Portraits of winemakers

DOMAINE GENTILE: AGRITOURISM ON THE ISLAND OF BEAUTY

300 Views Posted on: 2024-05-31
 

Domaine Gentile: Agrotourism on the Isle of Beauty

Corsica is renowned for its beauty, and it deserves even more recognition for its wines. This is one of the many convictions that drive Jean-Paul Gentile, who has the incredible fortune of waking up each morning to a landscape of vines clinging to the hillsides, surrounded by mountains and sea. Located in the heart of the Patrimonio and Muscat du Cap Corse appellations, the 30 hectares of the estate produce powerful and tannic red wines as well as taut white and rosé wines. This precision is reflected in the aromatic profile of the wines and is also evident in Jean-Paul’s commitments and values. Passionate about his terroir and wine, he is dedicated to creating beautiful products in harmony with the environment and expanding his horizons through encounters to promote Corsican wines beyond the island's borders.

A Family History Rich in Values

The estate has a familial history, starting in 1970 with Jean-Paul’s parents, Viviane and Dominique Gentile. As children of winemakers, they decided to establish their own domain. Jean-Paul naturally fell into the world of wine from a young age. However, it wasn’t until 1994, after studying engineering in oenology, that he settled at the Domaine and began contributing to its development. The 1994 vintage thus holds a special place for him. As he faced the challenges of returning to Corsica, he chose to preserve the environmental, cultural heritage, and the legacy established by his parents. Deeply engaged in community and sports activities, he then set out to embed a genuine philosophy of respect for nature, product identity, and consumer consideration. In alignment with these values, all the estate’s wines are certified organic. His love for the strength and beauty of his terroir drives him to share it. His current goal is to develop a more effective agrotourism approach to present his wines increasingly outside of Corsica.

François Mitterrand: The First Tourist and Enthusiastic Gentile Fan

One of the most notable anecdotes about the estate involves one of its earliest tourists: President François Mitterrand. This story was famously shared by Alain Ducasse, who recounted the episode with amusement on French radio. During a visit to Corsica, President Mitterrand, known for his fine taste, was expected in Paris for an important meeting at the Élysée. While enjoying a glass of Gentile, he savored the moment more than expected, causing a pilot of a Glam jet to wait at a nearby airstrip for the head of state to board. When an advisor finally grew impatient and reminded the president of the important meeting awaiting him, Mitterrand replied, glass in hand, "They will wait."

We, too, have tasted these wines. Discover our sommelier's review of the Cuvée Grande Expression from Domaine Gentile in the video. Explore this steadfast winemaker on Avenuedesvins and savor a little piece of Corsica for yourself.