The Best organic extra virgin olive oil of 2024 comes from Umbria. It is the emerging monocultivar organic Moraiolo from Marfuga in Campello sul Clitunno (PG), “one of the best expressions of the Moraiolo variety with an aroma of bitter herbs that intertwine with nettle, pepper and balsamic notes, and then closes with persistent sensations of bitter and spicy”. Instead you have to go to Castellaneta in the province of Taranto to find it the Best Extra Virgin Olive Blend is the Le Ferre Selection, a fascinating mix of vegetal, dried fruit, herbaceous and legume notes that distinguishes this blend for its power and great elegance”. It is an important panorama of the excellence of Italian green gold in its many nuances that is traced by Italian Oils Guide 2024 presented by Gambero Rosso and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in the setting of Sol&Agrifood-Vinitaly in Verona. In total they are 191 excellences recognized with the Three Leaves and 18 Special Awards.
Continuing with the special recognitions for the Guide, the Best monocultivar was produced in Alberobello (BA), “one of the best expressions of the Coratina variety. An intense fruitiness that is expressed with notes of artichoke, almond, nettle, cypress that intertwine with balsamic tones”. For the best light fruitiness we instead go up to Tuscany where we find Podere Ricavo Del Buono in Cetona (SI), which produces an oil that is “a combination of delicacy and complexity where hints of artichoke, almond, pine nut and lettuce intertwine”. For the Best medium fruity we still remain in Tuscany with the Riflessi Monocultivar Maurino di Fonte di Foiano in Castagneto Carducci (LI), “an explosion of aromas that recall tomato leaves, cut grass, aromatic herbs and balsamic hints” while for for the best intense fruitiness you need to move to Gasoli (CH) for the Trappeto di Caprafico Crognale Monocultivar Crognalegno “an oil of great complexity and power whose variety that characterizes it represents the desire to recover plants that were once little considered”.
389 producing companies for 679 extra virgin labels included in the Guide, of which 191 are the Tre Foglie and 34 the Stars,
The Guide Oli d’Italia dedicated to Italian extra virgin olive oils, with the support of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, traces a map that wants to celebrate the richness and diversity of the varieties of olives and oils present in our country, highlighting the peculiarities of each region, with the exception only of Valle d’Aosta and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and enhancing the stories of the producers who carry on with passion and dedication the thousand-year-old tradition of oil production: from the renowned Ligurian Taggiasca, to the robusta Leccino, passing through Frantoio and the vigorous Carboncella up to Ogliarola, typical of the Bari, Gargano and Salento areas.
“The world of extra virgin olive oil is complex and fascinating at the same time: each product has unique characteristics and our Guide aims to guide professionals and consumers in choosing the best product capable of satisfying different tastes and combinations” comments Stefano Polacchi, curator of the Guide. There are 3 of them89 producing companies for 679 extra virgin labels evaluated and included in the Guide, of which 191 the Tre Foglie and 34 the Stars, which have obtained the maximum score for ten years, the result of a long process of research, selection and evaluation to identify the most sublime taste but also to recognize a greater commitment to sustainability, in a global economy that competes on the price front lower. “Italy – adds Polacchi – today finds itself competing with products of community origin which favor quantity over quality and manage to charge lower selling prices.”
Five price ranges considered, from oils with a price of less than 10 euros to the most excellent products even over 30 euros per liter
There are five price ranges considered, from oils priced under 10 euros to the most excellent products even over 30 euros per litre. LThe Guide also offers information on producers of table olives and companies that offer hospitality and catering in the countryside for complete and exhaustive information. The individual extra virgin olive oils were also evaluated for their aromatic profile, based on the intensity of fruity, bitter and spicy, useful for determining possible combinations with foods and ingredients.
The Special Awards 2024:
Best Q/P ratio
• Gran Pregio Monocultivar Coratina Bio by Maria Caputo in Molfetta (BA), balance and aromatic complexity characterize this exemplary monocultivar of Coratina which stands out for the typical aromas of almond and artichoke followed by rocket and cut grass;
Consortium of the Year
• Consortium for the Protection of EVO Oil DOP Lametia (Calabria), in collaboration with Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena;
Cooperative of the year
• Olive growers of Oliena (Sardinia), in collaboration with Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena;
Company of the Year
• Miceli & Sensat of Monreale (PA), a cutting-edge company with a 115-hectare olive grove, 100 of which are dedicated to ancient grains;
Oil mill of the year
• Nicolangelo Marsicani from Morigerati (SA), protagonist of the Campania olive oil production, his range of action goes well beyond regional borders;
Olive grower of the year
• Alfredo Cetrone of Sonnino (LT), a cutting-edge reality for quality agri-food and a valid point of reference for the whole area, extends over 100 hectares of rocky terrain at 500 meters above sea level where 20 thousand plants of the Itrana variety are hosted ;
Best organic
• The emerging Monocultivar Moraiolo Bio from Marfuga in Campello sul Clitunno (PG), one of the best expressions of the Moraiolo variety with an aroma of bitter herbs that intertwine with nettle, pepper and balsamic notes, and then closes with persistent bitter and spicy sensations;
Best blend
• Selection of Le Ferre in Castellaneta (TA), a fascinating mix of vegetal, dried fruit, herbaceous and legume notes distinguishes this blend for its power and great elegance;
Best monocultivar
• Monocultivar Coratina by Intini in Alberobello (BA), one of the best expressions of the Coratina variety. An intense fruitiness that is expressed with notes of artichoke, almond, nettle, cypress that intertwine with balsamic tones;
Best light fruity
• PDO Terra di Siena Podere Ricavo di Buoni or Del Buono in Cetona (SI), a combination of delicacy and complexity characterizes this oil where hints of artichoke, almond, pine nut and lettuce are intertwined;
Best medium fruity
• Riflessi Monocultivar Maurino di Fonte di Foiano in Castagneto Carducci (LI), an explosion of aromas that recall tomato leaves, cut grass, aromatic herbs and balsamic hints;
Best intense fruity
• Crognale Monocultivar Crognalegno di Trappeto di Caprafico in Gasoli (CH), an oil of great complexity and power whose variety that characterizes it represents the desire to recover plants that were once little considered;
News of the year
• Fratelli Carbone from Tricarico (MT), Antonio and his brothers have chosen to carry on the family tradition that began at the end of the 19th century, starting with extra virgin olive oil;
Best DOP oil
• Regina Dop Aprutino Pescarese by De Juliis in Pianella (PE), one of the first names of extra virgin olive oil to be registered in Italy, this product stands out for its vegetal, legume, but also balsamic and persistent hints;
Best PGI oil
• Tenuta Vasadonna Igp Sicilia Nocellara Messinese Organic from Fattoria Sant’Anastasia in Motta Sant’Anastasia (CT), a captivating aromatic texture where tomato, aromatic herbs, nettle, lettuce and balsamic traits emerge identifies this excellent example of Nocellara Messinese, soft in the It is bitter and decidedly spicy
Oil&Wine
• Dop Chianti Classico by Fonterutoli in Castellina in Chianti (SI), splendid structure of the Mazzei marquises where, in addition to the fine wine, the excellent Dop extra virgin olive oil is produced which is based on hints of artichoke, almond, cypress, rocket and balsamic notes;
Oil&Tourism
• Pezze Galere in Fasano (BR) of the Semeraro family today represented by Francesco Semeraro with his wife Alba and son Giacomo who take care of the olive grove and hospitality of La Casina, a splendid contemporary house with swimming pool surrounded by centuries-old olive trees;
• Fop in Guardistallo (PI): a farmhouse renovated according to the principles of green building among the Pisan hills, formerly the site of a monastery, immersed in an area that Stefano and Francesco Fop preserve and enhance also with the production of extra virgin olive oil.
Tags: Oils Italy awarded Gambero Rosso organic Campello sul Clitunno terms pricequality ratio Molfetta
