Clos Venturi

History of Clos Venturi

The history of Clos Venturi has its roots in 1901, when Jean Vico, a visionary winegrower, planted vines where no one would have dared: at the foot of the mountains of Ponte-Leccia, at altitude. This founding boldness gave birth to Domaine Vico, which remained in the family until 1989, when the Acquaviva-Venturi family took over the estate. Under the impetus of Jean-Marc Venturi (the father), his son Manu Venturi and their partner François Acquaviva, the estate was entirely restructured and modernised, while preserving its historical roots.

In 2005, the family took a decisive step by creating Clos Venturi, an ambitious single-plot project born from the selection of the finest high-altitude parcels of Domaine Vico. That same year, a titanic replanting effort of the island's indigenous grape varieties began, transforming the estate into a true Corsican ampelographic museum. Under the passionate direction of Manu Venturi, the estate converted to biodynamic farming in the early 2010s and quickly gained international recognition. The ultimate consecration came in 2017 with the Chiesa Nera cuvée, which received the Platinum Best in Show diploma, the highest distinction awarded by the renowned Decanter magazine in its world rankings.

Terroirs and Vines of Clos Venturi

The Clos Venturi vineyard extends over 28 hectares at altitude, perched between 300 and 500 metres in the commune of Piedigriggio, in the heart of Upper Corsica. This unique mountain setting, at the heart of the maquis and at the crossroads of the routes linking Bastia, Ajaccio and Calvi, gives the wines a singular signature, atypical for Corsica, combining alpine freshness with Mediterranean warmth. The soils are composed of an exceptional mosaic: granite, schist and Miocene sandstone, which lend the cuvées a great diversity of expression and a remarkable minerality.

The climate, marked by strong temperature swings between warm days and cool nights, allows for slow and balanced ripening of the grapes, preserving the natural acidity and freshness of the wines. The grape varieties cultivated are exclusively Corsican indigenous varieties: Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Vermentinu, Biancu Gentile, Carcaghjolu Neru, Genovese, sometimes complemented by a touch of Syrah for certain cuvées. The estate has been farmed biodynamically for nearly 10 years, without synthetic chemicals, in accordance with lunar rhythms. Sheep, hens and beehives coexist on the estate, a testament to genuine agricultural biodiversity. Harvesting is entirely manual, sometimes assisted by horse-drawn work to preserve the soils.

Winemaking at Clos Venturi

In the cellar, Manu Venturi practices a minimalist and free approach to winemaking, without chemical additives, relying exclusively on the indigenous yeasts naturally present on the berries. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occur spontaneously, in a process that respects the natural balance of the juices and the authentic expression of the terroir. The winemaker employs a full array of vessels for his ageing, choosing for each cuvée the most suitable material: stainless steel tanks for freshness, oak barrels for complexity, large foudres for patina, concrete eggs and amphorae for texture, and sandstone jars for minerality.

The ageing periods are often lengthy (up to 2 years for certain cuvées such as Chiesa Nera), allowing the wines to gain depth, complexity and aromatic integration. Little to no sulphur added, respectful bottling (often unfiltered and unfined): the stylistic signature of Clos Venturi is that of balanced, living, magnetic wines — sometimes expressive, sometimes enigmatic, always authentically island in character. An approach that places the estate among the undisputed references of the new face of Corsican viticulture.

The Clos Venturi Cuvées

The 1769 Blanc cuvée is the estate's historic entry-level wine, crafted from Vermentinu and indigenous white grape varieties. The name pays tribute to the Battle of Ponte-Novu in 1769. Vinified in tanks, it offers a fresh, fruity and crisp white, perfect as an aperitif and with fish dishes.

The 1769 Rosé cuvée, made from Corsican red grape varieties (Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu), offers a vibrant, fruity and refreshing rosé with a pale colour, perfect for warm summer days and Mediterranean cuisine.

The 1769 Rouge cuvée blends Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu and sometimes a touch of Syrah. A free and slightly wild nose, a supple and immediate palate, beautifully crafted, with a generous finish: an accessible and pleasant red that pays tribute to Corsican memory.

The Le Clos Blanc cuvée is one of the finest expressions of Corsican Vermentinu, sourced from the best high-altitude plots on Miocene schist and sandstone soils. Aged on fine lees with a light passage in barrel, it delivers a taut, dense, textured and salivating wine, with notes of white flowers, vineyard peach, sage, nepita, anise, wax, honey and verbena. A superb minerality, built for ageing.

The Le Clos Rouge cuvée is a complex and deep blend of indigenous red grape varieties (Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Carcaghjolu Neru). A complex nose of black and red fruits, spices, leather and a hint of liquorice, a rich, fresh and long palate. A masterful cuvée that expresses the full greatness of the high-altitude terroir of Piedigriggio.

The Le Clos Rosé cuvée offers a gastronomic rosé of great finesse, with an elegant pale colour and a finely chiselled mineral structure, perfect with refined dishes.

The Brama Vermentinu cuvée belongs to the single-varietal range, dedicated to revealing each grape variety in its absolute purity. This pure Vermentinu, grown on south/south-east oriented schists, delivers a taut, saline white with exceptional mineral verticality.

The Brama Biancu Gentile cuvée is a rare expression of the Corsican Bianco Gentile grape variety, hand-harvested from schists. Low yields, aged for 8 months on fine lees: a very floral nose, a palate of yellow fruits with beautiful bitterness on the finish, and a minerality present throughout the tasting.

The Brama Sciaccarellu cuvée showcases this iconic Corsican red grape variety in pure expression. An intense nose of strawberry, floral, gracefully elongated, a deep and taut palate driven by a ripe, vibrant acidity. A great fine wine built for ageing, with remarkable aromatic complexity.

The Altare cuvée is an exceptional blend of the five grape varieties of Clos Venturi, conceived as a tribute to the Corsican ampelographic mosaic. Depth and freshness, powdery flower, ripe lemon, a tonic and airy register, crystalline and refined — a wine that vibrates with lightness while reaching for the heights.

The Chemin de Croix cuvée is an exceptional red wine crafted from vines planted on steep hillsides where only manual work is possible. The name pays tribute to the courage of these heroic vines. A cuvée of rare intensity, deep, structured, built for long ageing.

The Chiesa Nera Blanc cuvée ("black church" in Corsican) is an exceptional cuvée that brings together the estate's indigenous white grape varieties. A long ageing that elevates the substance, a solar and mineral expression of high-altitude Corsica, with remarkable aromatic complexity.

The Chiesa Nera Rouge cuvée is the estate's most prestigious wine, awarded the Platinum Best in Show diploma by Decanter in 2017, the highest distinction in the world. A blend of indigenous red grape varieties, aged for approximately 2 years in barrel, lending it smoke, depth and absolute refinement. A baroque, fresh, almost mystical wine, with a dancing texture and multiple aromatic facets.