Arianna Occhipinti

So good that I would drink it for breakfast! - 95 points James Suckling

Sicily is a source of exciting wines made by talented winemakers. While Mount Etna may be the trendiest area at present, Vittoria is arguably the most exciting one and had recently earned a DOCG, the first one on the island.

Located in the arid southeast, Vittoria has a dry climate that guarantees optimal ripening of the grapes which can achieve a complex aromatic profile. It is particularly well suited to grow Frappatto. Pale in colour, the wines are fruity, silky and vibrant making this local grape a new top favourite amongst winemakers in Sicily.

Arianna Occhipinti - A new star is born!

Arianna Occhipinti is a talented young winemaker who is making a name for herself with her characterful and delightfully surprising wines rooted in Sicilian tradition. After attending some wine events in her hometown Vittoria, Sicily, she decided to study viticulture and oenology in Milan. She returned home in 2004 and started with a 1 hectare of vines located at the foot of the Hyblaean Mountains planted with local varieties Frappato and Nero d’Avola.

Biodiversity is at the core of what she does and Arianna is always looking out for small plots in the area, either to plant new vineyards or recover old ones. She quickly realised Frappato’s potential and has been experimenting with unique clones, single sites and old vines. She was surely right to do so. Aged only 22 when she released her first vintage, her wines have generated great interest amongst critics ever since. She has also featured in Stanley Tucci's TV Show "Searching for Italy". No doubt we will hear more from her in the coming years.

Vineyards & Winemaking

100% biodynamic, Il Frappato is sourced from two vineyards, Bastonaca and Fossa de Lupo, planted on sandy and limestone soils. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 18 months in 30% in large Slavonian oak barrels and 70% in concrete, this is a stunning and delicate red wine full of energy and with juicy flavours. Secure your stock now.

Il Frappato 2021 – The Scores

This is so good to taste with vibrant aromas and flavors of sliced fresh strawberries, lemon zest and Sicilian orange. The acidity just lifts this light- to medium-bodied wine to a different level and ends with crunchy and bright fruit that is so refreshing to drink. So good that I would drink it for breakfast! Enjoy this now. - 95 points James Suckling

Showing lots of varietal character, the 2021 Il Frappato reveals dusty red stone, wild berry and a hint of sweet apricot. The wine is firm and tense, yet it also manages an absolutely weightless approach that makes it so easy and fun to drink. It embraces a contemporary style that would pair with the healthy foods we want to eat today, with lots of vegetables and white meats. - 93 points Robert Parker

This Frappato from 40-year-old vines in Vittoria is vinified using wild yeasts, followed by a 20- to 30-day maceration then maturation for 18 months: 30% in large Slavonian oak barrels and 70% in concrete. Sweet and leafy red fruit scents introduce an energetic palate; intense, airy and tangy. It's light and juicy but with clear verticality supported by chalky tannins. – 91 points Decanter