Drench Yourself in the Sunshine of Corsica with 2018 Domaine Petroni Corse Rosé and Provençal Vegetable Gratin

Raise your glass if you’ve ever had a wine from Corsica. I thought so… Corsica wines aren’t on the go-to list of many folks I know. But after having swirled and sipped a lovely rosé from this off-the-radar, sun-drenched island in the Mediterranean Sea, I’ll be adding a few bottles to my collection of surprisingly delicious finds. I’ll not be the only one doing that, by the way. My colleagues at French Winophiles, a group of wineloving writers who explore wines from different regions in France each month, will be doing the same since our focus in September is the fascinating wines of Corsica. Check out our discoveries in the links to everyone’s articles at the conclusion of this post.

The Island of Corsica

Located 90 km west of Italy, 170 km southeast of France and 11 km north of the island of Sardinia, Corsica is a blend of winemaking traditions and grape varieties of Italy as well as the influences of France, a country that has governed the island since the 18^th century. Residents of Corsica appear to embrace both Italian and French cultures through food, wine, language, history and more.

Phoenician traders settled in what is now known as the commune of Aléria in 570 BC when vineyards were planted. Through the years, Corsica has been inhabited and ruled by the Greeks, Italians and now the French. (Many of you may already know that Corsica was the birthplace and childhood home of Napoleon Bonaparte.)

Since 1968, Corsica consists of nine AOC (Appellation d’origine Contrôlée) regions including the Vin de Pays de l’Île de Beauté, a designation found throughout the island and responsible for about two-thirds of its total wine production. The three major grape varieties are Nielluccio, Sciacarello and Vermentino. By all accounts, the quality of wine produced in Corsica is steadily on the rise thanks, in part, to the influx of tourists from around the world who demand wines that are anything but sub-standard.

The island boasts the most mountains than any other in the Mediterranean Sea. These mountains offer Corsica a variety of mesoclimates that are influenced by latitude, altitude and proximity to the sea. Warmer and drier than France, very little rain occurs during August and September. As a result, a dry, rot-free harvest is enjoyed for most vintages. As a bonus, the island averages around 2,750 hours of sunshine a year. Because the sea absorbs most of the heat during the day and radiates it back to the island at night, the diurnal shift in temperature is reduced. Soil types are varied and include schist in the northern region of the Cap Corse peninsula, limestone rich chalk and clay in the Patrimonio region, granite on the west coast and marly sand on the east.

Wine and Food from Corsica

My local wine shop had only a few wines from Corsica, yet I was intrigued by the 2018 Domaine Petroni Corse Rosé (purchased for $14), a classic Corsican blend of 50% Nielluccio (Corsica’s name for Sangiovese), 35% Sciaccarello (Corsica’s name for a very old Tuscan variety named Mammolo) and 15% Grenache. Each of these grapes thrive in the dry soils of Corsica.

The Domaine Petroni in Aléria located on the east side of the island was created in 1885 and is now owned by brothers Jacques and Francois Ramazotti. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by Lake Diana and the Corsican mountains, the vineyards on the estate benefit from their ideal location. The wine is produced from varieties cultivated on 25-year-old vines grown on soil of clay sediment and is made from grapes picked during the coolness of the night in order to prevent oxidation. Fermentation occurs at low temperatures and lasts for three weeks.

Intense and rich on the nose and palate, the wine reminded me of a Côtes de Provence rosé due to its pale color yet it exuded a distinct profile all its own. On the nose, I found notes of fresh strawberries, raspberries, lime zest, white florals, peach flesh, salinity, chalk and spice. The palate burst with vibrant acidity and flavors of bright red berries, juicy nectarines and luscious watermelon and finished with a lingering, mineral-driven mouthfeel.

Food on the island of Corsica revolves around sun-bathed fruits and vegetables, cheeses and cured meats that give a culinary nod to Italian and French cuisine. I chose this refreshing and oh-so easy to sip (only 12.5% ABV) wine to complement our dinner of Provençal Vegetable Gratin. (Click here for the recipe.)

The 2018 Domaine Petroni Corse Rosé had enough flavor, acidity and weight to slice through the richness of this typical French dish along with balance to complement its savory ingredients that included fresh rosemary, garlic, thyme, onion, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant and Parmesan cheese. Just imagine the glorious aromas in my kitchen as I sipped and waited for this colorful layered casserole to cook! The final result? I was swept away to warm and sunny Corsica with each sip and bite!

Cheers! ~ Cindy

Enjoy the following articles from my French Winophiles colleagues about the intriguing wines of Corsica.

Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares “Friday Night Pizzas + Domaine Poli Niellucciu Rosé 2018”

Cathie from Side Hustle Wino shares “Wines from Corsica? Of “Corse” (#winophiles)”

Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles shares “Corsica – An Island and it’s wines #Winophiles”

Martin from Enofylz Wine Blog shares “Mixiote de Pescado Paired with Domaine Petroni Corse Rosé”

Linda at My Full Wine Glass shares “Spaghetti and meatballs for a Corsican wine (#Winophiles)”

Gwen from Wine Predator shares something delicious…

Payal at Keep the Peas shares “Corsica: The Maquis, The Mountains, The Sea (#winophiles)”

Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm shares “Corsica; French with a lot of Italian Influence”

Nicole at Nibbling Gypsy shares “Corsican Happiness: Domaine Giacometti Sempre Cuntentu Sciaccarellu with a Flavorful Seafood Stew”