Commandaria takes pride of place among world noble wines

To debut at Vinoble in Jerez, Spain, this weekend Commandaria, the ‘wine of kings’ from Cyprus that dates back almost 3,000 years, will be a guest of honour at this year’s Vinoble international exhibition of noble, fortified and liqueur wines taking place in Spain this weekend. For the first time in its history, Commandaria dessert wine will feature at the event in Jerez de la Frontera, at the heart of Spain’s most revered wine appellation, among other leading wines of the world. This is a great honour for the historic Cypriot wine that has been continuously produced since 800BC from a blend of the two distinct native grapes – the white Xynisteri, known for its freshness and acidity, and the red Mavro, with a great body and amber colour. What gives Commandaria its magic are the grapes that are sun-dried after harvest, with concentrated sugars from at least two years in oak barrels, giving out flavours of raisins, figs, caramel and spice. Commandaria at Jerez 2026 Vinoble Its modern name derives from La Grande Commanderie, a Crusader stronghold on the island from medieaval times, while its title is attributed to Richard the Lionheart, who called it “the wine of kings and the king of wines”. That is probably why Juancho Asenjo, the technical director of Vinoble and an authority on Spanish and world wines, decided to feature Commandaria this year among exceptional “wines for contemplation”, giving them a dedicated stage from which to fill a gap not found in other exhibitions. The choice of Jerez is also exceptional, as it is home to an institution responsible for the management, control, and promotion of one of most characteristic and internationally renowned Designation of Origin in Spain. Its Regulatory Council is also actively collaborating with the Jerez de la Frontera City Council organising the biennially professional trade fair that brings together some of the finest and most unique wines from Spain and the world’s great wine regions, and an essential meeting point for winemakers, buyers, and importers from all five continents. Commandaria will feature prominently among 18 tasting sessions and seven master classes planned across the three-day wine fair celebrated at the Alcázar of Jerez, one of the city’s most iconic and historic landmarks. First mentioned in 2024 In 2024, as part of the event’s closing masterclass “The Great Venice Tasting” (Cata La Gran Venecia), Asenjo already hinted at Commandaria while highlighting the historic role Venice played in global wine culture. Commandaria’s rightful place at Vinoble is a long aspiration of President of the Sherry Appellation, César Saldaña, whose aim is to foster collaborative relations among the world’s most historical winemaking regions. The inaugural masterclass marks the opportunity to build on a sense of camaraderie between two of Europe’s wine regions with the deepest historical roots and a marvelous opportunity to introduce Commandaria to Spain’s wine loving society at large. The Alcázar The setting of the fair at the Alcázar of Jerez is one of the city’s most iconic and historic landmarks, a fortress-palace and the seat of local power. Built by the Almohads between the 12th and 13th centuries, it formed part of the defensive system that protected Jerez during Muslim rule. The word alcázar, from the Arabic al-qasr, refers to a fortified complex enclosed by walls. Beautifully preserved and partially restored, the site offers visitors a journey through the Islamic and Christian heritage of Jerez: towers, crenellated walls, horseshoe arches, a grand parade ground, and gardens filled with orange trees and fountains. The tasting Saturday, May 30, 8pm. (Sold out) Sala Mezquita – “Commandaria, The oldest named wine in the world.” Speaker: Juancho Asenjo, wine expert and technical advisor for Vinoble 2026. Participating wines: Alasia, Ayia Mavri, Lionspirit Legacy Collection, Revecca, Saint Barnabas. Lionspirit W&D is also present at Vinoble, Stand 17, Palacio Villavicencio. The post Commandaria takes pride of place among world noble wines appeared first on Financial Mirror.