On this episode of “The Sweet Life” we dedicated the show to an island deeply affected by wildfires: Cyprus.
We spoke with winemakers from fire-stricken areas, including Markos Zambartas of Zambartas Winery in Agios Amvrosios—a village hit hard by the flames—and Minas Mina from Kyperounda Winery. They shared what’s currently happening in the vineyards and what it means to protect a wine, a landscape, and a way of life.
In the studio, wine writer Simos Georgopoulos took us on a journey through the Cyprus he experienced during his recent visit—through its vineyards, wineries, wines, and the people behind them. Ilias Makridis of WineCore – Cyprus Wine Consortium explained how winemakers are organizing their response, what “wine identity” means, and the goals of the network in building outward-looking momentum.
We also heard from Cypriot wine writer and author Florentia Kythreotou about the stories behind Cypriot wines, the flavors they carry, and the local dishes and products that shape the island’s culinary identity. All of this was accompanied by plenty of music—mostly jazz, with a touch of Cypriot sounds.
At the mics: Nikos Ioannidis and Natasa Vissarionos.