Ajaccio

The Ajaccio Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) covers the entire district of Ajaccio, as well as the canton of Petreto-Bicchisano to the south. The Ajaccio AOC was recognized by a decree issued in June 1980. Located around the Gulf of Ajaccio, the vineyard is divided into different sectors. Thus, one can distinguish the northern shore—which is steep and not particularly conducive to agricultural activities—from the southern shore, with its broader and gentler terrain that allowed people to settle and establish farms in the late 19th century, as well as the two river valleys—the Gravona and the Prunelli—which run northeast and southwest, respectively, and flow into the Gulf of Ajaccio.

Ajaccio wines are characterized by the common factors that unite them—such as geological, climatic, and cultural characteristics—which take precedence over the factors that set them apart. The approximately 240 hectares of vineyards in Ajaccio yield a production of around 8,200 hectoliters of wine per year.

According to the appellation’s specifications, Ajaccio red and rosé wines must be made from at least 60% Sciaccarellu, and white wines from at least 80% Vermentino. It was on the terroir of Ajaccio that Sciaccarellu—a high-quality grape variety with a distinct character—first emerged. It imparts to the wines those distinctive aromas of almond and blackcurrant. Here, the reds are full-bodied, the rosés are elegant, and the whites, made from Vermentino, possess a distinctly floral character. The Ajaccio wines offered by Domaine Comte Abbatucci and Domaine Comte Peraldi fully express these characteristics.