Top 100 wines of Corsica

Discover the top 100 best wines of Corsica as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Corsica and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Corsica

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, located between the southeast coast of Provence and the west coast of Tuscany. Although it is closer to Italy, Corsica has been under French rule since 1769 and is one of the 26 regions of France. The island's Italian origins are evident in its wines, which are mainly made from the classic Italian Grapes Vermentino and Sangiovese (known here as Rolle and Nielluccio respectively). Despite its remoteness, Corsican winemakers have amassed an impressive and diverse portfolio of grape varieties - there are very few places on earth where Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Barbarossa grow side by side.

More than 40 of them, mostly of Spanish, Italian and French origin, are allowed to be used in quality wines. Despite this wonderful diversity, most of them are only used in IGP wines; only a small handful of varieties are used in Corsican AOC wines (see French wine labels). Just as Corsica's Italian history is evident in the local wines, so is the French connection. The classic grape varieties of southern France are all present here to some extent; Grenache is a main ingredient in many Corsican red wines, and Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut and Carignan all play a supporting role.

Discover the grape variety: Vermentino

The vermentino grape variety was widespread in Italy, Sardinia and Corsica. Today, Vermentino is grown in the regions bordering the Mediterranean, mainly in Provence (Côtes de Provence, Bellet), Corsica (Corse Calvi), Languedoc (Côtes du Roussillon, Costières de Nîmes) and the Rhône Valley (Côtes du Luberon). Because it ripens late, Vermentino requires a warm climate for its development and can only be grown in regions with good sun exposure. Conversely, cold or temperate climates do not allow it to ripen properly. Vermentino is only susceptible to powdery mildew. When vinified on its own, Vermentino produces a single-variety dry white wine that is light and full-bodied with a pale yellow color. It can also be blended with other grape varieties such as Ugni Blanc, Cinsault and Grenache, in which case its low acidity makes it light and fresh. Vermentino belongs to the grape varieties of Ajaccio, Corsica and Corbières. The aromas released by this variety are multiple. One can detect notes of fresh apple, green almond, sweet spices, hawthorn, ripe pear and fresh pineapple.

Food and wine pairing with a wine of Corsica

wines from the region of Corsica go well with generally quite well with dishes of spicy food, sweet desserts or beef such as recipes of kimo (malagasy dish with beef), gaufress and light or chinese noodles with beef.

Organoleptic analysis of wine of Corsica

On the nose in the region of Corsica often reveals types of flavors of peach, salt or anise and sometimes also flavors of sage, vegetal or floral. In the mouth in the region of Corsica is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.

News from the vineyard of Corsica

Andrew Jefford: ‘Arresting and generous, but without vulgarity or excess’

Layers of colour in the sky before me: indigo, peach, salmon. In the rear-view mirror, the gold was catching fire. As I drove down through the lonely, Mistral-chilled vines of Babeau-Bouldoux towards nearby St-Chinian, I was thinking about what Christine Deleuze of Clos Bagatelle had just said. ‘When you came to visit 10 years ago,’ she reminded me, ‘you said we needed to wait another decade for a market breakthrough. Today you’ve said we need to wait another decade or two. So when, exactly, wil ...

Andrew Jefford: ‘Arresting and generous, but without vulgarity or excess’

Layers of colour in the sky before me: indigo, peach, salmon. In the rear-view mirror, the gold was catching fire. As I drove down through the lonely, Mistral-chilled vines of Babeau-Bouldoux towards nearby St-Chinian, I was thinking about what Christine Deleuze of Clos Bagatelle had just said. ‘When you came to visit 10 years ago,’ she reminded me, ‘you said we needed to wait another decade for a market breakthrough. Today you’ve said we need to wait another decade or two. So when, exactly, wil ...

Luxury lots see Naples Winter Wine Festival 2022 break record  

Wealthy bidders gathered under a big tent just outside Ritz-Carlton golf resort in Florida to compete for ‘one-of-a-kind’ lots in the live auction at Naples Winter Wine Festival 2022. Organisers said a record amount of more than $23m was raised at the latest edition of the annual charity event, which was founded by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF). Rather than focus solely on wines, the live auction is known for offering exclusive experiences in partnership with some of the ...