Drinking the wines of Corsica is akin to a visceral immersion into the natural wonders of the Île de Beauté: each sip is the liquid sum of sea, sun, stone, wind, and the wild maquis herbs that make up this stunning land. But beyond this, it is also a window into the Corsican identity and the strong local culture that has been forged as a result of the island’s turbid history. From this perspective, there is no better portal to understanding Corsica than through the wines of Antoine Arena.
     Antoine’s career began in 1975, when he returned to the family farm in Patrimonio after law studies in Nice. At the time, Corsican wine had yet to turn many heads. Though the Arenas’ hometown of Patrimonio had become the island’s first AOC in 1968, most Corsican wine was still either produced in tiny quantities for family consumption, or mass-produced and destined for blending with leaner, lighter bulk wines from the mainland. The decision to come back to the domaine was a controversial one—his own father wouldn’t speak with him for a whole month after his return—but Antoine was determined to succeed as a vigneron, relying on pre-industrial methods of farming to honor Corsica’s traditions through his wines.
     Considered by many to be the historic godfather of Corsican terroir, Antoine has now passed the torch to his two sons. In a typically Corsican spirit of independence, Antoine-Marie and Jean-Baptiste carry on the Arena tradition through their very own domaines, having divided the family holdings between themselves. The Arena brothers continue to push the envelope, ensuring Antoine’s legacy lives on and that the family name is forever associated with pioneering excellence in Corsican wine.