2020 Occhipinti Grotte Alte Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Occhipinti is one of the hottest names in Italian wines, and their tiny production is highly sought after. Situated a mere 15km from the Mediterranean, the vineyards are 250m above sea level planted to Frappato and Nero d’Avola. Winemaking is natural and hands off, with fermentation occurring spontaneously, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration and only minimal sulphur additions at bottling.

Named after the limestone ridges that rise above Vittoria, Grotte Alte is Occhipinti’s Cerasuolo di Vittoria—a blend of equal parts Frappato and Nero d'Avola drawn from vineyards at 280 metres elevation. The soils here are brown sands over calcareous sub-Apennine rock, and the vines average around 40 years of age, trained in a mix of Guyot and traditional albarello systems. Farming follows organic and biodynamic principles, with no chemical inputs. Fermentation takes place in cement tanks with native yeasts, followed by 30 days on skins and a long élevage of 48 months in large-format French oak. This is the most structured and age-worthy wine in the range, bringing together the aromatic lift of Frappato with the depth and grip of Nero d’Avola in a way that speaks clearly of its limestone-rich, inland site.