Arianna Occhipinti | |
---|---|
Born | |
Education | University of Milan |
Occupation | winemaker |
Years active | 2009–present |
Known for | Nero d’Avola, Frappato wine |
Notable work | SP68 Rosso wine |
Arianna Occhipinti (1982-) is an Italian winemaker and winery owner based in Vittoria, Italy. [1] She is based in the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, where she grows Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes. [2] Occhipinti has worked in the wine industry since age 16, [3] and has released red wine vintages under her own label starting at age 22. [4] She is known for growing wines in the biodynamic methodology. [5]
Occhipinti grew up in Sicily and became fascinated with wine in her teens. [6] Her uncle is Giusto Occhipinti, a Sicilian winemaker of the COS estate who has been making wine since 1980. [2] When Arianna was 16, she accompanied her uncle to VinItaly (the annual wine expo in Verona) and was very inspired by the wine culture and people. [2]
She attended the University of Milan's school of viticulture and enology at a young age, and released her first vintage at age 22. [5] She started growing wine in the Contrada Fossa di Lupo, and has since expanded to the Bombolieri, Pettineo and Bastonaca districts. [7]
Occhipinti has farmed all of her land Biodynamically since 2009. [8] She started with one hectare of vines, and had 10 hectares as of 2014. [9]
Her SP68 Rosso, is a blend of two varieties native to this part of Sicily: Frappato and Nero d’Avola. [10] The title "SP68" refers to the Strada Provinciale 68, a state route that passes by Arianna's rural property. [11]
Occhipinti introduces very little, if any, sulfur in the wine, uses no filtration, and follows an extremely simple vinification process: [8] wild fermentations from native airborne yeasts, 30 days maceration on skins, six months of aging in cement tanks, [12] and a final rest in bottle before release. [13]
Occhipinti is fluent in English, which has helped with U.S. distribution and press. [8] She is one of the largest producers of biodynamic wine (over 120,000 bottles annually), and it was among the first to be recognized by critics as high-quality wine. [14]