Corsica’s Wines
Best known as a Mediterranean holiday hot spot famous for the extraordinary beauty of its towns, environment and beaches, Corsica is also highly regarded for the production of great quality wines, which are celebrated even at an international level. The Mediterranean- like territory in Corsica allows them to produce wines with oenological characteristics similar to the very best Italian and French wines.
Over the years numerous Corsican wines have received important recognition for their high quality, physical properties and excellent aroma. A source of great pride for an island renowned for its natural beauty, Corsica boasts ancient wine making traditions that are closely tied to their culture and past peasant lifestyle.
There are more than 100 Corsican wines which have achieved DOC and DOCG status including:
Porto Vecchio: a wine derived from grapes found in more than 50 kilometres of Corsica and which originated from the Italian region of Lecci.
Patrimonio: a wine produced in the unique climatic conditions of Corsica’s mountainous zones. DOCG recognition is relatively recent for this wine, but it was already recognized by the National Institute of the Domination of Controlled Origin of the AOC and was named a leading Denomination wine in 1968.
Coteaux d’Ajaccio: the grape varieties used to produce this wine are grown in the hilly and mountainous zones and includes the Sciacarello variety. DOC recognition for the Coteaux d’Ajaccio was awarded in 1984.
Sartenais: first recognized with the denomination of VDQS in 1968, this wine became DOC in 1976 and is produced in the territory between the Riviera of Taravo and the Valley of Ortolo.
Capo Corso: a wine produced in the northern part of Corsica, a territory which cultivates many internationally famous vine varieties, Capo Corso earned DOC recognition for its sweet and dry white wines.
Costa Orientale: a DOC wine produced in the territory between Bastia and Solenzara
Calvi: a DOC wine produced in the plains and valleys using grape varieties of the highest quality.
Figari: a DOC wine produced in the south of Corsica using red grape varieties.
