Photo © Consorzio per la Tutela dell'Olio Toscano IGP

Five extra virgin olive oils to try

A selection of PDO and PGI-certified extra virgin olive oils produced in Tuscany

Tuscany is well known all over the world for its extra virgin olive oil, but not everybody knows that oil exists in numerous different typologies. Each one owes its character and characteristics to the climate, the land and soil, the weather, and the varieties of olives used.

Extra virgin olive oil benefits from specific European legislation that guarantees its authenticity and quality. Those whose traits are inseparable from their geographical origins are protected by the DOP and IGP labels (PDO and PGI in English), which certify the precise geographic origins of the product: in this case, Tuscany.

Contents

1.

Extra virgin olive oil Chianti Classico DOP
2.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Toscano IGP
3.

Extra virgin olive oil Lucca DOP
4.

Extra virgin olive oil Terre di Siena DOP
5.

Extra virgin olive oil Seggiano DOP

Olive harvest

There are four Protected Designations of Origin in Tuscany: Chianti Classico DOP, Terre di Siena DOP, Lucca DOP and Seggiano DOP, and one Protected Geographical Indication, Toscano IGP. This latter applies to the entire region of Tuscany, but, as is the case with wine-producing subzones, can be combined with additional geographical denominations in order to further valorize specific parts of the region.

Extra virgin olive oil Chianti Classico DOP

Fresh extra virgin olive oil

The production area of this oil corresponds to that delimited for Chianti Classico wine production: this covers the muncipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and parts of Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. The colour can range from deep green to a greeny-gold; the aromas are fruity and the taste slightly bitter and pungent.

Contacts: Consorzio Olio extravergine di oliva del Chianti Classico DOP

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Toscano IGP

In order to win its PGI certificate, Tuscan extra virgin olive oil must be produced wholly and solely within the region of Tuscany Region. That includes all phases of production from the cultivation of the olives, to the extraction of the oil, to the final packaging. The just-extracted oil is usually green in colour, but as time passes it tends towards yellow. Vegetable notes should be evident on the nose, and a bitter taste and a pungent sensation always present on the tongue.

Contacts: Consorzio per la Tutela dell'Olio extravergine di oliva Toscano IGP

Extra virgin olive oil Lucca DOP

The extra virgin olive oil Lucca DOP is produced within a well-defined geographical area covering the municipalities of the Lucchesia, Versilia and the Garfagnana, most notably: Capannori, Lucca, Montecarlo, Altopascio, Porcari, Villa Basilica, Camaiore, Massarosa, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, Seravezza e Stazzema, Bagni di Lucca, Borgo Mozzano, Pescaglia, Barga, Coreglia Antelminelli and Minucciano. This oil has a fruity, essentially sweet taste, but with a few bitter, piquant notes.

Contacts: Consorzio di Tutela Olio di Lucca DOP (oliodoplucca@tiscali.it)

Extra virgin olive oil Terre di Siena DOP

Olive groves in San Gimignano - Credit: Terre di Siena

Different kinds of olives can be found in Terre di Siena extra virgin olive oil: Frantoio, Correggiolo, Moraiolo e Leccino, provided that they grow in the hills of Siena, except the Chianti Classico wine production area. dedicated to oil production. Colour ranges from green to yellow, while the taste is lightly bitter and pungent.

Contacts: Consorzio dell'Olio extravergine di oliva Terre di Siena DOP

Extra virgin olive oil Seggiano DOP

Seggiano DOP Extra virgin olive oil consists of at least 85% of the Olivastra Seggianese cultivar, which must be grown in the olive groves of Arcidosso, Castel del Piano, Seggiano, Cinigiano, Santa Fiora, Roccalbegna, Semproniano or (part of) the municipality of Castell'Azzara. Its colour varies from green to gold, with notes of herbs and white fruits. Its colour is a slightly golden green, and aromas of fresh fruits mingle with herbaceous notes of artichokes and white fruits.

Contacts: Consorzio olio Extravergine di oliva Seggiano DOP

Download here the infographic Top Tuscan extra virgin olive oil.