1987 – 1990:
From a hobby to a business

It all began with one man’s passion for wine. Theodoros Fikardos, founder of Fikardos Winery, started his career as a baker before becoming a restaurateur. His experience in these industries deepened his appreciation for quality cuisine, which later sparked his interest in winemaking.

His journey into winemaking began a few years after marrying Elli Fikardou in 1985. Elli’s family owned a vineyard in the small village of Choulou, and in 1987, Theodoros took his first step into winemaking, producing his very first barrel of wine. Initially, the wine was shared with family, friends, and customers at his restaurant. It was met with such enthusiasm that the following year, due to growing demand, he doubled his production to two barrels—approximately 600 bottles. Encouraged by friends and family, Theodoros turned his passion into a full-time profession in 1990.

At that time, his production was limited to a single red wine. Named after his closest friend from Finland, Ravanti was a blend of Mataró and Mavro grapes.

1991 – 1992:
First steps

After a year of producing wine in the basement of his restaurant and at home, Theodoros Fikardos decided it was time to establish a dedicated space for his winemaking. In 1991, he officially founded Fikardos Winery in the village of Anavargos, using a building that once belonged to his late grandfather.

During this period, the winery expanded its range, producing a total of seven different wines—three white, two rosé, and two red.

White:

• Amalthia (now known as Fikardos Xynisteri), a dry white that is still produced today
• Ayia Irini, a medium-dry white
• Katerina, a medium-sweet white that is still produced today

Rosé:

• Iocasti (now known as Fikardos Rose), a dry rosé that is still produced today
• Valentina, a medium-sweet rosé that is still produced today

Red:

• Ravanti, a dry red
• Achilleas, a dry red that is still produced today

By the end of 1992, the winery had increased its production to over 30,000 bottles.

1993 – 2000:
New winery, growth and experimentation

In 1993, to meet growing demand and production levels, the present-day winery was built in the village of Mesogi. Around this time, the winery also began experimenting with single-varietal wines, introducing Fikardos Riesling, Fikardos Merlot, Fikardos Lefkada, and Fikardos Sémillon.

Additionally, several of our flagship wines were released for the first time, including Fikardos Cabernet Sauvignon, Fikardos Maratheftiko, Fikardos Shiraz, and Fikardos Chardonnay. Except for the Fikardos Chardonnay, all of these wines remain in production today.

2001 – 2010:
Modern equipment and market establishment

To modernize its operations, the winery invested in state-of-the-art machinery, including an efficient modular bottling line, a high-volume rotary winemaker, and additional fermentation tanks.

In 2001, the winery produced the inaugural vintage of its esteemed Leonardo red wine. Sourced exclusively from a single vineyard and aged in new oak barrels, Leonardo is crafted in limited quantities from select vintages. The wine was named in honour of the founder’s recently born son.

The winery also produced its first dessert wine, Sunnama, in 2004. Made from Muscat of Alexandria grapes, Sunnama was aged for over eight years in oak barrels.

2011 – today:
A new generation

The winery made its first acquisitions of private vineyards in the villages of Pano Arodes and Choulou. In the same year, the founder’s son, Fikardos Fikardos, joined the company as assistant manager after completing his studies in food marketing and economics.

In 2017, the winery produced its inaugural vintage of Fikardos Giannoudi red wine. The grapes were sourced from the winery’s own vineyard in Choulou and aged in new oak barrels. Giannoudi quickly gained a reputation as one of the winery’s most esteemed wines. Only a limited number of bottles are produced for each vintage. The 2020 vintage of the Giannoudi was awarded the Best Red Wine in Cyprus at the Gastronomos Quality Awards in 2024.

Also in 2017, Valentina Fikardou, the founder’s daughter, joined the company as chief financial officer after completing her studies in accounting and finance, along with obtaining her ACCA qualification.

In 2018, the winery underwent a major rebranding, including a new logo and label design led by Chris Nathanael, who was also responsible for the Paphos 2017 European Capital of Culture logo and overall city branding strategy.

In 2019, Senaga Trading Ltd. became the official sales and distribution representative for the winery in Cyprus.

From 2023 onward, P&P Prokopiou Ltd. took over as the official sales and distribution representative in Cyprus.