Xynisteri is the main white-wine variety of Cyprus. Covering a large portion of the island nation`s vineyard, the variety is used to make both light, refreshing white wines and, together with Mavro, the ancient and renowned Commandaria dessert wines.

The dry, limestone-dominant Cypriot terroir has given the variety a suitable home, and the best Xynisteri vines are planted at higher altitutes where cooler temperatures enhance the quality of the grapes. Here, the variety is at its taut, minerally best; producing wines with lifted aromas of fruit and nuts, and flavors of lemon, peach, and white plum. Xynisteri wines are sometimes aged in oak, bringing spicier, nuttier tones to the fore, and are occasionally blended with other white-wine varieties like Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc.

Xynisteri is also a minor player in Commandaria wines, which are usually dominated by the red-skinned Mavro variety. These wines are traditionally made by drying grapes on rooftops to increase sugar concentration, and are often fortified. Since 1993, Commanderia wines have had their own Protected Designation of Origin.