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- Liqueur Negroni - Notte di Corsica
Negroni Liqueur in Calacuccia - Distillery
Corsican liqueur rooted in Niolu
Having lived on the mainland when he was young and returned there on holiday, Jean-Marc Negroni felt the need to return to his home region of Niolu with a project linked to his homeland.
Originally from Calacuccia, it was in this small village of 300 inhabitants that the distiller and liqueur-maker created his very first spirit in 2010-2011, using a unique recipe, the first bottles of which were released in the spring of 2012. Every year, more than 10,000 bottles pass through Jean-Marc Negroni's hands, and he manages every stage of production from A to Z, right through to delivery, with the help of just one labeller and one filler.
6 Liqueurs to discover
Today, there are 4 flagship liqueur flavours (Mint, Tangerine, Chestnut and Myrtle), plus the last two flavours (Blackberry and 5 Citrus). Maceration in vats lasts between 60 and 120 days.
- Myrtle liqueur
- Mandarin Liqueur
- Chestnut Liqueur
- Island Mint Liqueur
- Liqueur de Mûre (New !)
- Liqueur 5 Agrumes (New!)
New distillery installation in summer 2024
Previously based in the same building as the village post office, Distillerie Negroni will be moving to its brand new premises on the Calacuccia dam roundabout in the summer of 2024.
The 300 square metre building reflects the image of the company. It features a shop for sales and tastings, with a counter, tables and chairs for a convivial atmosphere.
In the production area, you can see the new German-made, custom-ordered still used to produce new eaux de vie based on fruits such as plums.
Distillery located near the Calacuccia dam
Jean-Marc Negroni's distillery is located at the crossroads leading to the Calacuccia dam, immediately on your right, after passing the A Casa Niulinca restaurant where you will naturally find these liqueurs.
Liqueurs made from island plants
The scent of the maquis, which reminds Jean-Marc Negroni of his childhood, is the main source of inspiration for his recipes. All Negroni liqueurs exalt the aromas of the maquis and Corsica, using mainly wild plants (myrtle, chestnuts, water mint) and citrus fruits from a grower.
It produces several liqueurs with original flavours, such as chestnut liqueur, mandarin liqueur and Corsican mint liqueur. The aromas are very similar, but like wine, they sometimes have slight nuances depending on the vintage, particularly in terms of colour. For example, the myrtle berries picked in 2022 were smaller but also tastier, with a more pronounced colour than the previous year.
Niolu chestnut liqueur - Licora di Castagna
In Jean-Marc's philosophy, the terroir begins at his feet. That's why his chestnut liqueur is made exclusively with chestnuts from Niolu PDO producers, picked in autumn.
It is not made from chestnut flour, but from whole roasted chestnuts, from December to January.
A real jewel, the taste of chestnuts is authentic and sweet on the palate, a must-try.
Corsican myrtle liqueur (Aléria, Propriano, Cap Corse) - Licora di Mortule
Myrtle only grows on the coast, so the berries are picked by Jean-Marc Negroni in Propriano over a period of 3 to 4 days, as well as in Cap Corse and Aléria by professional pickers. The harvesting period runs from December to January.
In the end, around 250 kilos of myrtle will be used for a year's production.
Myrtle liqueur is the most popular liqueur, and priority is currently given to its production to avoid stock shortages. An emblematic fruit of the island, myrtle liqueur is often served as an after-dinner drink in restaurants, in the same way as limoncellu.
Corsican Mandarin liqueur (Venzolasca) - Licora di Mandarina
Mandarin liqueur is also a flagship product of Negroni liqueurs, and much appreciated for its sweetness.
The mandarins are supplied by a grower in Venzolasca in the Casinca region, untreated.
Jean-Marc Négroni chose the mandarin over the famous Corsican clementine for reasons of taste. Mandarins, and in particular their skin, are less acidic than clementine skin.
Mandarins are also picked in winter, from December to January.
Corsican water mint liqueur - Licora di Mintrastella
Mint liqueur is perhaps the least well-known, but deserves just as much attention as the other liqueurs. It has very interesting digestive properties.
Mint is not the same variety as we're used to finding in cooking; it's water mint, which can easily be found on the banks of Corsican rivers in summer, whose scent in the summer heat exalts the typical odour of this island plant.
Mint liqueur is naturally transparent like mint syrup when no food colouring is used.
Corsican blackberry liqueur - Licora di Mora
The latest Negroni liqueur to be released between 2023 and 2024, this blackberry liqueur celebrates the berry that is so typical and abundant in Corsica. The ingredients are alcohol, water, blackberry and sugar.
The bottle is currently available in 70 cl and has an alcohol content of 29%.
Liqueur 5 Agrumes - Licora 5 agrumi
The 5 citrus fruits liqueur was also released between 2023 and 2024, and is made up of alcohol, water, mandarin orange, pomelo, citron, lemon and bitter orange.
The bottle is currently available in 70cl and has an alcohol content of 29%.
Fior' di Notte, the original aperitif
The first in a long series, Fior' di Notte is an aperitif whose ingenious blend of blackthorn and juniper brings out the scents of the maquis. Jean-Marc hand-picks the berries from these shrubs in winter, before drying them over time.
10, 35 and 70 cl bottles
Negroni liqueurs are available in 3 sizes: 10 cl, 35 cl and 70 cl bottles.
The 10 cl bottles are very often found in small gift boxes, which allow you to introduce the different flavours to friends or family who are unfamiliar with them.
The 10cl format is also ideal for people travelling by plane, as they can be taken on board as hand luggage, so there's no risk of them breaking in the hold.
In grocery shops on Corsica and the Continent
Negroni liqueurs, which are not too sweet and have an optimum alcohol content of 33%, can now be found in all Corsican grocery shops, wine shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, Charlotte's Cabanon in Cargèse, and also outside the island in Bordeaux, Paris, Nice, Lyon and Switzerland.
After 20 years as a salesman for a food company, Jean-Marc Negroni is now enjoying the perfect career change, despite having to invest a lot of time and effort, but that doesn't count for anything when the passion is there.
Video of the Distillery
A park unique in Europe
A Cupulatta means "tortoise" in Corsican. Located around twenty kilometres north of Ajaccio, the park has been open to the public since 1998 and now boasts the largest collection of turtles in the world. In a natural, shady setting, where you can eat and picnic, you can observe most of the 130 species (3,000 animals) present in the park. They come from 5 continents: Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, the turtles live in a protected area. Attracting over 60,000 visitors a year, A Cupulatta presents a unique and extremely rare collection to the general public, with the aim of safeguarding, studying and protecting terrestrial and aquatic turtles from all over the world.
Large semi-shaded private car park
You'll have no trouble finding a space in one of the park's two large car parks, which have plenty of places under the shade of the trees.
A fun family outing
On a 2.5-hectare natural site, you can discover the species along small paths lined with stones. Along the way, signs will help you learn more about the life and secrets of turtles, and you'll have the chance to discover how this fascinating reptile lives, feeds and reproduces! The tortoise is an animal that longs for peace and quiet, so during your walk you'll be able to enjoy bird song, the surrounding flora and even the sound of water from the river below. You should allow around 1? hours for the walk. You'll discover giant Seychelles or Galapagos tortoises, which can weigh up to 250 kg, magnificent hog-nosed turtles from South America, the alligator tortoise, and many others, not forgetting our familiar Hermann's tortoise. You might even get the chance to see babies hatching!
The park is planted with trees and equipped with misters to make your visit more comfortable during the hot summer months. A park that gets the whole family on board, and is a big hit with children and adults alike!
A team of enthusiasts
Pierre Moisson, the park's director, is a vet by trade. Formerly director of Mulhouse zoo, he arrived in Corsica in 2010. Driven by a desire to preserve and reintroduce endangered species, he has found many challenges to take up at A Cupulatta, including conserving the turtles, providing them with the comfort and quality of life they need to reproduce, and passing on information to the public. A teacher with a passion for his job, Pierre Moisson wants to make the park more connected and intuitive, to enhance the experience and immersion with the turtles. There are many exciting projects in store.
Surrounded by a team of enthusiasts, each of them takes care of the animals on the site on a daily basis. Summer and winter alike, the turtles are watched over and pampered. They evolve peacefully in areas where facilities have been created to recreate their natural habitat. During the breeding season, the eggs are collected to protect them from predators. All the staff do their utmost to provide optimum living conditions for their "little" protégés. Passion, preservation and transmission are the words that we feel best describe the teams at A Cupulatta. What's more, you'll easily notice that the welcome reserved for the public is always warm and caring, with the aim of exchanging and sharing knowledge.
Turtle conservation
A Cupulatta is not just a park for visitors, it's also a centre dedicated to the breeding, study and protection of turtles. Turtles are one of the most endangered species in the world today. They are disappearing because of environmental pollution, including pesticides and insecticides, but not only that: a large number of them are crushed on roads or during garden maintenance (mowing, clearing undergrowth, etc.). A Cupulatta park is home to a number of endangered species that are able to thrive in a safe environment, allowing them to reproduce. Between 400 and 1,000 hatchlings a year take place on the site, which also has a nursery for baby aquatic turtles and a veterinary clinic.
Catering on site
You can enjoy on-site catering with local products: Corsican cooked meats and cheeses. But also paninis, chips, ice creams, drinks (pago, coca, fanta, ice tea, mineral water...).
You'll also find Palitos organic Corsican ice creams and Haribos sweets.
Sweet and savoury menu - Snacks on site
Cuora" plate 3 Corsican cheeses, fig jam 7€ Pyxis" plate Lonzo, coppa, sausage, butter 6,70€ Seychelles" tart tatin Vegetables + tapenade / vegetables + olives 5,50 Matamata" salad Tomato tartar, tabbouleh, encombres, feta cheese 5,50 Goat's cheese puff pastry Tomatoes and olives 5,50€ U Spuntinu - Galapagos Panini 4 cheeses: Camembert, blue, goat, mozza 5,50€ Chicken: Mozza, mustard and mayo 5,50€ Ham : Mozza, mustard and mayo 5,50€ Plates of chips 4,20€ U Spuntinu - Galapagos Panini Alligator croc 5,50€ Quiche Hernann : Quiche lorraine 5€ Assiette Emys : Ham and chips 5,50€ Vegetarian tacos : pepper, cheese, avocado, tomato 5,50€ Fake nutella panini without palm oil 3,50€
There are plenty of shady picnic spots under the trees or parasols.
Souvenir shop in turtle country
ANIM_6 ANIM_7More info
- Picnic area
- Bar / Restaurant
- Souvenir shop
- Accessible to people with reduced mobility
- Pets allowed on a lead
- WIFI point
- Self-guided tours
- Guided tours on request
- Groups welcome
You can pick up a little souvenir in the park shop, which is 100% turtle and at affordable prices. Cuddly toys, magnets, blue or pink t-shirts for children, thimbles, as well as small ceramic turtles made by local craftsmen.
Park admission prices
ANIM_8Prices for the park can be found below:
| Adults (aged 12 and over) | 13,00€ |
|---|---|
| Children (aged 5 to 11) | 10,00€ |
| Young children (under 5) | Free |
| Group rates | On request |
| ANCV holiday vouchers accepted | |
Realization
Report, photo and video by Valentine Carré Photographer
ANIM_9Address and Contacts : Liqueur Negroni - Notte di Corsica
| 06 15 05 35 21 | |
| Send an Email | |
| Village, 20224 Calacuccia | |
