Stuart Forster heads into the foothills of the Troodos Mountains and meets the winemaker Marios Kolios while visiting the Kolios Winery in Cyprus.
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Visiting Kolios Winery
Marios Kolios started making wine at the age of 10. Standing by the arched door of the Kolios winery, he explains that it was his grandparents who introduced him to wine.
“My grandmother says, of all the family, only you like the wine like us. So I want to teach you how to make a good wine to drink and remember us,” says Marios.
Marios’s grandmother was called Persefoni. In her memory, Marios makes white wine with the Xinisteri, a Cypriot varietal, that carries her name.
“In Greek mythology, Persefoni was the goddess of the flowers of the spring. But for me, Persefoni was the name of a grandmother,” he explains.
Until Marios was 36, winemaking remained a hobby. Friends and family members enjoyed what he produced. In 1999, he established the Kolios winery in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.
Cyprus winery tour
The Kolios winery offers commanding views over the plains of the Paphos region. At an altitude of approximately 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) above sea level, the roots of vines penetrate deep into the region’s white limestone. The mineral-rich rock and weather at that altitude are key factors in shaping the character of Kolios winery’s wines.
In this arid, upland region, the soft white rock soaks up water. “The rock takes the water from the rains in winter…and we have healthy vines without any irrigation,” points out Marios.
Irrigation would produce larger grapes, but the flavours they impart to wine would be less intense.
“Without irrigation, we have smaller grapes but high concentration of flavours and sugar in the grape. This gives the wine its full body and the excellent aromas,” he explains.
The grapes are harvested by hand in September and October. The terrain’s steepness means that using harvesting machines is not feasible.
A maximum of four hours pass before the grapes are crushed. Pressing and fermentation baths may be under the sun but all of them are temperature-controlled. The fermentation continues for around two to three weeks. After the wine is filtered and bottled, it is stored in the cellar.
Winemaking in Cyprus
Kolios winery produces wines made with international grape varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. It also makes wines from four indigenous grape types: Xinisteri, Spourtiko, Maratheftiko and Mavro,
“The Cypriot varieties, they make excellent wines up here but not at the lower level,” says Marios. He explains that international varietals produce wines of similar quality at both high and low altitude.
Marios guides us down into the cellar where bottles are arranged in neat patterns. That is the work of his wife.
Winery near Paphos
The temperature in the cellar of the Kolios winery is maintained at 16 degrees Celsius (approximately 61°F) throughout the year. Air-conditioning is used only in July, August and September.
Some of the wine is aged in oak barrels, imported from France and Portugal, for between 18 and 20 months. After bottling, Kolios winery’s red wines mature in the cellar for between three and six years.
A natural spring flows into the cellar. When the winery’s foundations were being dug, it initially seemed to be a problem. But Marios regards it like a divine gift. Analysis has shown the water quality is excellent and it helps maintain the cellar’s humidity at an ideal level.
After touring the cellar, we head upstairs to taste the wines produced at the Kolios winery. Sitting in an airy tasting room, whose floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, we begin with the white wines.
For me, the Kolios Maratheftiko is my favourite. An intense red with a long, satisfying finish, it is complex and enjoyable. Before departing the Kolios winery, I purchase a bottle to sip on my hotel balcony.
Kolios winery
The Kolios winery (tel. +357 26 724 090) is outside of the village of Statos Agios Fotios near Paphos.
How to visit Kolios winery
The winery is open throughout the year for visits from Monday to Saturday, except for holidays. From 1 March to 30 September, the guests can visit between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm. From 1 October to 28 February, the Kolios winery welcomes guests from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
Private Tours Cyprus, operated by Alexia Christodoulou, runs a tour focusing on gastronomy and local identity that visits the Kolios winery.
Kolios winery near Paphos
The Kolios winery is about a 35-minute drive northeast of Paphos.
If you plan on tasting wines, you may prefer to travel by bus. Line 636 runs between Paphos and Statos-Agios Fotios, a little under 20 minutes’ walk from the winery.
Map of the Kolios winery
The map below shows the location of the Kolios winery:
Travel to Cyprus
Jet2, Ryanair and TUI Airlines operate direct flights to Pafos International Airport from UK regional airports including Newcastle. British Airways (from London Heathrow) and easyJet (from Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester) also fly to Paphos.
Hotels in Paphos, Cyprus
My base in Paphos was the five-star Constantinou Bros. Asimina Suites Hotel. Accommodation is priced from £1,319 per person, based on two people sharing a Junior Suite with a land view on a bed and breakfast basis. Upgrades are available and online bookings are possible through Jet2Holidays. It was a lovely place to stay.
The all-suites property overlooks the seafront, approximately 3.7km (two miles) southeast of Paphos Harbour. Offering adults-only accommodation, the hotel has 139 suites and added a rooftop bar for the 2026 season.
Search for accommodation in Paphos using the map below:
Books about Cyprus
Interested in visiting Cyprus? You can buy the following books from Amazon:
Culture Smart! Cyprus: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture.
Cypria: A Journey to the Heart of Cyprus by Alex Christophi.
Bitter Lemons of Cyprus by Lawrence Durrell.
Useful travel information
The Paphos Region website has information about things to do in and around the city.
Visit Cyprus is also a useful source of information about things to do in Paphos and the surrounding region.
Further information
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about visiting the Kolios winery near Paphos in Cyprus. Planning a trip to the region? You may also benefit from reading about hiking in the Troodos Mountains and Nature, wildlife & heritage on the Akamas Peninsula in Cyprus.
Stuart Forster is the author of this post. He is an award-winning travel writer whose work has been published in The Tonic Magazine, Food and Travel Magazine and National Geographic Traveller.
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