Occhipinti Il Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT 2023

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of this pioneering low-intervention producer, the 2023 Occhipinti ‘Il Frappato’ showcases the variety’s gorgeous, floral aromatics and fresh, red-fruited, elegantly mineral profile. Bright notes of black raspberries, red cherry compote, anise 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. There’s a reason this wine is an icon.

From forty year old Frappato vines planted in the Terre Siciliane area of Sicily at an elevation of 280 meters above sea level. All of Arianna Occhipinti's wines are a joy to drink as their lively acidity simply refreshes the palate. Frappato, though, is about red fruit character, floral fruits and is all around delicious.

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 the cellar of her uncle Giusto Occhipinti (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.

Her 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.

As one of the most influential voices in the natural wine movement, Arianna has brought the historic Frappato grape variety to new heights. Her wines reflect the subtle nuances of the various terroirs. With meticulous research, she has identified five historic contrade whose different soils of sea sand and limestone manifest themselves in characterful interpretations of Frappato. Occhipinti stands for a scientifically sound, yet natural approach that characterises the wine world far beyond Sicily.