# Grotte di Sole Rouge (MMXXI)

- **Producer:** Domaine Jean-Baptiste Arena
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Niellucciu
- **Region:** Corsica, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.6%
- **Average price:** €32
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–17 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, plum, blackcurrant, herbaceous, liquorice, game

## About this wine

Domaine Jean-Baptiste Arena is located in the Patrimonio appellation of northern Corsica. In 2014, the legendary Arena family estate, established by pioneer Antoine Arena, was divided among Antoine and his sons Jean-Baptiste and Antoine-Marie. Jean-Baptiste manages the historic Grotte di Sole vineyard parcel, focusing on organic and biodynamic viticulture on distinctive clay-limestone soils. The estate is widely celebrated for championing indigenous Corsican grape varieties and terroir-driven winemaking.

## Interesting facts

- Grotte di Sole translates to Sunny Cave, describing a south-facing amphitheater of limestone.
- The indigenous Niellucciu grape is genetically identical to Tuscany's Sangiovese.
- In 2014, Antoine Arena split his famous estate with his sons to allow individual creative freedom.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and structured tannic architecture of Niellucciu cut effortlessly through dense, fatty meats and rich cheeses. Earthy wild game and savory herbal notes mirror the natural Mediterranean maquis character of the wine.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested from 25-year-old vines grown on limestone and dark flaky schist. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using native yeasts in concrete vats with a 12-day maceration period. The wine undergoes aging for 18 months entirely in concrete tanks without any exposure to oak, maintaining pure varietal expression. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal homeopathic sulfur additions.