More about VinB

Sicily’s winemaking scene is a gift that keeps on giving. The region of Vittoria, on the island’s south, is home to the groundbreaking winery COS, the trio who pioneered biodynamics on Sicily and indeed all along the boot. It’s also home to a brand-new project called Vin B, established just a few years ago by Vittoria natives Biagio Distefano and Vittorio d’Angelo.

While Mount Etna is home to Nerello Mascalase and Nerello Cappuccio, here, Nero d’Avola and Frappato are king. Where Nerello can lean towards red fruit and lots of structure, Nero d’Avolo offers black fruit and a soft texture, and Frappato’s gentle aromatics perfectly complement its delicate strawberry flavors. The soils are limestone-dominant, and elevations rise to about 400 or 500m above sea level.

Before establishing Vin B, Biagio and Vittorio worked in restaurants in far-flung London and Turin. In Turin, Vittorio ran into Ariana Occhipinti — the nephew of Giusto Occhipinti, the “O” in COS and one of its founders — and was inspired to return home and work in her cellar. Biagio simply tired of gray, rainy London, returned to sunny Sicily and began working for COS. They managed to rent a tiny, .8-hectare vineyard — as of 2025, they rent or own 5 hectares — and work out of Vittorio’s grandfather’s cellar.

Tasting these wines, it’s easy to see how the Mediterranean sun plays with Vittoria’s pure limestone terroir. The wines are cheerful and fruit-forward, but a vein of minerality solidly anchors everything to the earth. And of course, we’re on an island in the Mediterranean, so there’s no lack of salinity. Each sip draws you in further.

These winemakers are just getting started, but we’re already so impressed with what they’ve accomplished. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that two Occhipinti protégés are making magic in southern Sicily, and if you’re a fan of either COS or Ariana, you’ll want to try a couple of bottles of Vin B.