Recently, a very good friend of mine gave me two bottles of wine. One was made from the Syrah variety and the other from the Merlot variety. The name of the winery was unknown to me at that moment, although I deal extensively with issues of wine in the last eight years, providing research and advisory services to the wine industry. Opening the wine partly tentatively, I was excited by the color, the complex and pleasant flavor, as well as the full and harmonious taste with the long aftertaste. Starting with the Syrah, the smell of wood was pleasantly obvious as the wine is aged in French oak barrels. It’s deep red color, rich flavor and intense and complex aromatic character are what make it stand out. The main characteristics of its aroma are red fruit, chocolate and various spices.
 
The Syrah was a unique experience which prompted me to open the second bottle. The Merlot, was equally impressive. A light wine with less tannins, with a sense of freshness, suitable for those who do not prefer strong flavors. It is characterized by aromas of raspberry and caramel with strong notes of vanilla.
It is worth mentioning that both labels, MAKKAS SYRAH 2008 and MAKKAS MERLOT 2008, were scientifically designed and are bottled unfiltered after twelve months of aging in oak barrels thus retaining all their pure and natural characteristics.

This positive experience prompted me to want to know more about the Makkas winery and its people. I learned that the Makkas Winery was founded in 2007 and operates in the community of Statou- Saint Photios in the mountainous regions of Paphos.

With a passion and love for the land and her fruits, the people of the Makkas Winery work daily, attending to each detail in the production of wine. From the moment of cultivation until the final bottling, they monitor in detail each stage of the process. Their aim is to respect traditions and develop quality wines!

Three generations of the Makkas Family, founded by Giorkis Psaras, grandfather of the current owner and director, Andreas Psaras,  as well as parents Maroulla and Nikos, worked hard to cultivate the land and create the family vineyard. The love of these ancestors for the land, their efforts under difficult conditions, and the need for tradition to be continued, are some of the reasons that led to the foundation of the Makkas Winery.

Today, Andreas Psaras is the third generation of the Psaras family to cultivate vines and produce wine. His goal is to develop Makkas Winery into one of the leading small wineries in Cyprus.  He would like to make known to the world the unique characteristics of Cyprus terroir and grape varieties and produce outstanding wine. Building on the tradition of their ancestors, the families Psara, Andreou and Arseni, with the contribution of the Sidiropoulos family, have set as their goal to highlight  the distinct characteristics and special qualities of the wines that the Cypriot mother land can produce. The contributions of oenologist, George Gialitaki, a permanent associate, and Lefteris Mochianaki, consulting associate, are crucial.

With just three years of life, the Makkas Winery was able to distinguish itself in the difficult field of wine making.  Specifically, it was awarded the following ten international awards competitions:

Makkas Red 2010, Silver in Cyprus, Competition 2011.

Makkas Chardonnay 2010, Silver in Cyprus, Competition 2011.

Makkas White 2010 Silver in Thessaloniki, Competition 2011

Makkas Syrah 2008 Gold in Thessaloniki, Greece, Competition 2010 
Makkas Syrah 2008 Gold in Cyprus, Competition 2010
Makkas Syrah 2008 Silver in Moldova Competition 2010 
Makkas Syrah 2007 Silver in Thessaloniki, Greece, Competition 2009
Makkas Syrah 2007 Silver in Moldova Competition 2009 
Makkas Merlot 2008 Gold in Thessaloniki, Greece, Competition 2010 
Makkas Merlot 2008 Silver Cyprus, Competition 2010 
Makkas Red 2009 Silver in Thessaloniki, Greece, Competition 2009 
Makkas White 2009 Silver in Moldova Competition 2009 
Makkas White 2009 Silver in Moldova Competition 2009
Makkas White 2007 Silver in Thessaloniki, Greece, Competition 2010 
Makkas White 2007 Silver Cyprus, Competition 2010

The people of the Makkas Winery deserve to be congratulated for what has been accomplished in so little time. Their wines are unique and deserve the attention of us all.