Domaine de Vaccelli

Nestledin the Taravo valley, in the southern part of the Ajaccio appellation, the 28-hectare Domaine de Vaccelli was founded in 1962 by Roger Courrèges. Originally from Béarn, the Courrèges family came to Corscia from Algeria, where Roger’s father and grandfather were winemakers. When son Alain took over the vineyard following his father’s accidental death in 1974, he decided to replant the vineyards to native Corsican grape varietals, namely Sciaccarellu and Vermentinu. Fifteen years later, frustrated with the lack of space to properly age his wines, Alain carved out a magnificent underground cellar from the imposing granite rocks that had been “in the way”. Evidence of his other passions, sculpting rock and painting, adorn the cellar walls.

As of 2000, after completing his oenology studies in Nîmes and a stage at Clos Capitoro, Courrèges’s son, Gérard, has been vinifying the domaine’s wines. Manually-harvested and organically farmed for nearly ten years now, the vines, of which many are over 50 years old, are planted on south-east facing hillsides of decomposed granite. Yields are extremely low, at 30 - 35 hl/ha.

The Courrèges family may not be natives, but they have fully embraced their Corsican landscape. Their wines are distinct, expressive of their “granit” terroir and showcase floral and herbal notes that recall the aromatic wild plants covering much of the island - the maquis - that Napoleon said he could smell while in exile on the isle of Elba. That smell, it was said, brought tears to his eyes.

Wines in Portfolio

Domaine de Vaccelli UNU Blanc

Domaine de Vaccelli UNU Rosé

Domaine de Vaccelli UNU Rouge

Domaine de Vaccelli Rouge

Domaine de Vaccelli Rosé

Domaine de Vaccelli Sirocco Blanc

Domaine de Vaccelli “174” Rouge