Sciaccarellu is a black grape variety from southern Corsica. Its name comes from the adjective “sciacca” which evokes the crunchy character of its grapes, whose firm skin withers as soon as they are ripe. The warm Mediterranean climate and the granite soils on which the vines are planted combine the ideal conditions for the grapes to ripen properly. The production of sciaccarellu is fairly uniform, especially since this grape variety is very resistant to diseases. The red wines made from this grape variety are fine and well-structured. They have a light color, an original nose with complex aromas of red fruits, almonds, spices, maquis flowers, coffee or tobacco and pepper.

Delicious as a single grape variety, Sciacarellu blended with other grape varieties brings freshness to reds and rosés. The acidity and alcohol content of wines made from Sciacarellu allow them to be kept for several years. The properties of Corsica du Sud allow the sciaccarellu grape variety to reach optimum maturity and reveal a character that defines the identity of Corsican wines from the South. “The wines of Corsica du Sud are closely linked to the precision of the maturation of the sciaccarellu, and more specifically to its state of withering specific to high-altitude vineyards”, explains Lionel Leduc, co-director of the Centre de recherche viticole de (CRVI).

“The altitude is well suited to these grapes, because they wither more slowly, which allows the harvest date to be chosen with greater precision”. Indeed, the sciaccarellu has the particularity of going very quickly from a state of under-ripeness to a state of over-ripeness. It is therefore a question of monitoring its evolution and finding the level of withering that offers the best balance. “It is often at the very beginning of the withering of the berries that the balance is the most accurate”, estimate the winegrowers of ALPA. Sciaccarellu is increasingly asserting its potential in the Ajaccio region. And the scientific studies underway at the CRVI are deepening our knowledge of the grape variety’s behavior in granite soils, particularly in conditions of water stress. Thus, sciaccarellu, long dedicated to rosé wine given its pale color, is now highly valued in the appellation’s red wines.