Sabina's gold
A great "witness" to the history of our territory.
"The olive tree theme has brought together all events of the Sabine over the years. For thousands of years it has silently witnessed a continuous unfolding of history. The trunks narrate the myths and legends of ancient history."
Tersilio Leggio - L'olivo e la Sabina
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The Olive tree has always been a part of the agricultural landscape of the Sabina since ancient times. Over the centuries it has always been thoroughly taking care of making it the element that characterizes this territory the most. It is the most important produce of our land which is enriched by endless olive trees ad olive groves. Extra virgin olive oil ehances the aromas, scents and flavours of food making it a unique product as it is one of the only ones to be consumed in its natural state without facing extraction or refining processes. Olive oil has varying flavours and aromas depending on the olive grove : Raja, Carboncella, Leccino, Frantoio, Olivastrone, Moraiolo, Olivago, Salviana and Rosciola. The classification of olive oil is fairly elaborate and often little is known about it. The main classification factors consist in an organoleptic grading including visual, aroma and taste examinations; the acidity and other biochemical characteristics are tested on each category. The classification of both virgin olive oils - obtained by physical processes only - and of refined olive oils (not to be consumed) are the most complex. Currently there are about 1,100,000 olive trees in the Sabina with an annual production ranging from 12,000 to 30,000 Tons of olives (dependng on the productiveness of the season) which correspond to about 2.200 to 5.000 Tons of olive oil. Since 19966 our olive oil holds the Protected Origin Classification (DOP) which testifies the authenticity of the product originated in a specific region. The Sabina DOP olive oil has a golden colour with green reflections, the flavour is aromatic and the acidity reaches a score of 0.60% maximum.
Olive Oil history
Since ancient times the olive tree (which seems to have been cultivated since the fourth millennium BC) has showed strong religious values and the olive oil was mostly used for sacred ceremonies such as the anointing of the kings. Apparently – according to Omero - Ulysses made his nuptial thalamus out of an olive tree trunk and from this same plant he made the shaft that he blinded Polyphemus with. The use of olive oil became popular during Roman times - from the third century BC. It was used for lighting lamps, sanitizing, medicine, veterinary, cosmetics, for the preparation of perfumes and soaps and as lubricant in mechanics. It was also used in many craftworks: leatherworking, in refining precious stones, in polishing statues (both wood and ivory), as antirust on metals, to sharpen work tools. Another well known quality of olive oil was its therapeutic use. A great witness in the Sabina was the Greek physician Galeano, who lived in the court of Marcus Aurelius: he considered this olive oil the best in the world and reccomended it for many therapeutic preparations. The Sabine olive oil became very well known so much so it was indicated as a primary component in many medical prescriptions until the sixth century.
Sabina Dop Consortium
The Consortium is devoted to preserving the 'Protected Designation of Origin' of Sabine olive oil and supervising of the correct use of this trademark. It is approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with the October 23, 2009 n. 16106 D.M. (published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 257 on the 4th November, 2009).The consortium is made up of olive growers, oil mills and bottlers from a vast area of forty-six municipalities in the provinces of Rome and Rieti. It is a no-profit organisation and its aim is to:
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Monitor that the production regulations are held
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Guarantee the quality and authenticity of the Extra Virgin D.O.P. "Sabina" Olive Oil to consumers
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Protect, enhance and promote by conferences, research, exhibitions, fairs and guided tasting sessions
