Very likely
we would have come to that bay anyway, while on Cyprus. But we also had a very special mission to go west from Lemesos (Limassol). That mission was first given in the form of a hint after we had a KEO wine (not bad at all) with an excellent dinner. "I have a Village Wine for you next time", he said.

The polite, non-intruding
way Chef Michalis Andreou gave the hint, after making us a wonderful, herb-tasty lamb dinner in his family restaurant AVACAS*, made our antennas rise high! So, we were there again the next evening, and practically every evening because of the food, and because Michalis and his family (daughter Elena, wife Georgia) simply seemed to fit our way of enjoying the things this website is all about: wine, food, and the enjoyment of them in a friendly atmosphere.

The atmosphere
gave room, later on, not only to compliments about the food & wine, not only to an appreciation of the way daughter Elena served it with time to talk, but also to sharing opinions about life, joining the EU, Michalis' turn-of-the-year visit in Stockholm to teach Greek cuisine (we really should have him come also to Helsinki), and many more things that open up when things are right.

Michalis
comes, ofcourse, from Ayios Fotios, from a village about 900 metres above sea-level, and quite many miles away from Lemesos - even quite far away up and towards inland from Pafos. And so does our Wine of the Week, AYIOS FOTIOS 2003. The hint !

That Wine
proved once again that the areas originating wine, as we know it in Europe, are emerging newly with a new craftmanship combined with tradition, innovation, and hand-picking care. Just in the same way as they make food at Avacas. - Ayios Fotios 2003 is a mouth-felt, softly round, velvety & tasty red arousing great interest in the local grapes, Maratheftiko, Mavro and Ofthalmo.

So we
eagerly followed Michalis' hint further than just enjoying the wine in Avacas. We drove first to ancient Pafos - and finally found our way up to Village Wine's winery (Kolios Vineyards) high up on the outskirts of Statos Ayios Fotios village where the mountain clouds and mist made the place an isolated dionysian heaven.

But
I will now leave room to about four other Kolios reds, and something more on the winery & vineyard to be enjoyed during the following weeks. And to the many tasty plates at AVACAS with Michalis and his family. - Stay tuned !

-Hannu
March 11, 2005

* AVACAS Restaurant: 233D, 28th October Str., Limassol, Molos Area, Tel. 25340518 / 99666408 (Molos being the shoreline, park-like, promenade area with interesting plants, and even more interesting sculptures spread on the way to the old part of Limassol for anyone's enjoyment - and 28th October Str. commemorating the 1812 revolution).
A family restaurant with a kitchen for both Greek and international enjoyments conjured by Michalis and Georgia, and served mostly by Elena. Some of the tastiest food we've had anywhere.

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