Tonda Iblea for an EVO oil with a spicy taste

Tonda Iblea is an autochthonous cultivar typical of eastern Sicily. We present two of them: Nettaribleo by Agrestis and La casa di Lucia, both with Monti Iblei DOP. 

Let us talk about olive oil in Sicily, but not in the sea areas, but in the high hills, where the olive variety Tonda Iblea finds its ideal habitat, being a very resistant variety to cold temperatures. It is mainly spread in the provinces of Ragusa, Siracusa and Catania and is part of the Monti Iblei PDO, which covers a vast area in the three provinces. This PDO offers eight sub-areas (MGA ie additional geographical mentions) which are Monte Lauro, Val d'Anapo, Val Tellaro, Frigintini, Gulfi, Irminio Valley, Calatino and Trigona-Pancali.

We present two extra virgin olive oils from two different subzones: Monte Lauro (in the Syracuse area) and Gulfi (in the Ragusa area). The two producers we are talking about are Agrestis, a medium-sized company, and the Sergio Gafà farm, a very small one.

Agrestis is active in Buccheri, a small village in the inland of Siracusa, where olive growing is a centuries-old tradition. It was founded in 2003 by the partners Giuseppe Paparone e Lorenzo Nicotra, with the help of their sons Pietro and Salvatore, to enhance quality extra virgin olive oil. Today the olive surface covers 30 hectares with 20,000 trees. The olive harvest is by hand picking with traditional techniques from October 1 to the end of November and the milling of the olives is done on the same day of collection.

Since many years, Azienda Agricola Sergio Gafà proposes interesting products. Founded in 2000, this farm in Chiaramonte Gulfi, in the area of Ragusa, is still run by Sergio Gafà, who manages a specialized olive grove of almost 5 hectares with 650 trees in the district of Gerardo, for the most part Tonda Iblea variety but not limited to. The average production of the olive grove varies from 20 to 30 quintals of oil with the characteristics required by the specification of the PDO, while the cultivars of other varieties present in the olive grove contribute to the production of an extra virgin non-PDO.

Olio Evo NettarIbleo Monti Iblei - Monte Lauro 

€ 15-18 the lt. 0,500 bottle.

From 100% Tonda Iblea olive variety, organic farming. Continuous production cycle system. Medium fruity. Intense limpid golden yellow color with delicate green hues. Its aroma is ample and rotund, with rich fruity hints of medium ripe tomato, white apple and banana, together with notes of basil, mint and parsley. Its taste is fine and strong, with a flavor of lettuce, fresh broad beans and celery. Bitterness is definite and pungency is distinct.

Olio Evo La Casa di Lucia Monti Iblei - Gulfi

€ 12-15 the lt. 0,500 bottle.

From 90% Tonda Iblea, 5% Carolea and 5% other olive varieties. Continuous production cycle system. Medium fruity. Intense limpid golden yellow color with delicate green hues. Its aroma is ample and rotund, rich in notes of medium ripe tomato, white apple and banana, together with distinct aromatic hints of basil, parsley and mint. Its taste is complex and harmonic, with elegant vegetal notes of fresh broad beans and chicory, celery and lettuce. Bitterness is distinct and pungency is definite and complimentary.