Arianna Occhipinti - Cerasuolo di Vittoria Grotte Alte 2019 - Sicilian Red Wine

Company history

Arianna Occhipinti founded her winery in 2004 at just 21 years old, starting with one hectare of vineyard in the Fossa di Lupo district, in the Vittoria area (Ragusa). Granddaughter of Giusto Occhipinti (founder of COS), Arianna returned to Sicily after studying oenology in Milan with the goal of producing quality wines in her homeland.

Over the years, the company has grown to approximately 30 hectares of vineyards, including those in the Bombolieri, Bastonaca, Pettineo districts, and other areas along the SP68. This growth has been achieved while maintaining an artisanal spirit and a strong connection to the Vittoria area.

Production philosophy

Arianna Occhipinti is a key figure in the natural wine movement in Italy. She practices certified organic farming and applies biodynamic principles in the vineyard, avoiding herbicides and synthetic chemicals. Her philosophy is based on respect for nature and the vineyard ecosystem: she practices spontaneous grassing and green manure with legumes and other plants to enrich the soil. In the cellar, she cultivates the raw materials with spontaneous fermentations using indigenous yeasts and minimal intervention.

Occhipinti believes that wine should express the terroir and individual parcels ("wines of the district"), striving for natural balance and rejecting industrial standardization. She avoids irrigation (to encourage the vines to adapt to the Sicilian climate) and adopts traditional bush training with mass selection of the vines, reviving ancient practices. The result is authentic, healthy, and territorial wines that fully reflect Vittoria's microclimate and soils.

Cultivated vines

The company grows exclusively native Sicilian varieties. The main red grape varieties are Nero d'Avola and Frappato, typical grapes of the Vittoria area. Among the white grapes, ancient local varieties stand out, such as Zibibbo (Moscato d'Alessandria), Albanello, and even Grillo, the latter grown in a vineyard on the Hyblaean Mountains plateau at approximately 500 meters above sea level to produce more austere white wines. Arianna wanted to revive these historic grape varieties (now rare in the area) to enhance the Hyblaean ampelographic heritage. All the vineyards are trained using the alberello or low spurred cordon system, in keeping with local tradition, and the average age of the vines is often considerable (many rows are over 30-40 years old).

Production areas

The winery is located in the Vittoria district in southeastern Sicily. The vineyards are spread across various districts (Fossa di Lupo, Bombolieri, Pettineo, Bastonaca, Santa Margherita, etc.) between the provinces of Ragusa and Caltanissetta, in a flat-hilly landscape characterized by red sand soils on a limestone base and a hot, arid climate tempered by winds. The area is part of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily's only DOCG, known for its fragrant red wine made from Frappato and Nero d'Avola grapes. Arianna produces a Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico from grapes grown on its historic vineyards. The SP68 mentioned on the winery's labels is the provincial road that connects Vittoria to Acate: an ancient wine route traveled by generations of farmers, a symbol of the bond between its wines and the land.

Most representative wines or products

Among Arianna Occhipinti's signature wines, the "SP68" Rosso and Bianco stand out: labels inspired by the ancient SP68 wine route that runs through the Vittoria countryside. SP68 Rosso (Terre Siciliane IGT) is a fresh and agile wine made from Frappato and Nero d'Avola, characterized by aromas of small red fruits and spices, and a juicy and pleasantly tannic palate. The SP68 Bianco (IGT) is a blend of Moscato di Alessandria (Zibibbo) and Albanello, fermented with approximately 15 days of maceration on the skins: a white wine with an aromatic character, with notes of citrus, herbs, and almond.
Other representative wines include "Il Frappato," a single-varietal red with great floral finesse, and "Siccagno," a single-varietal Nero d'Avola with a more structured and complex character. The Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG "Grotte Alte" is the flagship wine: made from the finest Frappato and Nero d'Avola parcels, it is aged for a long time, offering a balance of fruit, freshness, and Mediterranean spices. Arianna has also introduced single-vineyard wines (Contrada Bombolieri, Fossa di Lupo, Pettineo, etc.) to highlight the subtle differences of the terroir. The range is completed by an organic extra virgin olive oil produced from the estate's olive groves, a testament to the biodiversity cultivated on the estate.
 

Awards and recognitions

Despite her young age, Arianna Occhipinti has achieved widespread recognition in the wine scene.
Its labels regularly appear in the main guides: for example, its SP68 Rosso has won the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri award several times, and the 2019 “Il Frappato” wine was awarded the Cinque Grappoli (the highest recognition) in the AIS-Bibenda 2022 guide.

International magazines and renowned critics (e.g., Wine Spectator, The New York Times, Decanter) have cited her among the most influential figures in natural wine. In 2021, Occhipinti was included by Corriere della Sera among the 7 iconic women of contemporary Italian wine. Today, the company exports to over 50 countries, a sign of global success. Her production philosophy has been an inspiration to many young winemakers in Southern Italy, and Arianna is often invited as a speaker on sustainability and organic farming.

Curiosity

An interesting anecdote concerns the name "SP68": it derives from Provincial Road 68, considered the oldest Sicilian "wine route," traveled since Greek times to connect the cities of Gela and Kamarina, passing through the Cerasuolo countryside. Arianna chose this name for her young wines as a tribute to that rural tradition.

Being a young woman winemaker in southern Italy has made her a charismatic figure: her story of courage in returning to Sicily to make wine has been told in interviews and documentaries, strengthening the brand's authentic image. In the cellar,
Occhipinti has been keeping a few bottles of each vintage since 2004 to observe the evolution of the wines over the years – a sign of care and foresight.