Great communicator and ambassador of her territory, she has managed to make known to the world a fragment of Sicily that lived, in recent years, in the shadow of volcanic Etna, the area of Cerasuolo di Vittoria!
Charismatic character and true "vigneron", as she is not only able to fascinate with her stories, but also particularly prepared on agronomic and oenological practices, Ariadne Occhipinti– natural woman – began her exploration in the world of viticulture and wine production about fourteen years ago, precisely in 2004, in Fossa di Lupo. But her story begins much earlier, when, still very young, she dreams of making a wine that knows how to blend the characteristics of the land of Vittoria with the peasant spirit that is part of her roots, and at the same time goes to the continuous search for elegance. After all, her passion for this place is well known.
The great respect that Arianna has for her land leads her to work to intervene in the vineyard as little as possible. An area marked by the presence of a state road, the SP68 (to which he dedicated one of his wines), which crosses it and connects the wine roads with Catania and Lentini, and where generations of farmers have passed to bring their wine to the coast and to the port of Riposto. On this ancient road, Arianna's business was born, grew and consolidated, first with a single hectare in Fossa di Lupo, then with a progressive expansion in the districts of Bombolieri, Bastonaca and Pettineo, and with the acquisition of ancient vineyards of frappato. Strong supporter of Biological and sulphite-free wines, has brought his company to Certified Organic, very close to Biodynamics anyway. It maintains biodiversity and natural balance, preserves the old clones and grafting in the field and, in the cellar after manual harvesting, uses only spontaneous fermentations, indigenous yeasts and low sulfur dioxide. We particularly like it because it has found its own oenological dimension, sometimes retracing its steps.
Its flagship wine, Il Frappato, is now a legend and thrills with its character and refinement. Concentrated ruby. To the perfumes the olfactory range is distinguished by remarkable elegance, overwhelming and sensual, overflowing with memories of strawberries, raspberries and cherries, myrtle and juniper berries, with accents of delicate violet on a spicy and ferrous background. When tasted it reveals a savory structure that combines well with a juicy freshness and a velvety and enveloping tannic texture. Final savory and fruity trail that makes this wine a great sensory experience.
A wine that also lends itself to multiple combinations, both with meat and fish. It marries perfectly seared tuna and swordfish with a drizzle of raw oil and a few drops of traditional balsamic vinegar. Eggplant Parmesan. Caponata Siciliana. Rigatoni all'amatriciana. Red meat stew. Just to name a few.
Price Euro 25.
OCCHIPINTI AGRICULTURAL
CELLAR
SP68 VITTORIA-PEDALINO KM 3,3
97019 VITTORIA (RG)
SICILY ITALY
VAT IT01245460884
+39 0932 1865519
info@agricolaocchipinti.it
Arianna Occhipinti confesses with no little pride: “When I started making wine it was the profession of the winemaker that infected me more than anything else, pruning, working the vineyard, observing the soils, expressing the place where you choose to make wine , an absolutely natural wine, not as an end but as a means. Now a certain vinification takes over making the naturalist technique the only purpose”. He had seen a long way and today his wines (SP68 white, SP68 red, Frappato, Siccagno, Grotte Alte, Passo Nero, Grappa) conquer international positions, are at the top of all wine guides and are exported abroad to fifty countries. All starting from one hectare purchased as a challenge, twenty or fourteen years ago.
