MELETSES Recognised at the 16th Cyprus Wine Competition

Some wines are created to show the character of a variety. Others are created to explore how far that variety can go.

MELETSES belongs to the second category.

At the 16th Cyprus Wine Competition 2026, MELETSES once again received recognition among the wines of Cyprus — an important distinction for a wine that represents one of Nelion's most ambitious interpretations of Xynisteri.

Xynisteri from 900 metres

MELETSES begins in a single vineyard in the Diarizos Valley, at approximately 900 metres altitude.

Here, Xynisteri develops under very different conditions from those of the warmer, lower vineyards of Cyprus. The fruit from this site gives us the structure, acidity and concentration required to take the variety in another direction.

Rather than treating Xynisteri only as a fresh, youthful white wine, MELETSES is built around depth and evolution.

The 2023 vintage matured for 12 months in French oak, allowing the wine to develop texture and complexity while keeping the character of Xynisteri at its centre.

The result is a fuller expression of the variety, combining citrus and stone fruit with greater structure, subtle spice and the complexity that comes from extended maturation.

Exploring the Potential of Xynisteri

The recognition of MELETSES at the 2026 Cyprus Wine Competition is particularly meaningful because it reinforces an idea that has shaped our work for years:

Xynisteri does not have only one expression.

Vineyard, altitude, yield, vinification and maturation can reveal very different sides of the same indigenous variety.

At Nelion, we explore those differences through wines such as 2RIZES, RKAES and MELETSES — each approaching Xynisteri from a different perspective.

MELETSES represents perhaps the most structured of these expressions: a single vineyard, high-altitude Xynisteri given the time and conditions to develop beyond the expected.

For us, this distinction is not simply another medal.

It is another confirmation of the potential we continue to see in Xynisteri.

Xynisteri Redefined.