EVO Oil: Extra Virgin Olive oil: our very own
Not just Wine: at the Fattoria Santo Stefano we also make oil, and what an oil! We can safely say that our beautiful land doesn’t just give us excellent wine (as you already know), but it is also very generous with our olive tree groves. They thank us for our constant and loving care, gracing us with high quality extra virgin olive oil.
What is EVO Oil?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil was defined EVO Oil by the agronomist Stefano Epifani, to distinguish it from Olive Oil.
It is a pure oil, extracted from the pressing of good olives, i.e. olives which have never touched the ground. They are only processed using mechanical devices, without the addition of any chemical components.
This is how true EVO Oil is obtained and its level of acidity must not be higher than 0,8%.
Our Extra Virgin Olive (EVO) Oil has an intense aroma and a sharp taste, which is slightly “spicy” to the palate, but it is rich in health benefits and good for all ages.
The beneficial properties of our EVO Oil
Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a fruity and sharp taste and is full of important nutritional substances, such as polyphenols, vitamins and antioxidants. It perfectly enhances the typical dishes of the Tuscan culinary tradition but it is appreciated in many other Italian regions, as well as all over the world.
EVO Oil is rich in vitamins E and K, as well as precious minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc and potassium. Various scientific studies have shown that the consumption of EVO Oil has other health benefits such as:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Stabilising postprandial glycaemic peaks
- Reducing the development of some tumours, especially of the breast
- Improving the body’s calcium absorption
The Origins and the position of our olive tree groves
Our olive tree groves occupy 20 hectares of land, where 4000 trees benefit from a mild climate. With time we have focussed on a few varieties in particular, i.e. Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo.
Our olive harvest
Harvest is in the month of November and it is mainly by hand, so as to protect the fruit as much as possible. As soon as the olives have been picked, they are transported directly to the olive oil mill, where they are examined one by one and then crushed. The next step involves pressing, which must be cold, and this also occurs at the olive oil mill.
Crushing is an important procedure that is carried out straight after the olive harvest. It involves the washing and crushing of the olives, to then allow the pressing. All of this leads to the final product: our EVO Oil.
If you come to visit us, it will be our pleasure to have you try our oil on a freshly toasted slice of Tuscan bread. If you’d like to try it at home, visit our shop, as we would be pleased to send you our Extravirgin Olive Oil!
