The heritage of grape varieties

In Corsica, we count more than 30 kinds of grape varieties. Three of them can be distinguished: the Sciaccarellu, the Niellucciu and the Vermentinu. They represent noble varieties.

•  Sciaccarellu

If we say « Sciaccarellu », we want to say « crunchy under our teeth ». This term is also used when we talk about fruits (nuts...).

This dark grape variety is one of the main varieties of all the AOC red and rosé of Corsica, because it represents 15% of the areas.

 Geographical situation: This variety represents around 600 acres of the island. Situated in the West of the island, it represents a unique variety, which only exists in Corsica.  

 Characteristics: its smell reveals flavour of red fruits, with some notes of spices and undergrowth flowers. Its taste reveals a balance wine.

This variety allows the elaboration of rosé wines, with a pink-salmon coloration, and with a lot of fruity flavours.  

• Niellucciu

In Corsica, Niellu means « black, dark, strong ».  This dark variety is the principal of the island because it represents 35% of the areas. 

 Geographical situation: This grape variety represents more than 2000 acres on the island. We can mainly find it on Patrimonio (North).

Characteristics: The experts say that it owns a “nose of liquorice and hare’s fur”, and that it releases red fruits flavours.

The Niellucciu also allows creating rosé wines of high quality, very fruity, with a pink colour.

• Vermentinu

It is a white grape variety. It creates a high quality wine, which is considered as one of the best wines of the Mediterranean.

It represents 17% of the areas of the island.

Geographical situation: It fills more than 1150 acres in all the parts of Corsica. We can also find this variety in Italy.

Characteristics: Its smell is very dry, with floral flavours. Its taste is fine, balanced and powerful. We can incorporate it to red wine to create rosé wine of high quality. 

If you want more information about the grape varieties, you can visit the official website of the interprofessional committee of Corsican wines: www.vinsdecorse.com

 Photo: www.intothewine.fr 

Few history and data

History
     In Corsica, like in all the Mediterranean regions, the wine was introduced by the Greeks (6° century before J.C.).

     During the 19° century, some Corsican wines were exported to the French continent. We were able to find Corsican wines on the menus of some restaurants into the biggest cities (Paris, Marseille, Nice…). During the second-half of the 19° century, the Corsica suffered of the Phylloxéra, which devastated the vineyards all around the World. After this period and until the end of the Sixties, wine production was in lethargy.

    After the Algerian independence (1962), some winegrowers from North Africa went to Corsica. They brought capital and savoir-faire. The Algerian wines, with high degree of alcohol, were cut with French wines, with lower degree. The result of this mix was “table wine”, for the common consumption.

     Until the middle of the sixties, France used to consume a lot of wine, but it was in majority “table wine” of bad quality.

      The Frenchs tried to get around the problem of the loss of the Algeria, producing shearing wines in Corsica.

     But some Corsican winegrowers wanted to produce wine of better quality, corresponding to a National and International demand. So, the consumption decreased in terms of quantity, but the demand of “good wine” increased. 

      We observed a new tendency: consume less but consume smarter. This quality process avoided the development of the AOC (guarantee of quality of wine).

     (photo: http://www.skalli.fr/)

Production

     In 2012, around 335,000 hectolitres of wines were produced in Corsica. It included:

-12,000 hl of AOC
-10,000 hl of local wines
-The rest: table wine

The production by colours in Corsica:

- -50% of red wines

- -36% of rosé wines

- -12% of white wines

- -2% of Muscat

Selling

             35% of Corsican wines are sold on the Local market, 45% on the National market, and 20% of the production is exported abroad (principal markets: USA, Germany, and Belgium).