Vin de Corse Calvi is produced under the Vin de Corse appellation of Corsica, specifically in the vineyards around Calvi, in the north-western corner of the island. Calvi is one of the five sub-regions of the generic Vin de Corse appellation, along with Porto-Vecchio, Figari, Sartene and Cap Corse.
The Calvi title covers the vineyards of several communes along the coast and in the foothills of Corsica's mountainous spine. Monte Cinto and the jagged Paglia Orba (the area's two highest peaks) tower more than 8500ft (2600m) above the coastal vineyards below, providing a reminder that the entire island is the product of volcanic activity. The mountains, foothills and valleys create a patchwork of mesoclimates – an effect that is noticeable in the vineyards of Calvi, Galeria, Lumio, l'Ile-Rousse and Calenzana.
Vin de Corse Calvi wines are red, white and rose, with rose making up about half of the area's total production. Red wines account for much of the remainder, although a small quantity of white wine is also produced.
The primary grape varieties used for the reds and roses are Grenache, Nielluccio and Sciaccarello, bolstered by the traditional Corsican varieties Aleatico, Barbarossa, Carcajolo Nero and Minustello (Graciano), and Mourvedre, Cinsaut and Carignan from the south of France. The whites are made from Vermentino, with a splash of Biancu Gentile and Ugni Blanc
Corsica's climate is, of course, Mediterranean and sub-tropical; the island sits only a couple of degrees north of the 40th parallel. With higher sunshine levels than any part of mainland France (and correspondingly low rainfall), the growing season is well suited to productive viticulture; harvest conditions, in particular, are generally excellent. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher.) That said, the mountainous topography creates many varied mesoclimates, emphasizing and moderating the various climatic influences which result from the island's latitude, maritime location and altitude.
