Cyprus has officially submitted its candidacy to inscribe Commandaria wine on UNESCO‘s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday.
The nomination dossier has been published on UNESCO’s website and is expected to be evaluated in 2025.
The Ministry acknowledged the significant contributions of the Department of Agriculture and the crucial participation of community leaders, vine growers, winemakers, and residents from the 14 Commandaria villages.
Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine, is deeply rooted in Cypriot culture. It was first listed on Cyprus’ National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021.
Cyprus has previously succeeded in inscribing six elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:
- Lefkara lace embroidery (2009)
- Tsiattista poetic duelling (2011)
- Mediterranean diet (2013)
- Art of dry stone walling (2018)
- Byzantine chant (2019)
- Midwifery (2023)
The Deputy Ministry emphasised its commitment to preserving Cyprus’ intangible cultural heritage as a recognisable feature of the country’s cultural identity.
Currently, Cyprus’ National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage includes 65 elements, with new applications from interested communities added annually.
