Corsican olive oil
Did you know? Corsican olive groves represent 3,000 years of history! Benefiting from a variety of soil types and olives offering a vast array of aromas, the factor that unites them is this typically Corsican smooth and velvety oil.
Where can I buy AOC Oliu di corsica olive oil in Corsica?
The quality and authenticity of olive oils produced in Corsica are officially recognized throughAOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée)accreditation. This quality label provides an official guarantee that the olive oil has been produced :
- In Corsica, where 135,000 olive trees are grown on 630 hectares.
- Using local grape varieties
- Using recognized expertise
- Using modern, environmentally-friendly farming methods.
PDO at Moulin Oltremonti in Linguizzetta
Sometimes lulled by the cooler breeze of the island's high mountains, sometimes by the sea breezes, on the Moulin Oltremonti estate, Emilie and Ivo will introduce you to their precious nectar. Winner of numerous international awards, Oltremonti extra virgin olive oil is considered one of the best in the world! After a stroll under the sun-drenched olive trees, we smelled it, tasted it, understood it, adopted it and asked for more!
Take a stroll under the olive trees
Your visit to this Corsican olive grove begins with a stroll under the estate's trees. In the shade of these sun-drenched olive trees, the growers share with you all the specifics of the island's endemic varieties. From planting and harvesting to the organic treatment of the trees, Emilie proudly reveals the secrets of her olive-growing trade.
Without further ado, the tour continues with a visit to the mill! And for that, Ivo takes over. While Emilie tends the olive trees, it's her husband, the miller, who collects the olives and extracts the precious oil. Now a new initiation awaits you: oil pressing and distillation.
Here, you can admire all the craftsmanship that goes into making this delicious nectar. While the island's first olive growers would spend a whole day working to produce a single liter of this precious liquid, today Ivo can count on a state-of-the-art facility to help him. During this visit, he too will tell you all about the history of the production of yellow gold on the island of beauty.
Black or green: learn to recognize the oil's aromas
Once you've taken your first steps as an olive grower, it's time to learn the art of oil tasting. Like wine, olive oil also has its own science: oleology.
It's time for you to taste! Accompanied by a certified taster, practice distinguishing each aroma. Fruity, fiery, acidic, astringent or bitter... This initiation will give you all the keys to recognizing the best olive oils.
Come and visit the Oltremonti Mill oil cellar on one of our gastronomic tours.
Balagne and Cap Corse: buy on the farm from the producer
Treat yourself and take the time to stop off at the producers'. Let yourself be guided through an olive grove and observe the work of these passionate people who will give you a warm welcome. Corsican olive oil accounts for just 3.5% of national production, with 204 tonnes produced, 60% of which is PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). Its rarity makes it an exceptional product, the result of ancestral know-how. You'll find around a hundred labels of Corsican olive oil on the market.
What are the different olive trees and olive oils?
There are many varieties of olive trees on Corsica: Sabine, Curtinese. Ghjermana, Capanace, Raspulada, Zinzala, Aliva Néra.
Thanks to this diversity, Corsican olive oil - Oliu di Corsica is characterized by aromas reminiscent of almond, artichoke, hay, dried fruit or apple. Its color is straw-yellow to light yellow, even with green highlights. The dominant aromas and their various combinations vary from one oil to another, with notes of hazelnut, almond, apple, fresh grass, honey, flowers and pastries.
To recognize it, Corsican olive oil has a velvety brightness combined with a moderate degree of bitter spiciness. It has a complex, rounded aroma, derived from the late harvest of ripe olives. As the olives remain on the tree longer, the fruit has more time to absorb the scents of its environment - flowers, Corsican scrub and rosemary...
Whether in Haute-Corse or southern Corsica, olive groves extend over almost the entire territory, covering up to 2,000 hectares! In Corsican gastronomy, this oil is a staple of island cuisine, accompanying salads and meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Refined in taste and consistency, Corsican olive oil is a sublime accompaniment to delicate dishes, present today in French haute gastronomy and internationally.
Festival of Santa Lucia
In Corsica, everyone waits for it: A Festa di l'Oliu Novu. Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano celebrates its olive oil every spring, with some 50 artisans exhibiting their wares: publishers, cutlers, cheesemakers, pork butchers, designers and olive growers. The fair also features a lively cultural program with tours and lectures. This small village in the Alta Rocca will win you over with its many historical treasures.
During your stay on the Isle of Beauty, pay homage to this fruity specialty by spending a day in the village of Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano, Corsica's olive oil capital.
Discover the heart of olive oil
As soon as you arrive in this authentic Alta Rocca village, you'll be charmed. Between the old stone houses and cobbled streets, you quickly realize that this village has kept its traditions of yesteryear.
As you make your way along the slopes of Sainte-Lucie, you'll catch sight of the first wheels of the old oil mills. Continue along the steep village streets. Here, on the heights, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the countless olive groves that surround Saint Lucia and the surrounding area.
A treasure trove in the Santa Lucia winery: history of wine-making
As you explore Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano, stop off at the Cave Santa Lucia boutique. This local institution boasts some of the island's finest oils.
Inside this stone building, Jacques, the owner, welcomes you and passionately shares the history of his profession. Don't hesitate to ask him for advice on his products, he'll be able to guide you with precision!
Between the olive pastes, jars and bottles of oil, Jacques is sure to suggest you sample Corsica's yellow gold.
A word of advice? Don't leave without tasting virgin olive oil, the real local jewel! This totally organic, chemical-free cold-pressed oil is the pride of Corsica.
After visiting the winery, there's a good chance you'll leave with a few bottles of this exquisite product.
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