Women in Wine
Arianna Occhipinti (Italy)
Source: agricolaocchipinti.it/it/identita
In 2019 we were visiting Arianna Occhipinti at her Vittoria Vineyard.
Ariannas story begins with an old country road: Strada Provinciale 68 (SP68).
We are in Southern Sicily where SP68 is the connection to the sea.
Today Ariannas wines travel the same road to be exported all over the planet.
SP68 is the address of her winery (SP68, Vittoria RG) and also the name of her best selling wine.
Visiting Arianna Occhipinti.
Welcome to Sicilia and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.
Arianna´s Mantra
"We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow It from our children".
The picture above shows Arianna´s Palmento, the sicilian word for winery.
Here you see biodiversity in form of orange trees.
Biodiversity is a core principle in the natural wine movement.
A vineyard is an ecosystem and its balance depends on flowers, wild plants, bees, butterflies, birds and soil life.
"From a good grape comes a good wine".
Native grapes in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG are Nero d´Avola and Frappato.
The Story of a Success
It´s also the story of a young girl that becomes a woman while making wine.
Arianna Occhipinti is inspired by her uncle, co-founder of famous COS vineyard.
She studies Oenology (Winemaking) at university in Milano.
But, she does not like the mainstream teories: industrial winemaking.
She returns to Sicily and she does it, like Frank Sinatra sings, "My way".
She is now a respected "Woman in Wine" at home in Sicily and in the world.
The Queen of Natural Wine
Her Secrets
Concrete Tanks
Concrete tanks seem the new trend but they are the evolution of Roman amphorae.
They are porous, allowing the wine to breath just enough.
Unlike you might think, concrete tanks do not impart any additional flavor.
They maintain freshness and the unique personality of the grape.
Concrete helps to retain original minerality, texture and fruitness.
They can be used both for fermentation and aging.
More affordable than wooden barrels!