Corsica
The Isle of Beauty, the nickname for Corsica, has been home to France’s southernmost vineyards since the arrival of the Greeks in the sixth century BCE. Corsica’s wine regions run right around the rim of island, with vineyards covering some 5,700 hectares of land. There are nine PDOs (Ajaccio, Patrimonio, Calvi, Corse Coteaux du Cap Corse, Figari, Corse Muscat du Cap Corse, Corse Porto-Vecchio, Corse Sartène and Vin de Corse), and one PGI (IGP Ile-de-Beauté). The region has a variety of terroirs at different altitudes and a great many native grape varieties. Of the 33 varieties used, the most widespread are Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Vermentinu, Aleaticu, Biancu Gentile and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
Corsican wines offer a wide variety of styles and the island is home to many highly acclaimed producers such as Clos Canarelli, Comte Abbatucci, Clos Venturi, Sant Armettu, the Arena family and the Zuria estate.
