THE VINEYARD, SIGNATURE OF THE LANDSCAPE
The vineyard
Enliven and structure the landscape of the Grand Site
If the uniqueness of the terrain adds significant value to the landscape, the vineyard gives it its signature. It takes place in a play of curves and slopes at the heart of the Conca d'Oru.
The vineyard plots animate the geometry of the landscape of the Major Site. They structure the slopes, highlight the contours of the terrain and open the views.
On the scale of vast landscape, the linearity of vineyard plots alternates with the vegetation density of the scrubland, of pastures or brownfield sites. On a global scale plot, the training of vine rows establishes prospects and strengthens the remarkable landscape, especially when the vines are positioned in the foreground of the Mount San’Anghjulu.
The vineyard ongoing dialogue with plant components present on the site.
The woods and groves, the maquis and the brownfield sites, the trees, punctuate the vineyard and give it its diversity. In this continuous vegetation cover, vines contribute to the opening up of the landscape, thus becoming a effective means of limiting the spread of fires.
The vegetation, whether it is spontaneous or support vineyard plots as well as estates, rhythm of the vineyard, highlights the fragmentation, mark a domain or the presence of a straw mat.
This vineyard diversity, biodiverse, constitutes a real added value for the landscape and wine-growing heritage.
Positioned within the conch, the vineyard marks the landscape.
That's how it is. its mosaic.
The history of the vineyard
the vineyard in the Conca d'Oru
The first traces
The first traces of vine cultivation in the Conca d'Oru date back to the 6th century BC, when Corsica was under Greek influence. The vineyards were then greatly expanded by the Romans for wine production and trade outside the island. Then, with the fall of the Roman Empire, wine exports became scarce and viticulture was only revived in the 11th century by the Pisans, notably for the production of sacramental wine. These periods enabled the Church to Christianise the territory.
The rise of wine production during the Genoese period
The Genoese period then promoted the reputation and economic development of Patrimonio wines. Vins de la Conca d'Oru were exported to Italy (Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio and Sicily in particular), England and also to the colonies (Saigon, for example). At the end of the 18th century, wines from the Nebbiu region were loaded onto sailing ships in Saint-Florent, sailed around Cap Corse and unloaded at the port of Erbalunga. There they were tasted and, if they had successfully endured the rigours of the voyage, were granted the right to be exported under the designation «Vini Navigati» (wines that have sailed). They then made their way to the Italian peninsula.
Crisis and rebirth of the vineyard
After a period of decline beginning in 1850, due to vine diseases, war and a production philosophy that prioritised quantity over quality, the year 1968 marks a turning point in the history of wine-making in Conca d'Oru.
It was on this date that the first Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC) – from now on Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) – is awarded to Patrimonio wines.
This distinction paves the way for renewal: an increase in the size of the vineyard and a return to traditional, high-quality production.
A vineyard in the heart of the region
Today, rich in history, the Patrimonio vineyard plays an important role in the region's economy and tourism. The wine-growing buildings bear witness to the different forms of viticulture present in the area. They reflect the history of the industry and its dynamics. Within the Grand Site, only private cellars are responsible for the production and marketing of wines. They remain relatively discreet in the landscape, mainly concentrated in the village of Patrimonio, along the RD81 road that connects Bastia to Saint-Florent. The cellars are most often attached to a long-established residential house in the village. They bear witness to the agricultural history of the area.
Towards an exemplary wine-growing region
Local stakeholders are also working to promote and positively develop the Grand Site. This is the case, for example, with the winegrowers of the Patrimonio AOP, who are implementing measures such as banning the use of glyphosate in order to pursue a common goal: to become the first region in France to be entirely organic.
The PDO today
in figures (2024)
Today, the grape varieties cultivated are mainly Nielluciu and Vermentinu. Nielluciu is the region's flagship grape variety.
Wine tourism
Discovering authentic Patrimonio
Today the vineyard is not only a productive agricultural area for the region, but it is also a real tourist attraction. The trend in tourism in Corsica is towards more « genuine »focused on" terroir, customs, and expertise. With the same dynamism, the Conca d'Oru region has committed to the development of wine tourism: ’oenotourism«.
The Nebbiu Wine Route - Conca d'Oru
The Nebbiu Wine Route – Conca d'Oru was established in the early 2000s with the aim of promoting the richness of the terroir, the uniqueness of Corsican grape varieties and the diversity of the vineyards that make up the Patrimonio PDO. The Patrimonio AOP appellation area actually covers seven municipalities: Patrimonio, Barbaggio, Oletta, Farinole, Poggio d'Oletta, Saint-Florent and Santo Pietro di Tenda (the latter being outside the Grand Site). Signs specific to the Wine Route are present on the Grand Site, locating the cellars in each municipality and identifying each cellar at its entrance. A map of the Wine Route is also available on the website of the Saint-Florent-Nebbiu-Conca d'Oru Intercommunal Tourist Office.
The Corsican wine passport
The cellars of the Patrimonio PDO are also listed in «The Corsican Wine Passport», produced by the Corsican Wine Interprofessional Committee. This passport is a valuable tool for anyone wishing to discover the region's wines, as it provides the addresses of wineries and contact details for winegrowers, in the form of a list or map. All winegrowers in the appellation are listed. Copies of this passport are available at the Maison du Grand Site de France.
In addition to traditional tastings and sales areas, some wineries offer tours of their vineyards, providing authentic culinary and cultural experiences centred around the world of wine. Winemakers welcome you to their cellars or directly to their vineyards to share their passion for their craft and their love of the land.
The «Vignobles & Découvertes" label
In order to promote the AOP nationally and internationally, several winegrowers from the appellation, in association with a number of local partners (accommodation providers, restaurateurs, tourist office, wine industry association, artisans, heritage sites, etc.), including the Grand Site de France, have committed to a process aimed at obtaining the label. «Vineyards & Discoveries». This is a wonderful recognition that will enable the Patrimonio vineyard to be the first in Corsica to benefit from this label.
Below is a list of Patrimonio AOP winegrowers. These passionate men and women are shaping the landscape of the Grand Site and perpetuating ancestral traditions in vine cultivation and wine production. True landscape artists, they work the vines month after month, season after season, to produce the internationally renowned Patrimonio wine each year.