The time has come. My trip to the blue-blue waters of Cyprus has finally arrived. I am but a few hours hop away from sunbathing on a beautiful pebbled beach.

Of course there is more to this island than just coves and cocktails. Cyprus has a winemaking history dating back to antiquity - over 4000 years.

Last month at the Global Trader Shiraz luncheon, Nederburg cellarmaster Razvan Macici mentioned their sweet wines, having just beaten Cyprus winery Ayia Mavri in the global Muscat du Monde 2010. Mosxatos 2007 came second to Nederburg's Private Eminence 2007 - a wine that I am looking forward to try at the winery in Limassol.

Among other microwineries, the Khrysorroyiátissa monastery is rumoured as bottling "an excellent dry white" and there is a winery not far from my base in Páfos called Firkardos which seems to have some worthwhile offerings as well - one of them a Cabernet Sauvignon.

My guide to Cyprus further supports the notion that I will be well catered for in terms of my favourite pastime: imbibing wine while lazing on a balcony.

I can't wait to compile a thorough report on the wines, but for now it is 'see you soon', or as they say in Greek kali andámosi.

See you on the 23rd of August.

Aphrodite’s Birthplace, near Pafos. Where Boticelli painted the Venus. Picture by Nicholas de Villiers.