Lazio
In Lazio, the widespread diffusion of the olive tree means that its presence characterizes a large part of the agricultural landscape, as well as representing an important voice in the regional agricultural economy. Its contribution to the national production of olive oil places it among the 5 main Italian regions.
But the distinctive feature of regional production does not consist so much in the quantities, often fluctuating between one year and another, as in the characterization of the different cultivation areas that make up the mosaic of Lazio olive growing. In particular, in the different provincial areas the presence of one or more dominant cultivars, associated with the variables of a pedoclimatic nature, end up determining the organoleptic qualities of the related extra virgin olive oils.
History
The origins of Lazio olive growing are lost in the mists of time, having the olive tree found here the ideal habitat for climate and orography. The Etruscans planted olive trees throughout central Italy and in Tuscia in particular (province of Viterbo). The Romans perfected the techniques of oil production and extraction, spreading the cultivation of the olive tree in all the conquered territories. The importance of oil traffic is found in Testaccio, an ancient river port (Emporium) where the loads of amphorae arrived which, once emptied, were broken and deposited, in such quantity as to form a hill called “monte dei cocci”. In the dark ages, the abbey of Farfa in Sabina handed down agricultural traditions and today the Lazio olive sector is particularly advanced.
Technical contents
82 thousand hectares of olive groves, over 127,865 companies involved and 307 active oil mills, are figures that attest to the importance of the Lazio olive sector. Today as then, there are many areas of Lazio suited to quality olive growing, as demonstrated by the presence of four PDOs and 1 very recent PGI
The DOP Sabina – one of the first in Italy – protects the oils obtained from the Carboncella, Leccino, Raja, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Olivastrone, Salviana, Olivago, Rosciola varieties for at least 75%. Also, olives of other varieties present in the olive groves can compete, up to a maximum of 25%. The territory extends between the provinces of Rieti and Rome. In the province of Rieti all or part of the administrative territory of the following municipalities: Cantalupo in Sabina, Casaprota, Casperia, Castelnuovo di Farfa, Collevecchio, Configni, Cottanello, Fara Sabina, Forano, Frasso Sabino, Magliano Sabina, Mompeo, Montasola, Montebuono, Monteleone Sabino, Montenero Sabino, Montopoli in Sabina, Poggio Catino, Poggio Mirteto, Poggio Moiano, Poggio Nativo, Poggio S. Lorenzo, Roccantica, Salisano, Scandriglia, Selci, Stimigliano, Tarano, Toffia, Torricella, Torri in Sabina, Vacone. In the province of Rome, all or part of the administrative territory of the following municipalities: Guidonia Montecelio, Fonte Nuova, Marcellina, Mentana, Monteflavio, Montelibretti, Monterotondo, Montorio Romano, Moricone, Nerola, Palombara Sabina, Sant’Angelo Romano, San Polo dei Cavalieri (part), Rome (part).
The Tuscia DOP production area includes 53 municipalities in the province of Viterbo: Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Barbarano Romano, Bassano in teverina, Bassano, Romano, Blera, Bolsena, Bomarzo, Calcata, Canepina, Capodimonte, Capranica, Caprarola, Carbognano, Castel S. Elia, Castiglione in Teverina, Celleno, Civita Castellana, Civitella d’Agliano, Corchiano, Fabrica di Roma, Faleria, Gallese, Gradoli, Graffignano, Grotte di Castro, Latera, Lubriano, Marta, Montalto di Castro (in part), Montefiascone, Monteromano, Nepi, Oriolo Romano, Orte, Piansano, Proceno, Ronciglione, S. Lorenzo Nuovo, Soriano nel Cimino, Sutri, Tarquinia, Tuscania (in part), Valentano, Vallerano, Vasanello, Vejano, Vetralla, Vignanello, Villa S Giovanni in Tuscia, Viterbo, Vitorchiano. The varieties admitted in the specification are Frantoio, Caninese and Leccino, present for at least 90%, in the single olive groves, alone or jointly; other plant varieties are allowed only in a maximum percentage of 10%.
The Canino DOP includes the municipalities of Canino, Arlena, Cellere, Ischia di Castro, Farnese, Tessennano, Tuscania, Montalto di Castro in the province of Viterbo. The varieties admitted in the specification: Caninese and derived clones, Leccino, Pendolino, Maurino and Frantoio, present in the olive groves alone or jointly up to 100%; other varieties present in olive groves may also contribute to an extent not exceeding 5%.
The Colline Pontine DOP includes all or part of the administrative territory of the following 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 varieties allowed to be regulated are 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.
The “Olio di Roma” IGP. The production area of Olio di Roma IGP is located in the middle Tyrrhenian side, from the Apennines to the coast, in mainly hilly environments typical of the olive tree habitat. Olive cultivation characterizes the entire landscape of the area, which is also distinguished by the presence of centuries-old olive trees and native cultivars. According to the provisions of the specification, it can be produced with olives of the Itrana, Carboncella, Moraiolo, Caninese, Salviana, Rosciola, Marina, Sirole, Maurino, Pendolino, Frantoio and Leccino cultivars used individually or jointly, in quantities equal to at least l 80% of the total, integrated with other varieties registered in the National Register of varieties of fruit plants admitted to marketing. The production area includes the following municipalities: The entire province of Viterbo; Province of Rieti: Collevecchio, Stimigliano, Forano, Selci, Cantalupo in Sabina, Poggio Catino, Fara in Sabina, Castelnuovo di Farfa, Toffia, Salisano, Poggio Nativo, Frasso Sabino, Scandriglia, Orvinio, Mompeo, Casaprota, Poggio San Lorenzo, Monteleone Sabino, Poggio Moiano, Colle di Tora, Montenero Sabino, Montebuono, Tarano, Torri in Sabina, Vacone, Configni, Cottanello, Montasola, Casperia, Roccantica, Torricella in Sabina, Montopoli di Sabina, Magliano Sabina, Poggio Mirteto, Rocca Sinibalda Longone Sabino , Monte San Giovanni in Sabina, Varco Sabino, Belmonte in Sabina, Rieti, Cantalice, Borgo Velino, 2 Antrodoco, Castel Sant’Angelo, Cittaducale, Contigliano, Ascrea, Colli sul Vellino, Vacone, Morro Reatino, Paganico Sabino, Pescorocchiano, Poggio Bustone, Pozzaglia Sabina and Rivodutri; Entire province of Rome except the municipalities of Anzio, Arcinazzo Romano, Allumiere, Camerata Nuova, Colleferro, Jenne, Tolfa, Riofreddo, Santa Marinella, Valmontone, Vallepietra, Vallinfreda, Vivaro Romano Entire province of Frosinone except the municipalities of Acquafondata, Filettino, Trevi in Lazio and Viticuso; Entire province of Latina except for the municipalities of Latina, Pontinia, Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo.
All the provinces of Lazio are today involved in the renewal of their olive oil tradition, looking for development opportunities in a market that in recent years, like what has already happened in the world of wine, is finally sensitive to values such as quality, recognisability and the origin.
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