Domaine Mondange
Corse AOP & IGP · Ghisonaccia · converting to organic
In 2017 Laura Mondange and her brother Andria took over the vineyards of their father Jean, in Ghisonaccia on the east coast of Corsica.
Two detours, one decision
Originally Jean grew grapes for the nearby cooperative. In 2014 Laura and Andria had each taken another path: after studying economics and management, Laura worked on quality management at the Corte-Tattone hospital, and her brother was employed by the SAFER. Yet both had long kept, somewhere at the back of their minds, the idea of one day taking on the family vineyard.
Alongside their jobs they took a diploma in viticulture and oenology, and took over the vineyard in 2017. That same year they made their first cuvée and founded Domaine Mondange. They converted their parents’ garage to vinify the 2017 and 2018 vintages. In 2019 the new cellar let them work properly, with gravity-fed reception and a range of vessels: wood, concrete, stainless steel, barrels and stoneware jars.
Clay terraces, ten kilometres from the sea
The vineyard lies largely on clay terraces between 100 and 150 metres, with another part on rolled pebbles. The plots are at Saint-Antoine, in the commune of Ghisonaccia in central-eastern Corsica, at the foot of the mountains and ten kilometres from the sea.
They work with many Corsican varieties: Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu, Vermentinu, Minustellu, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Genovese and Biancu Gentile. All the grapes are picked by hand into crates and kept in a cold room before entering the cellar, to reduce the use of sulphites.
Three ranges, and one exclusive
There are three ranges today: Primizia in white, red and rosé; Laudria in white, red and rosé; and Spargolato in white and red. The Primizia wines are fruity and aromatic, easy to drink. Spargolato is a single-plot selection on clay subsoil: wines for keeping, made in wood and in jar.
The newest is called Rocc’Azzura and is distributed exclusively in Belgium. It is a blend led by Sciaccarellu, with notes of blood orange and a fresh, spicy length.
The vineyard is in its third year of organic conversion and should carry the label before long.
The estate at a glance
| Appellation | Corse AOP and IGP |
| Vineyard | 10 ha — 7 ha red, 3 ha white |
| Location | clay terraces at 100 to 150 m, 10 km from the sea |
| Production | ± 25,000 bottles a year |
| Harvest | By hand, into crates |
| Vine age | 30 years on average |
| Approach | third year of organic conversion |
| Red varieties | Sciaccarellu, Grenache, Minustellu, Niellucciu, Syrah, Cinsault |
| White varieties | Vermentinu, Biancu Gentile, Genovese, Muscat à petits grains, Rimenese |
