Our Story

INTROduction TO

Our Roots

Pittali Winery is a family endeavor founded by Fanis Pittalis. Reviving the land and legacy of Agios Theodoros Pitsilias, the winery stands as a tribute to the people, vineyards, and traditions that shaped the region. A project devoted to preserving the village’s cultural and agricultural heritage.

Each bottle reflects a deep respect for the land and its stories. Inspired by the rhythms of the Pitsilia mountains and guided by tradition, Pittali Winery blends authenticity with craft, sharing a genuine taste of place with every vintage.

Rooted in tradition, guided by nature, and inspired by the spirit of our land

MeeT

Fanis Pittalis

My name is Fanis Pittalis, and my journey began far from the vineyard, with a background in Mechanical Engineering. But in 2019, something shifted. I was drawn back to Agios Theodoros, the mountain village of my father, where I reconnected with nature and stumbled upon a legacy that had long been forgotten: the abandoned vineyards and age-old winemaking traditions of our ancestors.

Inspired by this discovery and fueled by a deep love for nature, wine, and science, I pursued a Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology through the University of Lisbon and the University of Torino. Along the way, I uncovered the stories of my great-grandfather Ioannis Mpeis and his cousin Antonis Ioannou, whose vines once shaped the landscape of our village. Their spirit now guides my work.

I aspire to bring the same hard work and meraki my ancestors poured into their craft, while combining it with science and modern technologies, so that I may live up to the full potential our land has to offer.

FANIS PITTALIs

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Our Inspiration

This project draws deep inspiration from two remarkable figures: Ioannis Mpeis our great grand father, a family man whose humility and devotion to the vine turned his home into a living testament of village life and viticultural passion that reflects the life of the people of the Pitsilia region, and Antonis Ioannou his neighbour and relative, a man of meraki who built with his hands and family help an iconic traditional winery from the ground up. Their stories are etched into the soils of Agios Theodoros Pitsilias, and their legacy shapes every bottle we produce.

Ioannis Mpeis

Ioannis Mpeis was born in Agios Theodoros Pitsilias, in 1895, a man of rare gentleness and kindness, he was known for his calm presence and unwavering humility, earning the deep respect of all who knew him in the village.

He married Anthousa Christofi, and together they raised seven children, four sons and three daughters, in a home where simplicity and hard work were the foundations of life. For Mpei, the vine was more than sustenance; it was a way of being. Wine, vinegar, and zivania were not occasional pursuits but part of the rhythm of each day. His old clay jars (pitharia), still found in the family home, stand as silent witnesses to this daily devotion.

Antonis Ioannou

Antonis Ioannou was a man who embodied the village’s deep-rooted connection to winemaking. Born into a world where winemaking was not just a craft but a way of life. By the 1950s, Antonis, together with his wife Maria, devoted themselves to establishing a family run winery under their house. Fifteen pitharia and four concrete fermentation tanks stood as proof of their vision, and endeavours.

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But Antonis’ work was not just about production; it was about preserving a heritage that ran through the veins of the village. The land had always demanded much from its people, and winemaking in Agios Theodoros Pitsilias was never a profession of ease. It was a test of endurance, a craft shaped by rocky soils and an unforgiving climate. And yet, Antonis persevered, pouring his passion, knowledge, and relentless effort into every harvest, every fermentation, and every pithari of wine. His story was not one of wealth or grandeur, but one of “meraki”, that untranslatable Greek word for putting heart and soul into one’s work. With scarce resources but boundless dedication, he and his family built something meant to outlast them, a winery that stood as a testament to the village’s spirit. For years, Antonis’ daughter, Troodia Taliadorou, and her husband, Petros, carried on his work, ensuring that the fires he had kindled did not fade. The winery remained a center of winemaking in the village, where knowledge was passed down and where each vintage held the essence of the land and its people.

1910

Ioannis Mpeis
Plants his first vineyard in the area of Κoufes, starting his personal involvement with the vine

1950

Antonis Ioannou
Sets out to establish his family run winery under his house, in the same neighbourhood that his relative Ioannis Mpeis was living

1960

Michalis Pittalis
Marries Ioannis Mpeis’ daughter, and takes over the care of some of the vineyards

2019

Fanis Pittalis
Takes over the care of the family’s small vineyards from the hands of his grandfather Michalis Pittalis, and sets out to start this trip of rediscovery

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Our work today

With the support of my family, and especially my sister Mariana Pittali, who studied Communication and Media at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, we returned to Cyprus and founded Pittali Winery. Together, we are shaping a new vision for Pitsilia’s wine culture through our ongoing initiative, the “House of Fanis Pittalis” Project. This project is about more than wine making. It’s about expanding understanding, preserving history, and pushing the boundaries of what Cyprus viticulture can become.

Since 2019, I’ve been working with old, often neglected vineyards, rescuing them from decline and experimenting with small-scale winemaking. These vines are the backbone of our early work. Now, as we move forward, we are planting new vineyards that balance traditional knowledge with modern techniques and mechanization, aiming for both quality and sustainability.

As head of viticulture and winemaking, I’m leading efforts to explore innovative methods, trial new cultivars, and collaborate with fellow winemakers who share our passion. While we develop our estate vineyards, we also work with trusted local growers who share our values.

Mariana, on the other hand, leads the management, communication, hospitality, and overall vision of the winery’s identity and operations. Her creativity and dedication ensure that every aspect of Pittali Winery reflects who we truly are: a family devoted to reviving and reimagining the winemaking traditions of Pitsilia.

Great wines are never made alone. Behind every bottle is a team driven by shared passion, and a commitment to excellence

WINEMAKER

Fanis Pittalis

Communication and Marketing