The culture of Extra Virgin olive oil in Italy has ancient and noble roots. Among the undisputed excellences of Italian Extra virgin olive oil, the DOP Umbria stands out, celebrated with a dedicated EVOO route.
From a region rich in history, art and culture, including olive growing, comes an oil that tells the story of the territory, as Paolo Morbidoni, President of the Strada dell’olio DOP Umbria, explains.
When was the Association founded and what are its objectives?
The Strada dell’Olio DOP Umbria Association was founded in 2004 to enhance and promote, from a tourism point of view, the production areas of Extra virgin olive oil in Umbria, promoting experiential tourism that revolves around this culture and at the same time enhancing local traditions, the landscape and gastronomic excellence.
In these twenty years, olive growing and the activities connected to it have been affected by a double Copernican revolution: the first, driven by a strong technological innovation in the mill, represented the transition of oil from condiment to food, thanks to countless scientific studies that confirmed its functional and healthy nature.
The second revolution, the result of a consolidated trend to rediscover the specificities of the territories, was that of the transformation of oil from food to symbol, bearer of values, of biodiversity, guardian of the landscape, symbol of sustainability and consequently also a tool for tourist experiences.
The strength of the PDO Umbria Road in these years has been not only to have grasped this trend before others but to have put to work around this strong idea of oil tourism, a group of highly motivated professionals in the strategic sectors of marketing and communication.
Thanks to this work, the “Strada dell’Olio Dop Umbria” and “Frantoi Aperti in Umbria” were awarded in 2021 by the “World Food and Travel Association” as one of the best international experiences in the International “Food Trekking Awards” competition and in 2022 by Evoluzione in Rome and Città dell’Olio in the national competition on Oil Tourism.
What are the characteristics of PDO Umbria EVOO?
The certified DOP Umbria EVOO is known for its strong and harmonious character, with a fruitiness that varies from medium to intense, accompanied by well-balanced bitter and spicy notes. Depending on the production sub-areas (Colli Assisi-Spoleto, Colli Martani, Colli Amerini, Colli del Trasimeno, Colli Orvietani), hints of artichoke, green almond, fresh grass or tomato may emerge.
The EVOO is obtained from the processing of main cultivars such as Moraiolo, Leccino and Frantoio, which must always be present, and to a lesser extent from other native varieties that characterize the flavor and make each bottle unique, such as San Felice, Rajo, Dolce Agogia, Nostrale di Rigali, Borgiona, and many others that represent a true treasure chest of biodiversity, the result of centuries of cultivation. Obviously the entire production process, from the field to the bottle, is guaranteed by a rigorous specification and the presence of a third-party certification body, Parco 3A.
What are the peculiarities of the territory that allow for the production of high-quality oil?
The Umbrian territory is ideal for the production of quality oil thanks to the temperate climate, with cold but not harsh winters, and the presence of hills that favor excellent drainage of the soil. The soils are rich in nutrients, and the altitude of the crops helps reduce the risk of parasites. Furthermore, the cultivation techniques and attention to detail in all phases of the production process, from harvesting to milling, carried out with latest-generation systems within a few hours of harvesting, guarantee an excellent and highly characterized product.
How is oleo tourism promoted in your region, also through your Association?
Oleo Tourism is and will remain a niche tourism product, but it can be a vehicle of knowledge and a multiplier of value for lesser-known rural territories and for the integration of the income of small and medium-sized olive oil companies, present in disadvantaged areas that however have great landscape value such as those of Umbria.
For this reason, one of our most important activities, after having built a recognizable tourism product over the years, is to continue to support it with constant communication and marketing actions carried out in a coordinated manner also with other public bodies and institutions, starting with the Region and the Chamber of Commerce of Umbria.
We also promote hospitality through dedicated itineraries that combine visits to the oil mills, guided tastings, walks among the olive groves and cultural activities in the villages. we organize important events such as “Frantoi Aperti in Umbria”, not only one of the longest-running oil tourism events in Italy thanks to its 27 editions, but certainly, for quality, number and duration of the activities, the largest and most important on the international scene.
Why buy an EVOO PDO Umbria?
Buying an EVOO PDO Umbria oil basically means two things, complementary to each other. First of all, it means choosing a product of the highest organoleptic quality, which brings with it the authentic flavor of our territory and the passion of those who produce it; an oil obtained in full respect of the environment and tradition, with physical and chemical characteristics superior to the standards and certified traceability. Secondly, it means buying an oil with a name, surname and origin, which enhances biodiversity and supports small farms and the local economy, enhancing the cultural heritage of an entire region.
