Our region is confirmed among the elite for quality oils, as declared by the number of excellences awarded by the Slow Food extra virgin olive oil guide, presented at the Maxxi in Rome. Where the Soracco recognition was given to Nico Sartori of Fattoria Altomena di Pelago, for having contributed to combating the abandonment of the land. «In the 2023 olive growing campaign of Tuscany, a region in which olive growing is one of the most widespread and extensive crops, never like this year with such unfavorable climatic conditions – they comment from Slow Food for this twenty-fourth edition of the guide – the professional oil millers have done the difference, guaranteeing high quality oils.” Of the 686 companies reviewed across the country, for 1071 quality extra virgin olive oils reported, the awards are pouring in in Tuscany.
In fact, there are six companies awarded the Snail, the symbol of the movement. Out of a total of fourteen regions, there were forty-three (six of which, in fact, Tuscan) companies that deserved the award assigned because they were perfect interpreters of the organoleptic, territorial and environmental values according to the Slow Food philosophy. Twelve (out of 80 in the whole of Italy) are Tuscan oils included under the Great Oils, surpassed in number only by Puglia with seventeen excellences which in the various typologies stood out for their sensorial characteristics, the close relationship with the territory and the cultivars expressed by it. Finally, twenty-two Tuscan labels stood out as Grande Olio Slow, i.e. the best from native cultivars obtained with sustainable agronomic practices. In this category, 103 prizes were awarded, of which our region took home the most, followed by Sicily (thirteen), Marche (eight), Umbria (seven) and the others with decreasing numbers. What can we say about the prize awarded every year by the movement to a producer who has made stubbornness and resistance one of his distinctive traits. He is also Tuscan and his name is Nico Sartori: «Because since he arrived from Veneto over thirty years ago – we read in the motivation for the Soracco award – he has worked to bring the landscape to life and counteract the widespread abandonment of olive groves, knowing how to combine innovation with oil mill and valorization of the biodiversity of the territory”. But in Tuscany the olive harvest between October and November 2023 recorded a decline of 30% compared to 2022, mainly due to climate change. «Fortunately, however, the good olive grower was accompanied by the professionalism of the oil mill operator, who has never made the difference more than this year in extracting quality oils, partially disproving the most pessimistic predictions – declares Sonia Donati, coordinator of the guide for our region – The year began with great hopes for olive growers, with some snow and low temperatures in the first two months of the year, especially in the internal areas of Tuscany, which was followed by abundant spring flowering. Unfortunately, however, the late spring rains, while in some areas favored the fruit setting phase, in others hindered pollination and the consequent natural formation of the fruit.”
The snail: Alle Camelie – Capannori (LU) Tenuta Lenzini – Capannori (LU) Stefano Spinelli – Lamporecchio (PT) Fattoria Altomena – Pelago (FI) Val di Lama – Pontedera (PI) Lugudoro – San Vincenzo (LI)
The Great Oil: Maurino di Reto di Montisoni – Bagno a Ripoli (FI) Le Vignole di Eredi Casini Santi – Bucine (AR) Maurino di Cesare Diddi Mussi – Casale M.mo (PI) Riflessi di Fonte di Foiano – Castagneto Carducci (FI) Oro dei Tatanni by Il Casino di Sala – Greve in Chianti (FI) Valle Martina Igp Toscano by Lorenzo Cencini – Manciano (GR) Riserva and Prima Olive Igp Toscano by Frantoio di Croci – Massa e Cozzile (PT) Maurino di Solaia – Montespertoli (FI) Gualtiero Primo and Gualtiero Terzo by Luca Varini – Pieve a Nievole (PT) Leccio del Corno by Giuseppe Marini e Figli – Pistoia Selezione O! of Grevepesa oil mill – San Casciano in Val di Pesa (FI) I Greppi di Silli oil mill – San Casciano in Val di Pesa (FI)
The Great Slow Oil: Guadanòlo Primus from Fattoria Ramerino – Bagno a Ripoli (FI) Evo San Mario from San Mario – Bibbona (LI) Vivo – Frantoio from Tenuta Il Leccio – Bucine (AR) Oro Dop Seggiano and Cecco Igp Toscano from Podere Borselli – Castel del Piano ( GR) Evo Le Capanne di Le Capanne – Castiglion Fiorentino (AR) Correggiolo Dop Chianti Classico di Fontodi – Greve in Chianti (FI) Evo 1979 by Balduccio – Lamporecchio (PT) Essenza by Stefano Spinelli – Lamporecchio (PT) First Harvest of Il Borro – Loro Ciuffenna (AR) Moraiolo di Le Fontacce – Loro Ciuffenna (AR) Evo Poggio La Tana di Poggio La Tana – Loro Ciuffenna (AR) OliVI Forte Frantoio di Poggiolecci – Magliano in Toscana (GR) Aurinia – Frantoio e Caletra – Leccio del Corno from Fattoria La Maliosa – Manciano (GR) Majuscule from Fattoria Altomena – Pelago (FI) Tuscan Grullo Igp Oil Colline di Firenze from La Gramigna – Pontassieve (FI) Il Tradizionale de I Sergenti – Reggello (FI) Morchiaio from Marayamado – San Casciano in Val di Pesa (FI) Lazzero di Lugudoro – San Vincenzo (LI) Peppery-Intense di Trebbio – Scarperia and San Piero (FI) Capriccio di Tosca di Pietrasca – Suvereto (LI) Evo Paterna Selection of Paterna – Terranuova Bracciolini (AR) Bellandi ensemble – Uzzano (PT).l© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
