Campania, the Queen of D.O.P. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
It was recently presented the eighth edition of National D.O.P. Olive Oil Contest, Sirena d'Oro of Sorrento (Italy), the only Italian contest dedicated to D.O.P. olive oils, where over 170 producers attended. The editor of Paesaggiritrovati.it followed the event for us with a particular focus on its real protagonist, the extra virgin Campania oil with Protected Denomination of Origin (D.O.P). The event will be from February 26th to the 28th, and the final pricing will be February 27th at the Tasso Theater. There will be three pricing categories: light, medium and intense fruity.
Campania thus becomes undisputed capital of the oil, mainly thanks to its geo-morphological conformation. Volcanic soil, mild climate fostered by the sea, hot summers and little rain: thanks to these very good conditions, the five provinces of the region can boast of unique olive oil mills and shops. Not by chance, in fact, spectacular area of Naples won the fourth place, in Italy, for quantities of product and the sixth for the area planted with olive trees. In particular, undisputed queen of the oil quality is the province of Salerno, with its 158 municipalities, holder of two DOPs Colline Salernitane and Cilento.
Olive growing in this area, in fact, covers an area of about 20 thousand hectares, representing over 33% of the aggregate regional level. In this area, therefore, olive groves, which stress mainly in the hilly, have a vital role, both in terms of landscape and conservation, as in terms of characterization of the territory. In this regard, just think that the oil DOP "Colline Salernitane" has ancient roots, deriving from indigenous varieties have always been present on site: it is easy, in fact, to run into a thousand years old olive tree of great size, walking through these beautiful land.
The great Greek historian Thucydides said, back in the fifth century BC, that the peoples of the Mediterranean came out from the barbarism only when they learned to produce the oil. And now, it seems that Campania is successful in this endeavour.
The great Greek historian Thucydides said, back in the fifth century BC, that the peoples of the Mediterranean came out from the barbarism only when they learned to produce the oil. And now, it seems that Campania is successful in this endeavour.
