Maratheftiko

Maratheftiko is a red grape variety native to Cyprus, grown there for a long time. It is valued for the distinctive character it gives to local wines, from a vineyard that covers only a very small share of the island's total vineyard area.

History

Maratheftiko is an ancient variety indigenous to Cyprus.

On the island it goes by several local names, including Vambakadha, Vambakina, Pampakia, Mavrospourtiko and Aloupostaphylo. It is planted in small quantities across almost the whole island, though its main stronghold is the Pitsilia region.

From the 1980s, as small boutique wineries reappeared in Cyprus, the variety was rediscovered. Its cultivation has been growing again slowly, encouraged in part by larger producers, among them Keo, the largest winery on the island. Statistics from 2004 put its planted area at around 125 hectares, less than 1% of Cypriot vineyards.

Culture

Maratheftiko belongs to the winegrowing heritage of Cyprus, and its revival reflects the wish of small wineries to offer wines with a recognisable local identity. On the island it is most closely linked to Pitsilia.

From the vineyard point of view, the variety has a notable feature: its flowers are not hermaphrodite, so it must be planted alongside other varieties for fertilisation and fruit set to take place. When pollination is poor, bunches often suffer from millerandage, meaning small, underdeveloped berries that reduce the yield. This trait forces growers to plan their plantings carefully.

Its presence today is modest but growing. Wines made from maratheftiko are presented as an expression of the Cypriot terroir, and its revival is part of a wider effort to rescue indigenous varieties.