Ajaccio is an appellation for white, red and rosé wines from Corsica, the French island situated in the Mediterranean Sea, between the coasts of Provence and Italy.
Ajaccio wines (the majority of which are medium-bodied, spicy reds and roses) were granted AOC status in 1984. Centered around the town of Ajaccio on the south-west coast of Corsica, the appellation includes some of the island's highest vineyards. Sciaccarello (a traditional Corsican variety) is the key grape used in these wines, along with Barbarossa, Sangiovese (known here as Nielluccio) and a host of other varieties, including Carignan, Cinsaut, Carcajolo Nero and Grenache.
Ajaccio's white wines, which form only a small proportion of its total annual output, are made predominantly from Vermentino (Corsica's key white variety) and Ugni Blanc. This blend is also commonly used in Provence – the mainland region closest to Corsica both geographically and in terms of wine styles.
Apart from being the main administrative center of Corsica, Ajaccio town is famous for being the birthplace of the French emperor Napoleon, whose childhood home is now a museum.
