{{Short description|Variety of grape}} {{Infobox grape variety | name = Xynisteri | image = Xynisteri 1.jpg | caption = <!-- Caption of image --> | species = <!-- Binomial name of species --> | also_called = <!-- Other names for variety --> | origin = Cyprus | hazards = <!-- Viticultural hazards --> | regions = Troodos mountain range | notable_wines = Commandaria, Xynisteri }}
'''Xynisteri''' (also spelled '''xinisteri'''; {{langx|el|ξυνιστέρι}}) is an indigenous<ref name=a>{{cite web|title=Vitis International Variety Catalogue|url=http://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=704|language=en}}</ref> white grape<ref name=b>{{cite web|last1=Lazarou|first1=Stalo|title=Ξυνιστέρι|url=http://foodmuseum.cs.ucy.ac.cy/web/guest/trofima/civitem/1173#_bs_civitems_tabcyprus.tab1|website=foodmuseum.cs.ucy.ac.cy|publisher=Cyprus Food Virtual Museum|access-date=24 November 2015|language=el}}</ref> grown on Cyprus.
According to some estimates, 33% of Cypriot vineyards, on the south slopes of the Troodos mountain range are planted with this grape variety, a fact that makes Xynisteri the main white grape grown of Cyprus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Xynisteri Wine|url=http://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-1643-xynisteri|website=wine-searcher.com|publisher=Wine-searcher|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=c>{{cite web|title=Xynisteri|url=http://www.vounipanayiawinery.com/page/en/22/xynisteri|website=vounipanayiawinery.com|publisher=Vouni Panaya Winery|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202821/http://www.vounipanayiawinery.com/page/en/22/xynisteri|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Its clusters and berries are of medium size while it is known for its durability against wine diseases.<ref name=c/> It is used in the production of several local (mainly white) wines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concourslyon.com/en/fiche-vin-38324-monolithos-xynisteri.html|title = Monolithos Xynisteri - IGP Limassol - Concours International de Lyon - International Wine, Beer and Spirits Competition}}</ref> Xynisteri is blended with Mavro grapes for the production of the Commandaria,<ref name=a/> a well-known Cypriot dessert wine and it is also used for the production of the local spirit Zivania.<ref name=c/>
The grape variety is being trialled in the hotter wine regions in Australia like the Barossa and the Riverland where it is reducing growers' water consumption by 75% and withstanding heatwave events above 45 degrees Celsius due to a root structure three to four times the size of other European varieties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ancient white wine variety reducing water bills and instilling hope for struggling Australian industry |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-10/ancient-cypriot-white-winegrape-drought-tolerant-climate-change/106524604|website=www.abc.net.au/news|access-date=10 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
Category:White wine grape varieties Category:Grape varieties of Cyprus Category:Dessert wine