Arianna Occhipinti, Terre Siciliane Bianco (Sicily, Italy) 2021

 You may recall Arianna Occhipinti from Stanley Tucci’s travel show, Searching for Italy, in which he visits her winery.  Occhipinti has become a seminal figure for a new generation of Sicilian wine lovers.  Her hometown of Vittoria lies in the far south of Sicily, just to the west of Ragusa.  It is here that she has been making wine for almost two decades.  Her SP68 Bianco is an excellent reflection of her minimal intervention winemaking philosophy.  It is a blend of two native Sicilian varietals, Albanello and Zibibbo.  Zibibbo lends an aromatic complexity with rose blossom, peach, and almond aromas, while Albanello adds structure with grapefruit, peach, lychees, and lemon peel notes.  The palate is fresh with an almost herbaceous quality and a long saline finish.  This is immensely satisfying, offering unparalleled value.