

THE FRAGRANCES OF QUALITY
by GIULIO SCATOLINI
"Sensory analysis is the perfect synthesis between the pleasure of knowledge and the knowledge of pleasure"
De Gaulle used to say it was impossible to govern a country that had over two hundred kinds of cheese. Perhaps Italy is even less governable than France: for there are over 400 varieties (cultivar) of olive trees. Jokes apart, this is the most unique characteristic of Italian oil: the seemingly infinite varieties of olive that breathe life into the thousands of fragrances found in Italy’s green gold.
These varieties justify there being over 43 PDO and PGI in Italy, and mean that the quality of Italian oil, any pride or patriotism apart, is unrivalled by any other “great” producing country.
VENETO
CASALIVA: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of almond and wild berries.Its taste is mainly sweet, with light notes of bitterness and spiciness; an aftertaste of almond.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE
FAVAROL: Medium-intense fruity, with hints of vegetables and freshly cut herbs.Firm and well balanced bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is green-yellow, medium fluidity.
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
BIANCHERA: Light-medium fruity, with notes of white apple and hints of other fruits.Its flavour is delicate and refined with harmonious notes of sweet almond, restrained hints of bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is golden yellow, medium fluidity.
LIGURIA
TAGGIASCA: Medium-light fruity, with hints of leaves.Its flavour is mainly sweet, with light notes of spiciness and bitterness.
Its colour is predominantly yellow, medium fluidity.
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
NOSTRANA DI BRISIGHELLA: Medium-intense fruity, it is rich in vegetable and floral notes, with specific hints of aromatic herbs and mint.Firm and balanced notes of bitterness and spiciness.
It has an intensely green colour with golden yellow nuances, medium fluidity.
TUSCANY
FRANTOIO: Intensely fruity, green type (grass/leaves), with obvious hints of almond and mild hints of artichoke and aromatic herbs.Its flavour starts out sweet, with firm notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of almond.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, high fluidity.
RAGGIOLO: Medium fruity, grassy type, with hints of almond and artichoke.
Its flavour starts out sweet, with moderately intense notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of almond and artichoke.
Its colour is green/yellow, medium fluidity.
UMBRIA
MORAIOLO: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of almond and artichoke.Its flavour starts out sweet with intense notes of bitterness and moderate notes of spiciness; aftertaste of grass and artichoke.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
SAN FELICE: Medium fruity, grassy type, with hints of almond and mild hints of artichoke.
Its flavour starts out sweet, with intense notes of bitterness and moderate notes of spiciness; almond aftertaste.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
DOLCE AGOGIA: Medium fruity, mainly ripe, mildly almondy.
Its flavour is predominantly sweet with mild hints of bitterness and spiciness and an aftertaste of almond.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium-low fluidity.
MARCHES
ASCOLANA TENERA: Medium-intense fruity, green type (grass/leaves), with hints of artichoke, tomato and aromatic herbs.Its flavour starts out sweet, with moderately intense notes of spiciness and bitterness; aftertaste of artichoke and tomato.
Its colour is yellow with light green reflections. Medium fluidity.
ROSCIOLO: Medium fruity, grassy type, with hints of almond and artichoke.
Its flavour is well balanced, with medium-mild notes of spiciness and bitterness; almondy aftertaste.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
LATIUM
ITRANA: Intensely fruity, firmly grassy, with hints of artichoke, tomato and almond. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of spiciness and bitterness; aftertaste of grass, artichoke and tomato.Its colour is predominantly green, high fluidity.
CANINESE: Medium-light fruity, green type, with strong hints of almond and mild hints of artichoke. Its flavour is mainly sweet with light notes of spiciness and bitterness.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
ABRUZZI
DRITTA: Medium-light fruity, green type, with hints of almond.Its flavour is mainly sweet, with mild hints of spiciness and bitterness; almondy aftertaste.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
GENTILE DI CHIETI: Medium fruity, grassy type, with hints of artichoke and almond. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of spiciness and bitterness; almondy aftertaste.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
MOLISE
GENTILE DI LARINO: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of almond, artichoke and tomato. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of spiciness and bitterness; aftertaste of almond and artichoke.Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
CAMPANIA
RAVECE: Medium fruity, mainly grassy type, with strong hints of tomato.Its flavour starts out sweet, with mild notes of spiciness and moderately intense bitterness; aftertaste of tomato, apple and artichoke.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, high fluidity.
ROTONDELLA: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of artichoke and almond.
Its flavour starts out sweet with moderately intense notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of almond and chicory.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium-high fluidity.
ORTICE: Rich fruity notes with hints of herbs and green tomato.
Firm and elegant bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is intensely golden yellow, medium fluidity.
BASILICATA
OGLIAROLA DEL VULTURE: Medium fruity, mainly grassy type, with hints of almond and artichoke.Its flavour starts sweet, mildly bitter and moderately spicy; almondy aftertaste.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
MAJATICA DI FERRANDINA: Medium-intense fruity, mainly grassy type, with hints of tomato, artichoke and almond.
Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of grass and artichoke.
Its colour is predominantly green, medium fluidity.
APULIA
CORATINA: Medium fruity, green type, with strong hints of almond and mild hints of tomato, artichoke and aromatic herbs.Its flavour starts out sweet, with moderate-intense notes of bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
PERANZANA: Medium fruity, grassy type, with strong hints of tomato.
Its flavour is mainly sweet, with moderately intense bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of grass and artichoke.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, high fluidity.
OGLIAROLA SALENTINA: Medium fruity, grassy type, with mild hints of almond and artichoke.
Its taste starts out sweet, with moderately intense bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of artichoke.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
CALABRIA
CAROLEA: Medium fruity, grassy type, with hints of artichoke and aromatic herbs. Its flavour starts out sweet, with moderate-intense notes bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of artichoke and aromatic herbs. Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
TONDA DI STRONGOLI: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of almond, artichoke and tomato.
Its flavour is mainly sweet, with mild notes of spiciness and bitterness; aftertaste of cardoon/artichoke.
Its colour is green with yellow reflections, medium fluidity.
DOLCE DI ROSSANO: Medium-light fruity with hints of grass and sweet almond.
Its flavour is mainly sweet, with mild notes of spiciness and bitterness.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium-high fluidity.
SICILY
NOCELLARA DEL BELICE: Intensely fruity, mainly grassy type, with hints of tomato, almond and artichoke. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of spiciness and bitterness; aftertaste of grass and tomato.Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium-high fluidity.
BIANCOLILLA: Medium fruity, green type, with hints of artichoke, aromatic herbs, tomato and almond. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of almond and cardoon/artichoke.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium-high fluidity.
TONDA IBLEA: Intensely fruity, with hints of half-ripe tomato and firm hints of mint, sage and basil. Its flavour is well balanced, with moderately intense notes of bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is an intense golden yellow with warm green hues, medium-high fluidity.
SARDINIA
BOSANA: Medium fruity, grassy, with hints of artichoke, almond and tomato.Its flavour starts sweet, with firm notes of spiciness and mostly bitter; aftertaste of cardoon.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
NERA DI OLIENA: Medium fruity, with strong hints of artichoke.
Its flavour is well balanced, with pleasant notes of bitterness and spiciness; aftertaste of artichoke.
Its colour is yellow with green reflections, medium fluidity.
TONDA DI CAGLIARI: Medium-intense fruity, with notes of artichoke, fresh country herbs and balsamic hints of mint.
Firm yet harmonious bitterness and spiciness.
Its colour is golden yellow, medium fluidity.