Corsica: The Island of Beauty

Mediterranean Mountain Meeting

Corsica sits closer to Italy than France, and its wines show this geographical truth. But the island's dramatic topography—mountains rising from the sea—creates countless microclimates. Add indigenous grapes found nowhere else, and you have France's most distinctive wine region.

For centuries, Corsican wine meant rustic reds for local consumption. But a new generation, often trained on the mainland, returned with ambition. They rediscovered native varieties, identified best terroirs, and began making wines that capture Corsica's wild beauty.

The Landscape

- Coastal vineyards: Sea influence, granite soils - Mountain sites: Up to 400 meters elevation - Cap Corse: Finger peninsula with unique terroir - Interior valleys: Continental influence

The scent of the maquis—wild herbs covering the hills—infuses everything, giving wines an unmistakable garrigue character.

The Grapes

Nielluccio (nee-el-LOO-cho): The noble red - Related to Tuscany's Sangiovese - Corsica's answer to Nebbiolo - Tannic, age-worthy - Cherry, herbs, tobacco

Sciaccarello (shah-cah-REL-lo): The elegant red - Indigenous to Corsica - Peppery, delicate - Best on granite soils - Think Pinot Noir meets Grenache

Vermentino: The white star - Here called Malvoisie - Thrives in Mediterranean climate - Citrus, herbs, sea spray - Best examples rival anywhere

Others: - Barbarossa: Rare pink-berried variety - Aleatico: Sweet wine specialty - Muscat: Cap Corse tradition - Carcajolo: Being revived

Corsica's Appellations

Patrimonio: The flagship - Corsica's first AOC (1968) - Nielluccio for reds and rosés - Vermentino whites excel - Chalk and clay soils - Try: Domaine Yves Leccia (€20-30), Clos Marfisi (€15-25)

Ajaccio: Sciaccarello territory - West coast around capital - Granite soils - Minimum 60% Sciaccarello for reds - Try: Clos d'Alzeto (€15-25), Domaine Comte Abbatucci (€30-60)

Vin de Corse: Island-wide - Five sub-regions can append names - Calvi: Northwest coast - Coteaux du Cap Corse: Peninsula - Figari: Far south - Porto-Vecchio: Southeast - Sartène: Southwest

Muscat du Cap Corse: Sweet tradition - Vin Doux Naturel - Small production - Complex aging process - Collectors' items - Try: Clos Nicrosi (€40-60)

The New Corsica

Young winemakers transform the island: - Biodynamic viticulture spreading - Native varieties being rescued - Natural winemaking finding home - Wine tourism developing

Leaders include: - Jean-Charles Abbatucci: Biodynamic prophet - Yves Leccia: Modern traditionalist - Nicolas Mariotti Bindi: Natural wine convert - Muriel Giudicelli: Feminine perspective