Not only oil but a return of wine soon with a Grillo Doc and a Cabernet sauvignon. The Carbona agricultural company it has come a long way since 1960, the year it opened in Castelvetrano, in the province of Trapani. From 6 hectares purchased in those years we now reach a total of 60, 35 hectares of olive groves, 5 hectares of almond groves and another 5 hectares of citrus groves and vineyards.
Vito Di Benedetto he puts his whole soul into the family farm, together with his partners Mario and Nicola Di Benedetto and Francesca Falcetta. The production of oil and table olives is predominant. A type treated differently from common olives. The work must be very accurate: “They must be harvested strictly by hand like cherries – Vito Di Benedetto tells us – otherwise there is a risk of damaging them if handled roughly”.
Every year the farm produces from 2,500 to 3,000 quintals of oil. There are two reference PDOs: Valle del Belice PDO for the oil and Nocellara del Belice PDO for the olives. And for this product the company received the bronze medal Concours International des huiles du monde in the medium green category.
There is no shortage of projects, such as being able to sell the oil abroad. At the moment, in fact, the largest market comes from traders who buy olives and sell them outside Sicily: “But we understand that our products are appreciated and therefore, in addition to direct sales, we would like to increase our numbers of export”.
The Carbona farm is also open as farmhouse: “It was built – Di Benedetto tells us – in the houses where our ancestors spent their holidays. Today we have six rooms available and we organize banquets for around 100 people.” In addition to catering and hospitality, there are activities dedicated to children such as the educational farm recognized by the Sicilian Region.
The world of wine it will now be the next step for a family that has vision, as well as the desire to always look one step ahead.
