CYPRUS GOURMET: Limassol Wine Centre opens

To judge by appearances, the Interior Minister Neoclis Silikiotis enjoys village life. A few weeks back he had a great time as the guest of honour at the Pasteli Festival in Anogyra, where he joined more than 1400 other people at a joyful traditional village occasion. Last Sunday he came to my home village of Vouni, to open the Limassol Wine Centre – a project several years in the making, and which intends to showcase (and sell) the wines of the Limassol district. A big crowd turned out. After the religious blessing, our Mukhtar Nicolas talked about the project (even giving credit to the originator of the idea – your humble writer) and then the Minister made a short speech declaring the premises open.
On show were wines from Gaia at Ayios Amvrosios, Ayia Mavri, Vlassides, Argyrides, Tsiakkas and ETKO. Several figures from the wine trade were in evidence, including Dr and Mrs Ioannidis of Ayia Mavri, Demos Thoma of ETKO and former Erimi Wine Museum manager, now in charge of Quality Control at Kanika, Pambos Papadopoulos, who has been helping set up the wine centre and who presided over the refreshments.
Local crafts were on show, too: basket making (the one shown was purchased immediately upon completion), pottery and the making of Cyprus sweet-meats.
A fulsome buffet was offered to all those attending, whilst the ministerial and mukhtarial parties repaired to Takis Taverna for an excellent meze. Good food and wine. No speeches. A short snatch of song from Mukhtar Nicolas, much appreciated by Mr Silikiotis and the assembled company, concluded a happy event. Now we wait to see how the Wine Centre will operate. I hope for tastings, tutorials and tourists among the ingredients.

PHOTO: Lively lunch tine-chat at Takis taverna, left to right: Dr Ioannis Ioannides; Mrs Anastasia Mavreli, Limassol District Officer, Mr Neoclis Silikiotis and Mr Nicolas Diomidous, Mukhtar of Vouni.