In 1993 Yves Canarelli took over his family domaine on the southern tip of Corsica. Nobody seemed to want the local wine, and all around him neighbours were busy ripping out old vineyards to plant international grape varieties. Not Yves, who instead painstakingly restored native Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu and Vermentinu vineyards, as well as his family's plot of 140-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. Thirty years on, that faith has been rewarded, and these authentic, unique wines are now the fine wine benchmarks for the island.
Canarelli’s part of southern Corsica has a rich vinous heritage. Grapes have been grown here since the 5th century, and the granite soils are home to an abundance of vine varieties traditional to the area. Yves's skilful biodynamic farming results in perfectly ripe and healthy fruit, which ferments slowly with native yeasts before maturation in barrels and amphorae. His wines have the perfumed aromatics, purity of fruit and mineral clarity that are the hallmarks of Corsica's best bottles.
