The 'Anama Concept is an exclusive enogastronomy brand based in Cyprus, targeting the international eclectic audience and offering high value products and experiences, designed in-line with the brand’s aesthetic approach.
Being a small, family-run business, ‘Anama was established in 2009 as a creative project, motivated by two individual artists and their common passion in reviving Cyprus’s wine tradition, mastered on this island since antiquity and bringing it into the 21st Century. Through the years and by delving deeper into experimentations, wine styles & gastronomy, as well as the unique history behind the indigenous grape varieties, the brand’s portfolio has been enriched with a variety of small batch, fine wines & spirits, solely focusing on these local, ancient grapes. At the same time, our Boutique Winery is designed to be the premium environment to fully experience the lifestyle approach that we propose.
'Cyprus Nama'* known today as Commandaria*
Commandaria (or Commanderia; Greek: κουμανδαρία or κουμανταρία)
*the most ancient listed wine in the world
Mentioned in the scripts of Hesiod, Homer & others, Nama, the ancient-original name of Commandaria, is the oldest listed wine in the world, dating back as far as 5,500 years. Produced solely on the small island of Cyprus, Nama was consumed only by the high-elite society & by Royalty, or was offered to the Gods as a libation (sacrifice).
During the Knight’s era (12th Century), notorious King Richard The Lionheart of England & conqueror of Cyprus, took the initiative of supplying Europe with this fine wine. Considering the high demands as well as the limited quantity Cyprus could produce, he took vines & Cypriot winemaking specialists and established new larger vineyards in the vast Spanish & Portuguese valleys. Thus, they started to produce ‘new’ wines from sundried grapes- recent replicas of ancient 'Cyprus Nama' – known today as Sherry & Port respectively.
It is also said that the Ottoman sultan Selim II invaded the island just to acquire Commandaria.
