Arianna Occhipinti, 'Il Frappato' Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy, 2023

Overview of the Wine
Owner, winemaker, and viticulturist Arianna Occhipinti founded the estate in 2004, bottled her first commercial vintage in 2006 and today works exclusively with estate fruit. She began her career at 16 in her uncle Giusto Occhipinti’s cellar (of COS fame). Arianna loved the business enough to go to enology school. However, once there, she was disillusioned by the type of winemaking they were teaching, so she returned to the methods she observed while working with her uncle when it came time to establish her winery. 

This 25-hectare vineyard on the southeastern coast of Sicily is certified organic. The winery sits between the Mediterranean and inland mountains in the Vittoria region. The vineyard is planted with native Sicilian varietals; Frappato and Nero d’Avola for reds and Albanello and Zibibbo for whites. While the farm is certified organic, they follow biodynamic practices. That means farming in conjunction and harmony with nature. For example, they use cover crops such as fava beans and other valuable plants to maintain moisture in the soil in this hot and windy place rather than irrigate the vines.

Organic and biodynamic.

Winemaker
Arianna Occhipinti

Grape / Blend
Frappato

Origin
Sicily, Italy

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Bright notes of black raspberries, red cherry compote and rose water jump out of the glass with touches of cinder, white pepper and hay in the background. The acid is energetic and moves along a gorgeous mineral-forward silky-juicy texture before a mild dusty tannic bite introduces a fruity, smoky, slightly salty and lengthy finish. Quite the achievement for a wine to be as quaffable or as cerebral as you want it to be.

Product size: 750ml