VINES AND WINES 39 



The principal wines, spirits, liqueurs and other alcoholic 

 liquors produced are : 



The ordinary black wine of the country, or " krasi." 



The ordinary white wine of the country, or " aspro- 

 krasi." 



Commandaria. 



Brandy. First and second quality sold in barrels ; 

 one-star, two-star, three-star and V.O. sold in bottles. 



Mastic, sold in four qualities ; Zucki, sold in two 

 qualities. 



Rum and Amer Pigon. 



Alcohol. 95 C. and 36 C. 



Various spirits, liqueurs and syrups : whisky, vermuth, 

 amathus, banana, mentha, mandarini, triantaphyllo, kitro, 

 pergamotto, vanilla, violetta, anana, benedictine. 



Eau de Cologne. 



Commandaria is one of the oldest and most famous 

 sweet dessert wines. It is held indeed to have been the 

 " nectar of the gods." In the time of the Knights 

 Templar it acquired great fame. Existing stocks are 

 annually added to, the original vintage having in some 

 cases a great age, so much so that, through evaporation, 

 the wine becomes a syrup or pulp, which imparts a bouquet 

 to the fresh commandaria which is added to it. In making 

 Commandaria the grapes are left on the vines until over- 

 ripe and, after picking, are spread out in the sun for 

 further evaporation, when they undergo the usual process 

 of wine-making. In this way a sweet wine, rich in sugar 

 and alcohol, and having a characteristic flavour, is pro- 

 duced. A limited quantity only is made every year, and 

 of this a certain quantity is exported and fetches a high 

 price, as a speciality, in England and on the Continent. 



A red mastic is made at the Kykko Monastery which 

 has acquired local fame. 



The situation at the present time is generally improved, 

 and although Cyprus wines can never form more than an 

 insignificant proportion of the world's supply, and could 

 not create any special market without considerable change 

 of system and large expenditure in advertising, they may 

 yet, by simple improved methods, by means of co-opera- 

 tive storage and the application of sound elementary 



