Wine production in Corsica

Corsica is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea south of metropolitan France and west of the Italian peninsula with an area of ​​8,722 km2. Agriculture is the most dominant activity in Corsica, it relies particularly on viticulture and arboriculture. The vine is present in the wild and appreciated for several years, this dates back to Roman times.

Let's discover the viticulture of this island of beauty.

Corsican wine in figures

The Corsican territory has the advantage of a fantastic rate of sunshine, pleasant winters and hot summers which benefits the vine. Wine production in Corsica represents approximately 15% of the agricultural economy. Recognized mainly for its unique indigenous grape varieties and its very remarkable wines, Corsica produced approximately 400,000 hectoliters of wine in 2023, including 120,287 hl AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) and 222,103 IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) compared to an average of 350,000 hl in previous years. Corsica is one of the smallest wine producers in France. However, it only represents 1% of the country's vine plantations, Corsica produces 60 million bottles of wine per year with 293 producers including 133 private cellars and 4 cooperative cellars, nearly 450 wine-growing operations with approximately 7,000 hectares of dedicated wine-growing area. Types of wine

Native grape varieties dominate Corsican plantations, production is divided into 3 types of wine colors, between 50-55% of rose, the most consumed wine, as we can cite the emblematic Niellucciu used in Patrimonio wines, between 35-40% of red wine and 10% of white wine such as Vermentinu giving fresh, mineral and floral wines. Rosé wines are lively and colorful, fresh and fruity as for red wines, they have a good structure, easy to drink and sometimes spicy, and white wines are aromatic often offering unique fruity notes.

The Corsican wine market

The tourist period remains the time when the majority of wine sales are made on the island. Wine consumption is widely appreciated in Corsica, with 35% of wine consumed, this highlights the attachment of the Corsicans to their regional products, moreover the island is a mecca of tourism. About 60 to 70% of the wines consumed are produced locally and the average wine consumption per capita is 60 liters. It is noted that 45% of the volumes of regional wine are exported to be sold across the continent and 20% exported outside its borders.

Although global wine production is lacking by various factors, wine production in Corsica is doing well both in quality and quantity. Corsica is one of the 3 major wine-producing islands in the Mediterranean. Wine consumption in Corsica remains a cultural marker and a real economic asset.