Arianna Occhipinti is the rare example of nepotism gone absolutely right.
The niece of Giusto Occhpinti, whose COS wines are undisputedly among the best in Sicily, Arianna tagged along with her uncle to show his wines at Vinitaly for four days in 1998. At only 16 years old, and at the time knowing nothing of wine, the experience was so impactful for Arianna that she soon after enrolled in university to study enology and viticulture. It was a conflicting experience for Arianna; everything she was taught in school clashed with what Giusto had taught her about winemaking (organic viticulture, hand-harvesting, native yeast fermentations). Undeterred, she started farming one hectare of abandoned vineyards in the commune of Vittoria and released her inaugural vintage at only 24.
Now nearly 20 years after her first vintage, Arianna is a seminal figure in the modern world of Italian wine, representing a forward-thinking spirit of experimentation and an unwavering respect for the traditions of Sicilian winemakers before her. Her wines are expressive, pure, and hit the palate with boundless energy, capturing the essence of the traditional varieties of this slice of Sicily (Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Zibbibo, and more) with an almost unmatched energy and freshness, whether in their varietal form or in her flagship SP68 blends (named for the highway that runs through the vineyards).
These are some of our favorite wines every year, and we're thrilled to have the latest releases in the shop. As always with Occhipinti, supply is limited. Once these are gone, we may not see them again for months.
2024 Occhipinti SP68 Bianco ($35) - An earthy and intriguing blend of Albanello and Moscato di Alessandria (that last is the most complex, prestigious clone of Muscat on the planet, period), it's aromatic, firm, feminine and powerful all at once. The nose is a dizzying array of lemon blossoms and herbs, but the flavors of citrus, honey, almond and dried peach finish deliciously dry. Bottled unfined and unfiltered from organic vineyards.
2024 Occhipinti SP68 Rosso ($35) - Light in color, but bursting out of the glass with wild berry, dried herbs, white smoke, and crushed flowers, this is a wine for all seasons. A blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola, this is pretty and perfumed, but with remarkable depth and sneaky structure. In summer we serve it chilled, but it has substance and will match up against heartier fare.
2023 Occhipinti Frappato ($55) - Everyone Remembers Their First Frappato. You don't need to have heard of it, or know that it's famed as Sicily's most ethereal red grape -- you just need to be a sentient human, capable of experiencing visceral pleasure. Wild strawberries, dried currants, roses, orange peel, hints of leather, and a body that veers between light and medium, sometimes in the same taste. Tangy, crisp, mineral, deep and beguiling.