Arianna Occhipinti Nero d'Avola Siccagno 2023 SF Chronicle much of it on terraces

much of it on terraces his grandfather built

blended with select reserve wines for added depth

is one of the great companions to Southeast Asian food

Method traditional sparkling wine

whose bottles are nearly impossible to find — so this is a rare chance to taste the source

Arianna Occhipinti Nero d'Avola Siccagno 2023 SF Chronicle much of it on terracesSiccagno means dry farmed, which in southeastern Sicily is a statement of intent. No irrigation, no propping the vines up through the heat, just roots that go looking for water in limestone and sand. Nero d'Avola usually gets made big and jammy; Arianna Occhipinti goes the other way, using her contrade in Vittoria and two years in large Austrian oak casks to draw out structure and savor instead of sheer weight. Farming is organic, harvest is by hand,