Category: Italy

Next time you’re in Europe, instead of wine tasting, try sampling freshly pressed olive oils. Tours are fascinating, imparting production techniques and how they vary by region.  The Mediterranean diet champions health benefits of olive oil. This garnered popularity for the golden elixir catapulting annual sales abroad to $14 billion.  On a recent visit to Europe, I toured facilities in Castellammare del Golfo, Italy and Provence, France. They were two distinct yet equally rich sensory experiences rooted in tradition. I would recommend both. Baglio Florio Adamo This farm is a few miles inland from Sicily’s NW coast. Olive olio is deeply tied to the land and family history. Our guide was Vincenzo, the fifth generation running the vineyard/orchard. He hosts both wine and olive oil tours.  His laidback demeanor mirrors the tranquil setting. Visitors meet at Vincenzo’s ancestral farmhouse, and hop in his well-loved Volvo to tour rugged acres. Throughout the drive, he peppers the conversation with facts. Each tree yields approximately three gallons of oil. They are pruned by hand. Olives are picked in September.  In Sicily the government provides subsidies to olive oil farmers due to the lucrative industry. Because of this, Baglio Florio Adamo planted 2,500 new trees. These thrive alongside massive, knotted counterparts, some reaching triple digits in age.  Walking the groves, Vincenzo explains the importance of clipping male tree branches, allowing female shoots to thrive. Horses graze the land and sweet dogs assist the nearby plowing farmers.  Afterwards, guests return to the tasting room. The host pours a small amount of olive oil pressed in 2023 and 2024 into individual glasses. Vacationers are instructed to take a small sip, then swirl it in their mouth before swallowing. Even untrained palates can detect the distinction.     Olive oil is quite strong drank straight, but this