Domaine Giacometti
Corsicans are no strangers to rugged landscapes and isolated areas, yet there is only one spot on the island that has earned the name of “Desert” among Corsicans. The Agriates Desert is a large, rugged, empty and arid swath of land between the Cap Corse and Calvi on the northern end of the island. There are no cities nor towns, only one small paved road, and only one hamlet, with a dozen or so inhabitants. It’s swept year round with the Libecciu, a hot and dry wind that rolls down off the Italian coast, and it’s been an empty area for nearly a century. The wind combined with the clay-granite soils makes growing anything here extremely laborious, with the vines requiring constant plowing to allow the roots to forage deep for water and nutrients. The Giacometti family boldly moved here in 1987, taking over vines that had been planted in 1966. The appellation authorities granted Patrimonio appellation status to these vines, even though the estate is several miles from the village of Patrimonio and other vineyards. Given the isolation of the domaine, word of the wines and the estate haven't travelled far, though an important and loyal Corsican clientele has permitted the domaine to thrive. The Giacomettis have long made a generous, approachable style of Patrimonio, similar to what has traditionally been served by the pitcher at the Corsican dinner table. The terroir here provides conditions that allow the Niellucciu vines to forage deep into the granite rock for nutrients and to ripen without excess.
To find the estate one needs to venture far from the one paved road of the region, and a good 4x4 vehicle is essential. The founder, Christian Giacometti, has gradually been handing over the reins to his daughter Sarah and son Simon after 25 years of constant and heroic labor to make wine in an inhospitable land. The kids are all right, as they say, continuing on with their unique and eminently drinkable style of Patrimonio, all the while experimenting with Sciaccarellu plantings (extremely rare for Patrimonio) and offering a glimpse of great things to come.

To find the estate one needs to venture far from the one paved road of the region, and a good 4x4 vehicle is essential. The founder, Christian Giacometti, has gradually been handing over the reins to his daughter Sarah and son Simon after 25 years of constant and heroic labor to make wine in an inhospitable land. The kids are all right, as they say, continuing on with their unique and eminently drinkable style of Patrimonio, all the while experimenting with Sciaccarellu plantings (extremely rare for Patrimonio) and offering a glimpse of great things to come.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vin de France "Le Vin Coule Dans Nos Veines" |
75% Niellucciu, 25% Grenache | Planted in 1990 | Granite | 2 ha |
Patrimonio Blanc “Cru des Agriate” |
Vermentinu | 8 – 28 years | Clay, Granite | 35 ha total |
Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah” |
Vermentinu | 42 years | Clay, Granite | 35 ha total |
Patrimonio Rosé “Cru des Agriate” |
75% Niellucciu, 25% Sciaccarellu | Planted in 1988, 1990, 1993 | Granite | 35 ha total |
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Cuntentu” |
Sciaccarellu | 17 years | Granitic Sand | 35 ha total |
Patrimonio Rouge “Cru des Agriate” |
97% Niellucciu, 3% Grenache | 10 to 45 years | Clay, Granite | 35 ha total |
Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah” |
90% Niellucciu, 7% Sciaccarellu, 3% Grenache | 45 years | Clay, Granite | 35 ha total |
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Azezzu” |
Syrah | 7 years | Clay, Granite | 35 ha total |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
Patrimonio Blanc “Cru des Agriate”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for less than 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented in demi-muids (2/3 oak)
• Aged for 10 months
Patrimonio Rosé “Cru des Agriate”
• Rosé from direct press
• Grapes are fermented separately
• Fermentation in stainless steel for about 1 month
• No malolactic fermentation
• Aged 5 months in stainless steel before bottling
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Cuntentu”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 9 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
• Not Filtered
Patrimonio Rouge “Cru des Agriate”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 10 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 12 months in old 228L barrels
• Named for Christian’s daughter
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Azezzu”
• Hand-harvested
• Grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 12 months on fine lees in 500L barrels
• Not filtered
Vin de France Rouge “Le Vin Coule Dans Nos Veines”
• Hand-harvested
• Grapes are sourced from the lieu-dit Batolaccio
• Grapes are de-stemmed and co-fermented in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for less than 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented in demi-muids (2/3 oak)
• Aged for 10 months
Patrimonio Rosé “Cru des Agriate”
• Rosé from direct press
• Grapes are fermented separately
• Fermentation in stainless steel for about 1 month
• No malolactic fermentation
• Aged 5 months in stainless steel before bottling
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Cuntentu”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 9 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
• Not Filtered
Patrimonio Rouge “Cru des Agriate”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 10 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah”
• Hand-harvested
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 12 months in old 228L barrels
• Named for Christian’s daughter
Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Azezzu”
• Hand-harvested
• Grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 12 months on fine lees in 500L barrels
• Not filtered
Vin de France Rouge “Le Vin Coule Dans Nos Veines”
• Hand-harvested
• Grapes are sourced from the lieu-dit Batolaccio
• Grapes are de-stemmed and co-fermented in stainless steel tank
• Aged for 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Corsica
- Appellation(s)
- Patrimonio
- Producer
- Christian Giacometti
- Founded
- 1987
- Annual Production
- 7,500 cases
- Farming
- Organic (practicing)