Itrana extra virgin olive oil and the Pontine PDO hills

The variety of Itrana olive, also known as Oliva di Gaeta, Trana, Oliva Grossa, Cicerone has absolute dominance in the province of Latina, constituting, alone, 70% of the cultivated plants.

The term Oliva di Gaeta indicates the oldest origin of the cultivation of this variety which, from the territory of Gaeta, passing through Itri and Formia, has spread to the Roman Papal State, and then throughout the hilly and mountainous area, touching the opposite provinces of Rome and Caserta

Its ability to transform into both table olive and oil is called “dual value”

The resulting extra virgin olive oil has a characteristic herbaceous fruitiness, identifiable as an intense “Green Tomato”, not present in other neighboring and non-neighboring territories.

For this, and for other historical and cultural reasons, in 2010 the Colline Pontine extra virgin olive oil obtained from the European Union the recognition of an agri-food product with a protected designation of origin (DOP).

However, some producers choose to market extra virgin olive oil without the DOP mark, faithful to an integrated production process, not guaranteed by the specification, and exclusively from the Itrana – Monovarietal variety.

The protected designation of origin “Pontine Hills”

is reserved for extra virgin olive oil that meets some requirements:

Variety of olives: Itrana from 50% to 100%, Frantoio and Leccino, up to 50%. Other varieties of olives may also be present for a maximum of 10% as long as they do not modify the characteristics of the product.

Chemical-physical evaluations: Total acidity expressed in Oleic Acid less than or equal to 0.6 grams per 100 gr. of oil Number of peroxides equal to or less than 12 Value of polyphenols greater than 100 mg./kg. Oleic acid equal to or greater than 72 percent

Organoleptic profile: color from intense green to yellow with golden reflections; On the nose, it is characterized by the presence of a medium to intense fruity aroma of green olives, with an almond aftertaste and a typical note of fragrant herbaceous; typical scent is tomato (green). The bitter and the Spicy are mild to medium.

Production area: includes all or part of the administrative territory of 25 municipalities in the province of Latina, Aprilia, Bassiano, Campodimele, Castelforte, Cisterna di Latina, Cori, Fondi, Formia, Itri, Lenola, Maenza, Minturno, Monte San Biagio, Norma, Priverno, Prossedi, Roccagorga, Rocca Massima, Roccasecca dei Volsci, Santi Cosma and Damiano, Sermoneta, Sezze, Sonnino, Spigno Saturnia, Terracina.

The complete specification of the Colline Pontine DOP is available on:

http://www.dop-igp.eu/flex/AppData/Redational/pdf/Colline%20Pontine.pdf

The logo with four-color color design, consists of the perspective of three Doric-style columns in yellow and an overhanging branch of olives with a gray-green color larger than the colonnade, against the background of the hills enclosed in a circular outline with the denomination ” PONTINE HILLS “. The symbology refers to pre-Roman civilizations and to the sequence of the three mountain systems Lepini, Ausoni and Aurunci.

In May 2017 the Consortium for the protection and enhancement of the Colline Pontine DOP extra virgin olive oil was born with the aim of supporting the 3A-PTA Control Body and the Ministry of Agricultural Policies for the performance of protection activities from counterfeiting and promotion in the territory of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the denomination “Colline Pontine DOP”.

Further information on: http://www.oliocollinepontinedop.it/il-consorzio-di-tutela/

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