Wednesday 16th September | 6:45pm - 8:15pm
Azienda Agricola COS was founded in 1980 in Vittoria, in southeastern Sicily, by three friends from local winemaking families: Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano and Giusto Occhipinti. The name COS comes from the initials of their surnames. What began with a modest 3.6-hectare vineyard and just 1,470 bottles from the first vintage has developed into one of Sicily's most influential wineries, playing a pivotal role in the revival and recognition of Vittoria's wines. From the outset, COS has been driven by a desire to express the character of its land rather than follow fashion, with a particular focus on the indigenous varieties Frappato, Nero d'Avola and Grecanico.
At the heart of COS is a philosophy of respect for nature and tradition. The estate follows biodynamic principles, seeking to maintain a natural balance between vine, soil and surrounding ecosystem, while avoiding chemical inputs and developing practices such as composting and water treatment. Its approach to winemaking is equally distinctive: COS embraced terracotta amphorae as a neutral vessel capable of allowing the fruit and terroir to speak without the influence of oak. The winery produced its first Pithos Cerasuolo di Vittoria in 2000, fermented and aged entirely in amphora, and by 2007 had replaced its small wooden vessels with around 150 amphorae.
COS is perhaps best known for its interpretation of Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily's only DOCG wine, a historic blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola. The estate's wines combine the bright, aromatic character and elegance of Frappato with the structure and depth of Nero d'Avola, while reflecting the distinctive red, calcareous and sandy soils and warm Mediterranean climate of Vittoria. Under the guidance and vision of Giusto Occhipinti, COS has helped transform the reputation of the region, demonstrating how ancient techniques can be used in a contemporary way to produce wines of remarkable freshness, purity and sense of place. This Masterclass with Andreas Puhar offers an opportunity to explore that philosophy through the wines themselves-and to understand why COS has become such an important reference point for modern Sicilian wine.
- 2023 Zibibbo in Pithos
- 2024 Rami (Inzolia, Grillo)
- 2023 Pithos Bianco (Grecanico)
- 2024 Frappato
- 2022 Cerasuolo di Vittoria (Nero d'Avola, Frappato)
- 2023 Pithos Rosso - made in Amphora (Nero d'Avola)
- 2019 Bastonaca (Nero d'Avola, Frappato)
- 2019 Contrada (Nero d'Avola)
Policy for all events are outlined below:
Event Changes: If unforeseen circumstances require us to change or cancel an event, Mercato will happily reimburse the full cost of your ticket.
Cancellations: 7 days or more from event: Mercato will provide store credit equivalent to the full cost of your ticket for cancellations that occur from the time you purchase your ticket up to 7 days before the event.
Within 7 days of event: Event bookings cancelled within 7 days of the event date are strictly non-refundable.
If you have any further questions or enquiries, please contact our events team at events@mercato.com.au
