A Wine That Stayed With Me — Occhipinti Il Frappato

One September afternoon in 2023, a close Italian friend of mine—a restaurateur—invited me for a casual lunch at his apartment. He had gathered a few chef friends as well, the kind of people who live and breathe food and wine.

One by one they arrived, each holding a bottle of wine in one hand—mostly Italian, of course—and offering the other hand to help set the table or assist in the kitchen. It was the kind of lunch where things unfold naturally: plates appearing, glasses filling, conversations growing louder.

Soon we were eating like kings and queens.

Between bites, we talked about everything—food, travel, life, philosophy. Italians like to say “di Dio e del mondo”—about God and the world. And in between, we drank wine. We analyzed it, searched for aromas, shared impressions, and appreciated every sip.

At one point, my eyes drifted toward a bottle standing quietly on the table. Something about it caught my attention immediately. I hadn’t seen it before. In fact, at that time, the whole concept of natural wine had barely reached my ears.

My Italian friends, however, immediately knew what we were about to drink. Their smiles told the story.

I realized I was the one slightly behind—and naturally, I had to try it.

That was the first time I encountered it.

Occhipinti — Il Frappato 2019.

The taste surprised me in a way I didn’t expect. Light yet expressive, delicate but full of life. It was the kind of wine that doesn’t try to impress loudly, but instead quietly pulls you in sip after sip.

At that moment, I had no idea that years later I would want to share this very feeling with guests in my own restaurant.

But the memory stayed with me.

Even before mentioning the grape or the region, what truly inspired me was the woman behind the wine.

Arianna Occhipinti.

A young Sicilian winemaker with an incredible vision, determination, and respect for the land. Starting her winery very young, she chose a path of authenticity—working organically, focusing on indigenous grapes, and letting the vineyard speak naturally through the wine.

Her courage, craft, and entrepreneurial spirit make this bottle even more meaningful to me.

About the Wine

Arianna Occhipinti’s Il Frappato is one of the most personal and authentic expressions of the grape — a wine that, in her own words, reflects the land she works, the air she breathes, and her own thoughts.

Sourced from vineyards at around 220 meters above sea level in Vittoria, rooted in calcareous sub-Apennine sands, the wine carries a distinct sense of place. The vines, averaging 35 years of age, are farmed biodynamically without chemical intervention, following a philosophy of deep respect for nature.

Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts, followed by an extended maceration of 25 days on the skins. The wine then ages primarily in concrete, with a portion resting in large 30hl Austrian oak barrels, before a short period in bottle — a process designed to preserve purity while allowing quiet evolution.

Her interpretation of Frappato is not about power, but about identity.

It is vibrant, tart, and sanguine, with an elegant structure and a natural energy that feels almost alive. Red berries, floral tones, and a subtle earthy depth unfold effortlessly, carried by a light texture that makes the wine incredibly drinkable, yet deeply expressive.

It is Vittoria. It is the Iblei mountains. And perhaps more than anything, it is a reflection of her: courageous, original, and quietly rebellious.

If you are curious about Frappato, Focoso currently offers the 2022 and 2023 vintages, both of which express the same lively and elegant spirit that first captured my attention.

Some wines impress you for a moment.

Others stay with you for years.

This one did for me.

And in a way, it brought me right back to that September afternoon around a crowded table with friends, food, and laughter.

On this note,

Happy International Women’s Day to all the women shaping this industry with courage and passion.

— Petra Wiesinger