A project that in reality wasn’t even a project. A hobby, a pastime. For the brothers Luca And Giuseppe Esposito this meant doing theoilso much so that he dedicated his break from university exams in the autumn to this work: «There was a oil mill for the third-party processing of olives where, between university breaks, my brother and I helped, guided by a local oil master». The history of the company Le Ferre of Castellaneta in the province of Taranto which this year won the award as “best blend” in the Oli d’Italia 2024 guide.
The choice to work olives professionally
At the beginning the olive growers of that area who brought the olives, especially the older ones, did not trust these two boys and how they used the machines. They were there checking every drop of oil that arrived. After a short time they realized that the oil that came out of that mill had something different, an edge: «Organizational capacity and rigor, curiosity and availability made that mill the first in the area. The elderly no longer stayed to check their olives and monitor the oil output because they trusted us. Above all, they appreciated, in disbelief, the cleanliness of the rooms. Something quite unusual for them who are used to very different order management criteria in an oil mill.”
Diversify production
From there a real study path began in which some correct intuitions that characterized the company’s success were intertwined. First of all the productive diversification which allows each palate to choose the most appreciated product, but also to match “its” oil to each dish. Added to this are some communication peculiarities such as the fact of always writing “extra virgin” without ever abbreviating it in any way, or the care of the graphics and a communication of the product that always reflected the professionalism of their way of working. «We dared and took risks due to our young age, for the proposal of more products and not just “oil”, for flavored products based on extra virgin quality; all with an approach oriented towards the needs of the customer and not just the company. We feel we have done a lot in a highly conservative sector like this.”
How is the “best blend” 2024
«And to think that “Selezione” was created precisely to pay homage to the art of blending and the professionalism of our master oil maker, my brother Giuseppe» Luca tells us. And this is precisely the recognition obtained in the latest edition of the Oli d’Italia guide. The best blend of 2024 is a fascinating mix of varieties Coratina and Frantoio whose aromatic texture is based on hints of artichoke, cut grass, pea pod, almond, lettuce and balsamic notes. On the palate it enjoys great balance, without ever being intrusive, and a fascinating persistence thanks to the bitter sensations of arugula and that of pepper that goes straight into the throat.
The company numbers
«There were 3 of us, today we are 12, we export all over the world and with our products we tell our story territory and the concept of “made in Puglia”». The property of the Esposito brothers extends into the countryside just a few minutes from the center of Castellaneta and includes, in addition to oil mill, approximately 4 thousand olive trees. Most of the olives used for production are purchased in the area after a careful selection. The company also produces a very varied line, 25 types, of flavored oils.
