Our olive grove and extra virgin olive oil
At Podere Cerbaia, we’re all about enjoying the simple things. Take a relaxed walk through our olive grove and check out our 400+ trees. Then, treat yourself to our top-notch organic extra virgin olive oil. Seriously, just drizzle it on some warm bread with a glass of wine—it’s pure bliss. we pick the olives in November, press them at the local ‘frantoio’ and … and nothing else! This is what is needed for the real thing.
We’re always planting new trees to keep our olive grove growing, season after season… How about adopting your own olive tree? Adotta un olivo!
While you’re here, why not learn Italian on the ground? Immerse yourself in the language as you discover everything about olive oil and olives. You’ll pick up the vocabulary for olivo (olive tree), olive (olives), and olio extravergine di oliva (extra virgin olive oil), of course!
We can also talk to you about the stagione del raccolto (harvest season) and when it’s time for potatura (pruning) the trees. It’s a fun and practical way to connect with the land and the local culture.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Mediterranean Diet’s Secret Ingredient
It’s well-known that the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, is one of the healthiest in the world. However, many experts argue that the secret—and often underestimated—component of this diet is the abundant use of extra virgin olive oil as the primary added fat. While all fruits and vegetables contain health-beneficial substances, those found in olive oil, called phenols, are particularly powerful.
Source: Olio d’oliva: quali sono gli effetti benefici? | National Geographic
A Modern Approach to Ancient Traditions
In Greece, Italy, and other Mediterranean regions where olive trees have thrived for millennia, olive oil was once extracted using hot water. This method, applied after harvesting and crushing the olives, unfortunately damaged some of the beneficial phenols.
In modern times, production methods have evolved. It was discovered that a cost-effective way to extract oil from the fruit while preserving those precious phenols was to centrifuge it at room temperature, without the use of chemical solvents (which were sometimes used in the past). Olive oil produced in this way earns the designation “extra virgin.”
Choosing the Right Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Many people may just hear that olive oil is good and don’t investigate further, so they buy just any extra virgin olive oil they find at the supermarket, but that may not be the best choice! Each oil has its own unique flavor, which depends on the producer, the climate and soil of the olive-growing region, and numerous other factors.
