Organic, Biodynamic and Natural
Wines from Corsica

Discover organic and biodynamic Corsican wines

From its history to its terroir, via its indigenous grape varieties, the Corsican vineyard is unique, just like its ‘Isle of Beauty’, nestled between sea and mountains, vibrant and contrasting.

The variety of wines is astonishing for such a small area, where rosé remains the primary wine production. The island’s wine-growing region comprises nine appellations, mainly divided into small estates, with the exception of the eastern part.

Like many other regions, Corsica was not immune to the drive for productivity focused on table wine in the 1960s and 1970s. This shift initially hindered the emergence of organic, biodynamic and natural Corsican wines. Today, these wines are enjoying a real boom, which is something to be celebrated.

Some of the leading names in Corsican wine

• Heritage > Antoine Arena, Yves Leccia
• Ajaccio > Domaine Vaccelli, Count Abbatucci (a great champion of rare indigenous grape varieties, a treasure of our heritage)
• Cap Corse > Clos Nicrosi, Pieretti Estate
• Calvi > Domaine d'Alzipratu, Clos Culombu
• Porto-Vecchio > Torraccia Estate
• Sartène > Domaine Fiumicicoli
• Figari > Clos Canareli,

The wines of Corsica: a rich and varied history!

The legacy of Ancient Greece, followed by Genoa, and its rival France, has had a profound influence on the history of these wines. Under the influence of its invading neighbours, agriculture—and viticulture in particular—has always been a primary activity.

In 546 BC, the Phocaeans from the ancient Greek city of Phocaea on the Aegean coast fled the Persians. They sought refuge in southern Italy, then in Corsica, and finally in France, where they founded Massalia (Marseille), bringing with them the vines that would largely give rise to this diverse wine-growing region. Caught between colonialism and the assertion of identity, Corsican wines reflect, just like the region itself, a dual, complex and unique history.

Corsican vineyards: a blend of native and non-native grape varieties

Many of Corsica’s grape varieties are of both indigenous and non-indigenous origin, having been brought back and forth between Greece, Provence, Italy and Spain.

• Sciaccarello (red): An indigenous variety, Sciaccarello (or Sciaccarellu) is a native red grape variety, mainly grown in the Ajaccio region. Its name derives from the adjective ‘sciacca’, which refers to the crisp texture of its grapes. Well suited to granitic soils, it produces fruity, full-bodied wines, sometimes displaying great finesse. A fine example is the Monte Bianco cuvée from the Comte Abbatucci estate, one of Corsica’s finest biodynamic red wines, made from 100% Sciaccarellu.

• Nielluccio (red): A grape variety native to Italy, where it is known as Sangiovese. It produces deep-coloured, full-bodied wines that are the hallmark of Patrimonio’s reds. This is particularly true of Yves Leccia, whose ‘e Croce’ cuvée is a classic expression of this variety.

•  Vermentinu (white): Also known as ‘Malvasia of Corsica’ (Malvasia: a white grape variety in Greek), but best known in Provence as Rolle. Of unknown origin, it is thought to have originated in Turkey and been brought to the island by the Genoese, or perhaps it comes from Spain? It produces one of the island’s finest white wines, with great aromatic intensity.

• Biancu Gntile (white grape variety): A quintessential indigenous variety, it produces wines with notes of citrus, exotic fruits and white fruits. Light and smooth, with a lovely clarity, it is not widely grown but plays a key role in the reputation of the wines of Patrimonio and Sartène. 

• Barbarossa (a red-bearded rosé grape variety, or Barbaroux): It is mainly found in the Sartène, Porto-Vecchio, Figari and Ajaccio appellations. It is also vinified as a white wine, producing golden-brown hues, and yields low-acid wines with a light structure that are best left to mature. It is also very pleasant as a table grape.

• Aleatico (red grape variety): Also of Greek origin and introduced by the Romans, it is grown across the eastern part of the island in the Porto-Vecchio and Cap Corse regions. It produces rather sweet and aromatic wines with a deep ruby-black colour.

Corsica is also home to other, more traditional grape varieties: Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah …

In short, the Isle of Beauty is a veritable and delightful tapestry of Mediterranean wine culture. It is a unique and unusual blend of a history marked by invasions and a melting pot of different cultures.

Sources:
nustrale.com,
dico-du-vin.com,
vinsdecorse.com,
TechnoResto.fr