Arianna Occhipinti

Arianna Occhipinti is one of the leading voices in low-intervention winemaking, not only in Sicily but across Italy. Based in the historic town of Vittoria in the island’s southeast, Arianna farms her vineyards according to organic and biodynamic principles, crafting wines that are pure, expressive, and deeply rooted in place.

Her journey began in 2004, at just 22 years old, with a single hectare in the Contrada Fossa di Lupo. Since then, she has slowly expanded across the highlands of Vittoria, working parcels in Bombolieri, Pettineo, Santa Margherita, and beyond. These sites, a mosaic of red sands, limestone, chalk, and ancient marine sediments, form the foundation of her wines. The influence of the Hyblaean Mountains and Sicily’s relentless sun creates a balance of ripeness, freshness, and mineral tension that is unmistakable.

All work in the vineyard is done by hand. Wild cover crops, massal selections, and a profound respect for biodiversity ensure that each vineyard is alive with energy. In the cellar, fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, sulphur is used sparingly, and ageing takes place in neutral vessels, concrete, large oak casks, or amphora, to preserve purity and terroir.

The wines are soulful and elegant, led by the perfumed Frappato and the nobler, darker Nero d’Avola. From the fresh and vibrant SP68 to the powerful Grotte Alte and nuanced Contrada bottlings, her wines are not just reflections of soil and grape, but of Arianna herself, thoughtful, articulate, and fiercely committed to her land.