Arianna Occhipinti: Sicily’s Soul in a Glass
Some winemakers create wines beyond taste which seem to have a life of their own. They tell stories. They alter
Grape variety
Frappato
Sicily's most charming red—pale, fragrant, and floral, bringing elegance to the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG blend and increasingly celebrated as a varietal.
Frappato is a grape variety most associated in Italy with Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Vittoria. I have reviewed three wines made from it.
Sicily’s Fragrant Charmer Frappato is a light, perfumed, irresistibly drinkable native red grape of south-eastern Sicily, the antithesis of the dark, powerful reds the island was once known for. Pale in colour and bursting with fresh red fruit and flowers, it makes wines of charm, lift and gentle structure that have found new favour in an era that prizes freshness and drinkability over sheer weight. It is one of Italy’s most delightful and food-friendly reds.
Origins and Lineage Frappato is an old Sicilian variety long associated with the Vittoria area, and DNA research has suggested a genetic relationship to Sangiovese, hinting at a shared ancestry that may help explain its bright acidity and fragrant red fruit. For centuries it was a humble local grape, valued for the perfume and freshness it could bring to the island’s warmer, heavier reds.
A Grape of Vittoria Frappato’s heartland is the area around Vittoria in the south-east corner of Sicily, on the sandy, calcareous soils near the sea. It is a vigorous, late-ripening variety that retains freshness and aromatic lift even under the Sicilian sun, giving wines that are light in body but high in perfume — a rare and valuable combination in a hot climate.
In the Vineyard Traditionally trained as low alberello bush vines, Frappato thrives on the free-draining sandy soils near the coast, which suit its vigour and help preserve its delicate aromatics. Its tendency to vigour and high yields means that quality-minded growers must restrict its crop to concentrate the fragile perfume and red fruit that are its whole point.
Appearance and Structure Frappato gives pale, bright, translucent reds with low tannin, fresh acidity and a light to medium body. Its appeal lies entirely in fragrance and drinkability rather than power or structure: this is a wine to enjoy young, fresh and even lightly chilled, prized for its energy and charm.
Aromatic Profile The signature is vivid red fruit — strawberry, red cherry and raspberry — lifted by red flowers, violets, dried herbs and a subtle Mediterranean spice. It is one of the most overtly perfumed of all Italian red grapes, floral and fruity in a way that recalls a fine, fragrant rosé as much as a red wine.
The Cerasuolo Partnership Frappato’s most famous role is in Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily’s only DOCG, where it is blended with the deeper, richer Nero d’Avola. The pairing is perfect: Nero d’Avola brings colour, body and structure, while Frappato contributes perfume, freshness and lift, producing a wine of real elegance and balance that showcases both grapes at their best.
Key Expressions
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria (DOCG): the classic blend with Nero d’Avola — fresh, perfumed and elegant.
- Varietal Frappato: pale, floral, fragrant reds for early, joyful drinking, often lightly chilled.
- South-eastern Sicily (Vittoria): the grape’s sandy-soiled heartland near the sea.
- Natural & artisan bottlings: light skin-contact and low-intervention styles celebrating its transparency.
The Question of Aging Frappato is emphatically a grape for youthful drinking, prized for the freshness and perfume that fade with time; it is best enjoyed within a few years of the vintage, while its red fruit and floral character are at their most vivid.
At the Table Its light body, low tannin and bright acidity make it wonderfully versatile and a rare red that suits warm-weather drinking: grilled fish and seafood, roast poultry, charcuterie, tomato-based pasta, vegetable dishes and lighter Sicilian fare. Served slightly cool, it is a perfect summer red.
Why It Matters Frappato embodies the fresher, more elegant face of modern Sicilian wine — a fragrant, charming, food-loving red that proves the island can make wines of lift and delicacy as readily as power, and a perfect partner to the richer Nero d’Avola.
Reviews for Frappato
2021 Arianna Occhipinti “PT – Pettineo”
Frappato grapes from Pettineo single vineyard benefit from old contrada conditions to produce wines that are both more complex and
2022 Arianna Occhipinti “Il Frappato”
Arianna’s flagship red. The wine comes from 100% Frappato grapes which are aged in Slavonian oak barrels. The wine presents
2023 Arianna Occhipinti “SP68” Rosso
Her breakthrough wine established her reputation in the wine industry. This wine comes from natural fermentation of Frappato and Nero
Savoring Sicily, A Journey Through Island Wines
Sicily, a rich tapestry of cultures, is renowned for its vibrant wines and unique culinary flavors. The island boasts diverse grape varieties like Carricante, Frappato, and Nero d’Avola, each contributing to distinct wines. Key producers such as Tenuta delle Terre Nere and COS showcase Sicily’s winemaking heritage, highlighting its volcanic terroir and tradition.