CYPRUS: Winemaker Akis Zambartas passed away

Akis Zambartas, the driving force behind the establishment of Zambartas Wineries in 2006, has died aged 67.

After a long career in the wine business, as Managing Director of KEO for 8 years and previously its chief winemaker for 25 years, Akis decided to follow his dream and build his own boutique winery in order to craft quality wines from the finest Cypriot and international grape varieties found on the island. In a matter of few years and with enormous energy and passion, he built the beautifully located winery in Ayios Amvrosios, and won several awards in international competitions, sharing responsibilities in recent years with his son Marcos.
Akis Zambartas had been a leading authority of Cyprus wines. He visited wineries and vineyards all over the world and acquired detailed knowledge about every aspect of grape cultivation and wine production in Cyprus. He had a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Lyon and a degree in Winemaking from the University of Montpellier. To close the circle of his career and pass on his knowledge and experience, Akis started teaching the Oenology course at the University of Limassol, TEPAK.
Akis oversaw every part of the winemaking process at Zambartas Wineries and is also credited with reviving and promoting some of the native grape varieties. He was convinced that the uniqueness of a wine starts with the vine and will come only to full expression by careful handling of the process from grape to glass. With an obsession for perfection, he and Marcos, handcrafted the wines from vineyards to bottle, resulting in elegant, yet expressive wines.
His funeral will take place on Thursday.