Vaccelli

History of Domaine de Vaccelli

The history of Domaine de Vaccelli begins in the early 1960s, after Algerian independence, when Roger Courrèges and his brother, already experienced in viticulture thanks to their vineyard in Médéa, settled in Corsica. They then acquired about thirty hectares in the Taravo valley, a promising terroir in the south of the Ajaccio appellation. Faced with vines overgrown by maquis, they undertook a titanic task: uprooting the old plots and replanting grape varieties such as grenache, alicante, cinsault, sciaccarellu and muscat of Alexandria. They also built a cellar, laying the foundations for an estate destined to become emblematic.

In 1974, when Roger died, his son Alain took over. A passionate self-taught man, he trained in viticulture and winemaking, digging a modern cellar carved into the granite to optimize wine aging. His first vintages, produced in the late 1970s, met with mixed success, but Alain persevered. By working with an oenologist and opening a sales outlet in Porticcio with his wife, he laid the foundations for quality production. Since 2000, Gérard Courrèges, Alain's son, assisted by his sister Nathalie, has been running the estate. Trained in oenology in Nîmes and with experience at Clos Capitoro, Gérard brought a quality-driven approach, converting the vineyard to organic farming in 2008, with Ecocert certification obtained in 2019. Today, Domaine de Vaccelli is a worldwide reference, celebrated for its exceptional Corsican wines.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine de Vaccelli

Domaine de Vaccelli extends over approximately 20 hectares in the Taravo valley, in Cognocoli-Monticchi, a few kilometers from the Gulf of Porto Pollo. This unique terroir, composed of granitic sands, gives the wines incomparable minerality and finesse. The vines, planted on rugged hillsides at an altitude of about 100 meters, benefit from an ideal microclimate: the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea brings sea spray, while the valley, irrigated by the Taravo river, offers a perfect balance between richness and freshness. The yields, deliberately limited between 30 and 40 hl/ha, guarantee optimal concentration of aromas.

The estate favors emblematic Corsican grape varieties, such as sciaccarellu (60% of red grapes), carcaghjolu neru, minustellu, and vermentinu (80% of white grapes), complemented by varieties like grenache noir and cinsault. Rare grape varieties, such as carcaghjolu biancu, ghjenuvese, cudiverta and riminese, are also cultivated for unique single-vineyard cuvées. Since 2008, the vineyard has been managed using organic farming methods, respecting the surrounding biodiversity and Corsican maquis, which imparts typical herbaceous notes to the wines.

Vinifications at Domaine de Vaccelli

Vinification at Domaine de Vaccelli is a skillful blend of tradition and modernity. Under the direction of Gérard Courrèges, cellar master, and with the expertise of oenologist Emmanuel Gagnepain, the estate adopts a minimalist approach to let the terroir express itself. Harvesting is exclusively manual, allowing rigorous selection of grapes. In the cellar, only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation, which takes place mainly in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of aromas. Aging varies according to cuvées: foudres, 600-liter demi-muids, 400-liter barrels, or even concrete eggs, without bâtonnage, to enhance the texture and complexity of wines. No wine is filtered, and light filtration may be applied depending on vintages. Since 2021, the estate uses exclusively yeasts selected on site and volcanic sulfur, less impactful, thus reinforcing the authenticity of the cuvées.

The Cuvées of Domaine de Vaccelli

Domaine de Vaccelli offers a varied range of cuvées, each reflecting the richness of the Corsican terroir and mastery of local grape varieties. Here is an overview of the main cuvées:

Unu White 

Made from vermentinu, this white wine is aged in foudres and 500-liter demi-muids. Fresh and fruity, it offers citrus notes and beautiful minerality, ideal for lovers of accessible Corsican white wines.

Unu Red 

A blend of sciaccarellu (92%), carcaghjolu neru (4%), and minustellu (4%), this gourmet red wine seduces with its freshness and red fruit aromas. Perfect for an elegant thirst-quenching wine.

Vaccelli White 

100% vermentinu, aged in concrete eggs and demi-muids, this white wine reveals a smooth texture, floral notes and pronounced minerality, with an aging potential of 4 to 6 years.

Vaccelli Red 

Made from sciaccarellu, this red wine, aged in eggs and demi-muids, offers aromas of strawberry, maquis herbs and a fine structure, reminiscent of pinot noir in its delicacy.

Vaccelli Rosé 

Also based on sciaccarellu, this rosé is aged 12 months on lees in barrels, then 6 months in concrete egg. Its pale color and red fruit notes make it an exceptional rosé, comparable to a great Burgundy cru.

Granit White 

A pure vermentinu, vinified by direct pressing and aged 12 months in barrels, 2 months in stainless steel tanks, and 5 months in bottle. This complex white wine combines richness, minerality and citrus notes.

Granit Red 

Made from sciaccarellu over 50 years old, aged 30 months in demi-muids and concrete eggs, this powerful and elegant red wine reveals aromas of crushed strawberry, peony and blood orange, with an aging potential of 8 to 10 years.

Granit '174' 

A rare micro-cuvée of sciaccarellu, produced on a 0.174 ha plot. Aged in eggs and demi-muids, it offers tangy freshness and remarkable complexity, with an aging potential of 10 to 15 years.

Quartz White 

A unique blend of carcaghjolu biancu, ghjenuvese, cudiverta, and riminese. Vinified by direct pressing and aged like Granit Blanc, this white wine concentrates richness and aromatic intensity.

Sirocco White 

100% vermentinu, fermented in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, then aged 11 months in demi-muids and 1 month in stainless steel tanks. This fresh and floral white wine is perfect for lovers of elegant Corsican wines.

Sirocco Red 

A blend of sciaccarellu and elegànte, aged for one third in concrete eggs and the rest in demi-muids. This balanced red wine offers beautiful complexity and an aging potential of 8 to 10 years.

Chioso Novo Red 

A single-vineyard cuvée of sciaccarellu from vines grafted in 2019 onto grenache noir from 1964. Aged in demi-muids, this structured red wine seduces with its depth.

Chioso Novo White 

A pure vermentinu, aged in foudres and demi-muids, with an aging potential of 6 to 8 years. This white wine combines richness and freshness, perfect for accompanying refined dishes.

Domaine de Vaccelli is an ode to Corsica, its unique terroir and emblematic grape varieties. Thanks to the passion and expertise of the Courrèges family, each bottle tells a story of authenticity and elegance. Certified in organic farming and driven by a parcel-focused vision inspired by Burgundy, this estate is among the jewels of Corsican viticulture. For a memorable wine purchase, immerse yourself in the world of Domaine de Vaccelli and let yourself be seduced by wines that capture the soul of the Island of Beauty.