mentioned by Hesiod. The antiquity of the production of Commandaria wine reflects the antiquity of wine in general in Cyprus.

Which is the oldest wine in the world?

Cyprus () Commandaria, the sweet dessert wine from Cyprus, is the oldest manufactured wine in the world, its origins traced as far back as 2000 BC.

What kind of grapes are used to make Commandaria?

Commandaria is made from sun-dried grapes of the varieties Xynisteri and Mavro. While often a fortified wine, through its production method it often reaches high alcohol levels, around 15%, already before fortification. It represents an ancient wine style documented in Cyprus back to 800 BC and has the distinction…

How did the region of Commandaria get its name?

This area under the control of the Knights Templar (and subsequently the Knights Hospitaller) became known as Commandaria. When the knights began producing large quantities of the wine for export to Europe’s royal courts and for supplying pilgrims en route to the holy lands, the wine assumed the name of the region.