IGP Ile de Beauté wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

I.G.P.

The Ile de Beauté Protected Geographical Indication covers the whole of the Corsican vineyard, spanning the two departments of Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud. The vineyard is above all coastal: vines grow along almost the entire perimeter of the island, with the largest concentration on the eastern seaboard, between Bastia and Solenzara. Plains and gently sloping land predominate, though hillside and terraced plantings are also found. Four soil types stand out: weathered granite, schist, clay-limestone and alluvial soils. The climate is a coastal Mediterranean one, combining high temperatures with moderate rainfall and marked summer drought; local and regional winds, including the Tramontana, Maestrale, Libecciu, Sirocco and Grégale, play a decisive role in tempering the heat and limiting vine disease. The grape varieties give a prominent place to historic island cultivars, nielluccio, sciaccarello and vermentino, alongside varieties such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, syrah, chardonnay and chenin.

The wines of this appellation

Wines from Ile de Beauté are produced in all three colours. Rosés, the majority and a growing share, show a rather pale colour and pronounced aromas across a varied palette. Reds, made mainly from nielluccio and sciaccarello blended with merlot, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, pinot noir or syrah, display a fairly deep colour, a nose combining fruity notes with liquorice and leather, and a silky, long palate. Whites, dominated by vermentino, stand out for their floral notes, rounded out depending on the blend by the fruity, honeyed touch of chardonnay or the firmness of chenin blanc. Rosés are best enjoyed young, in their freshness, and pair readily with Mediterranean cuisine, charcuterie and fish. Whites suit grilled fish, seafood and goat's cheese. Reds, more full-bodied, go well with grilled meats, Corsican charcuterie and matured sheep's milk cheese.