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Each year Italian Olive Oil fans celebrate the arrival of the harvest and the new year of olive oil.
The first olive oil of the season is called Olio Novello, meaning new oil. This flavorful extra virgin olive oil comes from olives that are picked early. Depending on the size of the producer, the new oil may be pressed from olives just a few days into the harvest to perhaps the first two weeks of the harvest.
The hallmarks of olio novello are:
- the earliest harvested olives
- unfiltered
- bottled quickly
- the blend of olives may be different from those pressed in later weeks
What happens the rest of the year? Depending on the size of the farm and the conditions of the growing season, the harvest may be completed in two weeks or two months. As each grove ripens to the perfect shade of blushy green, the olives are harvested and crushed and stored in a stainless steel tank, under ideal conditions. Some natural decantation will take place as the olive oil settles. A producer may also filter the oil, and that tends to be a family tradition. The oil is preserved in stainless steel tanks and bottled and labeled as needed. This allows the producer to always keep the oil in great condition and also to maintain flexibility in the supply chain with the ability to bottle and pack whatever size their customer needs).
As you can see in the photo above, we have four "olio novello" selections. There's something unique about each of them.
For
Dievole, this was their first year producing a specific novello bottling. They named it
Primo Raccolto, first of the harvest. It was produced during the first month of harvest. Their label is so specific, it is labeled with the exact date of production. Our shipment carries the October 28 date. We each have a favorite, and Luanne likes this for the spiciness of the blend. Dievole is located north of Siena in Tuscany.
Fonte di Foiano's label is
Nuovo Raccolto, meaning new harvest year. The Nuovo Raccolto is somewhat milder than their famous IGP Toscano, Grand Cru, and 1979 selections. This is Kit's favorite selection and she drizzles it on pasta. Fonte di Foiano is located in coastal Tuscany.
A bit further south, we have the
Novello 2016 from
Quattrociocchi. This is a blend of olives that is herbaceous with a peppery finish. The producer chose a clear bottle, so be sure to keep it in the dark, except during meals! Brian is a big fan of this one. Add it to salads and swirl over pizza! It calls out to be served with pasta and sausage.
The farm is located south of Rome, in the town of Alatri in Lazio.
From the island of Sicily, we have
Olio Verde Novello. It has long been a top seller for us, especially in the Novello category. It is both grassy and spicy. And, the bottle shape is distinctive. This premium selection is Jeff's favorite, especially with seafood and vegetables.
For all new harvest, unfiltered selections, be sure to shake the bottle vigorously before each use. Be a true Italian and enjoy with gusto, The early harvested oil should not be "saved" for an important occasion. Copious servings are highly recommended!
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