Occhipinti : SP68 Rosso 2018

A Must-Have Natural Occhipinti Wine from Sicily

Arianna Occhipinti first became interested in wine while helping out at the cellar of her uncle Giusto Occhipinti (the "O" in the well-known Sicilian COS winery). After earning a degree in Agriculture and Enology in Milan, she returned to Sicily and began producing her own Occhipinti wine from 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of abandoned vines on her family's property, bottling her first commercial vintage, the 2004, in 2006. Since then, Arianna has expanded her estate to the 50-acre biodynamic powerhouse it is today. Arianna Occhipinti follows strict biodynamic processes out in the vineyards, planting native varieties Frappato and Nero d'Avola with zero interference. In the past few years, Occhipinti has become a rising star in the world of Italian wines, especially known for her stellar success with natural wines and biodynamic wines. Her wines offer pure, unadulterated expressions of terroir, that of the Vittoria region in southern Sicily. The signature Occhipinti SP68 Rosso 2018 is a blend of 70% Frappato and 30% Nero d'Avola grown in medium density soils of red sand and chalk from sub Apennine limestone rocks. The vines, 15 years old on average, are managed by organic processes, with no chemical intervention. In the cellar, the fruit is vinified with indigenous yeasts only and left to macerate on the skins for 15 days. The Occhipinti SP68 Rosso 2018 is aged for 6 months in concrete vats and is bottled unfiltered with little to no sulfur added.

The Occhipinti SP68 Rosso, named after a local road in Vittoria, is truly expressive of the local terroir. This is a bright, fresh and elegant Sicilian wine, with a nose bursting with zingy red berries, followed by delicate earthy touches, dark spices and subtle mineral nuances. On the palate, the Occhipinti SP68 Rosso 2018 offers delicate flavors, which recall the abundant sunshine of the region aswell as its fresh mountain breezes. A fantastic wine to drink young, whether on its own or paired with a nice risotto or bolognese.