Corsica: the Patrimonio wine area becomes a natural site of cultural importance

nnounced by the Minister for Sustainable Development, Ségolène Royal, during her trip to Corsica at the end of July, the inclusion of the Conca d'Oro on the list of French natural sites of cultural importance is now official (the publication of the decree in the French ”Journal Officiel" should follow). Located west of Bastia (Corsica), this 4,500 hectare valley opens out over the Mediterranean and includes the vineyards of the Patrimonio appellation (the areas of Barbaggio, Farinole, Oletta, Patrimonio and Poggio d 'Oletta). In a statement, the Minister stressed that "the cultivation of the vine, which has been carried out since antiquity, helped shape this Mediterranean landscape" and that "it is essential to maintain and develop agricultural activity in particular." And this course should be maintained, due to the consensus of the local players, particularly when it comes to the work undertaken (controlled and requiring a permit from the French government). In 2013, the Tain l'Hermitage hills (Drome) were classified a natural site of cultural importance.... At the time, négociant, Michel Chapoutier told us of his interest in "protecting our heritage", while saying, "we should be careful that the wine producers are not held hostage to uneconomic administrative constraints."

There are 2,700 listed sites in France (one million hectares, i.e. 1.6% of the country’s surface area).

[Source: Vitisphere; Photo: DREAL Corsica]