Frappato, Sicily, Italy 

Arianna Occhipinti considers this wine the one that best represents her: “Brave, original, rebellious.” It’s not bragging, either! Not only does she come from an incredible wine pedigree (her mentor and father is Giusto Occhipinti from COS), she championed the regional grape Frappato, becoming it’s biggest cheerleader & introducing it to the world! The grape is poetry in motion, wildly finessed and aromatic, nothing like the overpowering Nero d’Avolas characteristic of the region, sourced from older, 45 year old vines and aged for 14 months in Slavonian oak. Fragrant and spicy, this tickles your nose like something cooked in a tagine — stewed cranberry, black pepper, handrolled tobacco, faded wallpaper florals with a brambly edge and crushed pearl minerality. Equal parts serious and romantic, show this wine the respect it deserves & let yourself go.