Corsican wine: an oenological journey along the Corsican Wine Route

Tasting Corsican wines, past and present

Long before the Greeks arrived on the island, vines grew wild and were eaten for pleasure. Six centuries BC, the Greeks began to domesticate the vine, turning it into a sacred beverage that has since been considered one of mankind's great conquests. From this culture, Corsican wines have inherited a strong winemaking tradition that continues to this day! More than an age-old savoir-faire, wine is now an integral part of the island's identity. Despite numerous invasions, the vine survived, inviting itself into the homes of notables before being totally decimated during the Great War. It wasn't until the 1970s that the island's winegrowing industry rose from the ashes. Thanks to a policy of viticultural reorganization to improve grape varieties, and the know-how of winegrowers who were able to reconcile tradition and modernity, Corsican wines quickly earned their letters of nobility and finally made a name for themselves on the international scene.

Corsican wine: exceptional grape varieties

While Corsica boasts some thirty typical grape varieties, it has 6 noble grape varieties that form the basis of its AOCs: Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Vermentinu, Aleatico, Bianco Gentile and Barbarossa. Other imported grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan, Ugni Blanc and Muscat have adapted to the island's soil to create highly distinctive wines.

As the vast majority of Corsican wines are produced by small estates using traditional know-how, production is low, making Corsican wines rare, even confidential. It's this rarity that makes Corsica's reputation and attracts the attention of the world's greatest wine cellars!

Corsican PDO wines

There are 4 AOP wine appellations in Corsica:

• AOP Ajaccio: Ajaccio wine is available in white, red and rosé. The red offers a beautiful aromatic palette, the white offers floral and citrus fragrances, and the rarer rosé is a wine with floral notes of rose and red fruit.
• AOP Muscat du Cap Corse : One of France's finest vins doux naturels.
• AOP Patrimonio: A unique terroir with very high-end wines. Available in red, white and rosé.
• AOP Vin de Corse: Local wines produced in three colors: red, white and rosé.

Corsican wine: climate and topology

Corsica enjoys a mild climate with mountainous influences and plenty of annual sunshine, perfect warmth and early, rainy springs. As a mountainous island, a different microclimate reigns in each valley, offering a perfect range of soils and an exceptional location for vine growth: granite, limestone, sandstone and sand, silico-clay and clay soils.

Visit a winery

Corsica vineyard

Corsican wine products

Patrimonio vineyards to the north and reds to the south

West Coast Corsica Wine Route: Gulf of Saint Florent - Calvi - Ajaccio - Figari

Make your way to the Gulf of Saint-Florent in Balagne (Haute-Corse), where Patrimonio is produced. A vineyard stretching across the regions of Barbaggio, Saint-Florent, Farinole, Oletta, Poggio d'Oletta and Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda. Here, Nielluciu has made the reputation of Patrimonio wines. These are wines of character, with very pronounced tannins, that have won many awards.

Descent to Calvi, where the AOC Corse Calvi vineyards stretch across the cantons of Calenzana, Belgodère and as far as Ile Rousse. A dozen producers share the 276 hectares of land to produce wines with a strong personality.

Then off to the vineyards of Ajaccio, where 240 hectares are AOC. Here, Sciaccarello is king, producing red wines with aromas of blackcurrant and almond, as well as white wines made from Vermentino.

Sartène... This is the end of Haute-Corse and the gateway to southern Corsica, where the AOC Vin de Corse Sartène reigns supreme! 163 hectares of vines scattered over the Ortolo and Rizzanese hillsides, aged in oak barrels and then in foudre, make the wines of this region unique.

Leaving Sartène, we arrive in Figari, in one of Corsica's oldest vineyards: AOC Vin de Corse Figari. Vines of Vermentino, Grenache, Carcajolo Nero, Sciaccarello and Niellucio stretch across the communes of Pianottoli-Caldarello, Monacia-d'Aullène and around Figari. Full-bodied wines of astonishing finesse!

East Coast Corsica wine route: Cap Corse - Bastia - Porto-Vecchio - Figari

The journey begins in the Coteaux du Cap Corse region, where AOC Muscat du Cap Corse is produced. One of the world's finest Muscats, with complex aromas of hazelnut and fig, candied fruit and citrus. A great delicacy, a delight on the palate!

Continuing south along the east coast, between Solenzara and Bastia lie the vineyards of the AOC Vin de Corse, covering some 1,700 hectares. Remarkable red wines and whites with fruity notes thanks to the introduction of ancient grape varieties.

We continue to Porto-Vecchio, where the vineyards of the AOC Vin de Corse Porto-Vecchio stretch between Solenzara and Bonifacio. 90 hectares of Niellucio, Sciaccarello and Grenache, to produce round, elegant red wines, and a few vines of Vermentino for dry, fruity whites.

Finally, we arrive in Figari, home of the AOC Vin de Corse Figari, which extends as far as Monacia-d'Aullène. Characterful grape varieties for full-bodied wines that nevertheless retain a fine finesse.

Come and visit the "Fiera Di U vinu", organized every year and bringing together winegrowers from all over the island in the Corsican village of Luri, a land of winegrowing tradition. It's also an opportunity to discover regional products and local crafts.