The granite Corsica of the west: it occupies two-thirds of the island and extends over all the high mountains to the granite soils. Its richness in silica, alumina, potash and sometimes calcium gives the wines great finesse mixed with intense, floral aromas.
Eastern Alpine Corsica: with many varieties of shale to the north and east, it doesn't exceed 1700 metres. Often rich in calcium carbonate, the northwestern and southern limestone regions contain fantastic white cliffs and give rise to round, full-bodied wines with mineral, floral, fruity notes.
The old Corsica of the west: an area of almost exclusive granitoids. It occupies 2/3 of the island and includes the entire high mountain area composed of granite soils, of plutonian origin, disaggregated in more or less coarse sand mixed with clay. Its soils rich in silica, alumina, potash and sometimes calcium are very favourable to the vine. They produce wines of great distinction, light colours, brilliance, intense aromas often ageing with a bouquet of "flint".
The eastern coast consists of piedmont slopes, hills and small plateaux composed of tertiary deposits and alluvium. The clay soils guarantee the sweetness and harmony of the wine.
Incomparable between sea and mountains
VOLCANIC GRANITE SOILS: they correspond to the western and southern regions that occupy 2/3 of the island, including the mountainous part. Rich in silica, alumina and potash, the granites bring to the predominantly Sciaccarellu wines great finesse, light colours and intense aromas.
SCHIST SOILS: the east (or Alpine Corsica) which includes: Cap Corse, Castagniccia and widens between Corte and the sea. The soils are rich in calcium carbonate; this is the Muscat region.
DEPRESSIONARY SEDIMENTARY SOILS: called the Corte zone. Central valley running northwest / southeast. Very wide in the north, in Balagne, tighter at the centre, stops and then resurges again further south. It occupies 1/5 of the island.
EASTERN SEDIMENTARY PLAIN: it extends from Bastia to Solenzara, at the foot of the schist chain. The sedimentary rocks are recent. They give wines a lighter structure.
For INCOMPARABLY rich soils
SOILS FROM CRYSTALLINE ROCKS: Gneiss, granites, granulites, porphyry, diorites and gabbros produce the agricultural and viticultural land of Balagne, Ajaccio, Sartène, Figari, Porto-Vecchio and the Corte region. In these acidic soils, poor in limestone, the mineralisation of organic nitrogen is very slow.
SOILS FROM METAMORPHIC ROCKS: they dominate in Alpine Corsica or shale. The soils are low in phosphorus and potash, but their carbon/nitrogen ratio promotes the cycle of minerals and water.
SEDIMENTAL DEPOSITION SOIL FORMS: these are found on alluvium, along the rivers or on terraces. They can form very thin soils to very thick, depending on where they are. They form part of the richest lands, but are not ideal for the production of quality wines.
