Why it matters
The producer
Christian Orsucci leads Cave d’Aleria, a wine cooperative based in Aleria in eastern Corsica. Its wines have received awards at Vinalies Internationales, International Wine Challenge, Lyon International Competition, Mundus Vini and Concours Général Agricole. Cave d’Aleria offers Corsican wines through branded ranges, including Domaine Vetriccie. The branded range includes both rosé and red bottles, while the wider cooperative works with several grape varieties.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
On Corsica's eastern plain, the vines have grown in the sun for generations. Sunlight helps grapes ripen, developing fruit and aroma, while harvest timing changes acidity. Differences between bottles come from grape variety and cellar work. The landscape sets the conditions before those choices reach the glass. The region has been recognized for the quality of its wine since the Roman era, and archaeological excavations have revealed the historical richness of the land.
Wines to know
The range in view
The wider range includes Vermentinu, Sciaccarellu and Niellucciu. Vermentinu is a white grape variety with citrus notes and a saline palate. Niellucciu is a red wine grape with aromas of red fruit, violet and apricot. Sciaccarellu has notes of toasted wood and flowers of the maquis.
The Domaine Vetriccie Rosé is made from Sciaccarellu and Syrah. It is pale pink with bluish reflections. The grapes are harvested in the morning to maintain freshness and prevent oxidation, then cold settled and aged in stainless steel for 5 to 6 months.