My memory of the Limassol wine festival over 40 years ago (FGS!) is drunken squaddies swimming in the ornamental pond that had been filled with kokkinelli for the occasion.
BBadanov, an old army chum and I were saying exactly the same thing the other night - a brandy sour seemed the ideal drink in Cyprus, but if you tried to make one at home it just never seemed right.
I'd also be interested to know if the wine is still free and what a typical bill per head would be nowadays for the full works, inc. wine.