With CyWineFest just over a week away, many of you who follow our social media pages will have seen our recent announcements about all the exciting things we have planned for this year’s event. As always, new ideas are introduced to evolve the event, so keep an eye out as you’re wondering around the expo!

While there is always a lot going on in every corner of the venue, both indoors and outdoors, with our activities and entertainment programme grabbing the headlines, we mustn’t forget that CyWineFest is also a business expo. CyWineFest started out 37 years ago as a bazaar, based on helping fledgling businesses gain access to our community, and we pride ourselves on maintaining this legacy.

As such, we have a vast array of exhibitors showcasing their services and products this year, and there will be something for everyone. We’re Cypriot, and therefore good food and drink is always on our minds, so a run through of the culinary offerings is bound to get your taste buds working! We recommend you use public transport or have a designated driver so that you can make the most of our free, unlimited wine tasting stands. A total of five wine tasting stands dotted around the venue including stands showcasing the wines produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Municipality of Pafos. We are also excited to announce for the first time we will also have Oenou Yi Winery exhibiting, and of course well established LOEL Wines. Many of these wines will also be available to buy, many of which will be exclusive to this year’s CyWineFest, so if you enjoy what you try, we recommend that you stock up, as many of these wines cannot be bought elsewhere in the UK!!

If wine isn’t your thing, you can always head to either of our indoor or outdoor KEO Beer bars, or even try a cocktail or two at the CyWineFest Bar with our specially designed Cypriot cocktails and of course Cyprus’s favourite brandy ‘Cyprus Spirit 31’ will be available at Marathon Foods. If you happen to be the designated driver, you don’t have to miss out. We have the CyWineFest Kafeneio in partnership with LAIKO which not only will be serving Cypriot coffee and frappe but will also have traditional kafenion sweet treats like mahalepi to enjoy. And when you get hungry, there is definitely something for everyone this year. Back by popular demand is the Cypriot Community Centre Restaurant which will be serving up traditional kleftiko, and for the first time, everyone’s favourite, kioftedes. New Salamis FC offering up souvlakia, KLN FC serving their amazing toasted ‘mix’ sandwiches, the Halloumi King participating as a pop-up stand for the first ever time serving halloumi fries and Mete’s Hot Dogs and burgers. When your sweet tooth needs a fix, you can indulge with some Aroma Patisserie loukoumades or shiamishi, My Bright Pink Ice Cream Van’s triantafyllo ice cream, Elisana Ltd’s pick and mix sweets and Belgian chocolates, and K’s Party’s who’s not only bringing bouncy castles for the kids, but also bringing slush puppies, wafflestix, popcorn and candy floss for the little and big kids amongst us!

After being suitably fed and watered, you can stock up on a range of traditional Cypriot products being sold by our exhibitors. Marathon Foods and Karpassis Food Importers will be on hand with olive oils, halloumia, olives, meat products, honey, Kafe Express with its ‘just add water’ Greek coffee, and a wide range of other cupboard filler goodies. CyWineFest Panaikortika stand offers up for example nuts, Cyprus lokoumia and soutziouko. Made In Cyprus are back again this year representing artisan Cypriot products and crafts. Or if you’re just looking for a nice decoration for your home, a gift, or just browsing, check out Partylite Candles, Gifted by Demi, MB0SS, Angelic Creations, Diavazo Greek Books, Kyriacos Loizou Clothing Co., Original Paintings by Evanthis Theodorides, Tasos Record Collection, and Nicoletta’s Jewellery.

Maybe you’re thinking of booking a holiday, buying a new barbeque for the summer season, or buying a new house, or renovating your home, we have those things for you too! Archway Sheet Metals Works Ltd, Born Free Travel, David Astburys Estate Agents, P. David Interiors, N&G Tiles & Bathrooms, Utility Warehouse, N-Drive School of Motoring, Aradippou Dental Care, Legal Solutions Euro Ltd and X-ITING Fireworks. And after all that, if you’re feeling guilty from what you’ve consumed at CyWineFest, or looking to just get a bit fitter, Lee Valley Valley Athletics Centre Gym will be on hand with info about their gym services, and also Chambers Academy for Sport.

CyWineFest is also a fantastic platform for our community’s charities and organisations to raise awareness of their causes and the great work and initiatives that they do throughout the year. Lobby For Cyprus, Organisation of the Relatives of the Missing, Services for Overseas Cypriots & NEPOMAK, Metropolitan Police Service Greek & Cypriot Association, UK Thalassemia Society, Famagusta Association and Street Angels UK will all be around, and we recommend checking them out.

For a different spin this year, we are also adding to our entertainment offering by having Pure Xamos taking space in our outdoor marquee and hosting a parent and tot, and under-18s sessions. This is unprecedented at CyWineFest and DJ Sooty will be bringing even more of a party vibe to the event separate to all the happenings of the main stage!

We are very grateful to all our exhibitors who help make CyWineFest what it is, and to both the new and established companies who support our event. A special thanks has to go to the Cyprus High Commission Trade Centre and Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism who are ever present as exhibitors, and as sponsors, whose work helps facilitate the import/export of all the wonderful traditional products we have available at the event, and help promote our culture and our beautiful little island!

 

We hope everyone has a successful CyWineFest 2019!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: CyWineFest team

(1)Sidebar design-Louis Loizou

(2) Eleni C

(3) Roger Grech

(4) Kat Neocleous

(5) Bambas

(6) Elizabeth Chapman

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