40. Montelibretti Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Situated on the slopes of the Sabinian Mountains, a few kilometres from Rome, Montelibretti is a beautiful little town whose origins are linked to the Barberini family, the area’s wealthy feudal lords. Within its territory, which lies entirely within the Sabina region – an area that has always been renowned for olive cultivation – the most widespread crops are, naturally, the centuries-old olive groves, which produce a highly prized extra virgin olive oil that is a source of pride for the locals. The traditional olive groves are situated on hilly terrain of limestone origin, which is well-drained, dry but not arid. The most common varieties are those typical of the Sabina region, namely Carboncella, Leccino, Raja, Pendolino, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Olivastrone, Salviana, Olivago and Rosciola. The olive harvest, which takes place from 1 October to the end of January, is carried out by hand or with the aid of special combs or mechanical harvesters. Although this method is very labour-intensive, it is necessary due to the steep terrain and, above all, because it allows the fruit to be harvested intact and at the correct stage of ripeness. This is followed by the extraction and packaging processes: at local oil mills, the olives are washed at room temperature and then pressed using machinery that preserves the fruit’s unique original characteristics. Once extracted, the oil can be sold in glass bottles, metal tins or ceramic containers not exceeding 5 litres. With its delicate and distinctive flavour, extra virgin olive oil takes centre stage at village festivals and celebrations, but is also an essential condiment for traditional dishes.

"If there is one aspect of Sabina that never ceases to amaze me, it is the immense expanse of olive groves that cover its rolling hills and in which you find yourself immersed as soon as you arrive in Montelibretti,' says Mayor Luca Branciani. 'Sabina is a land in which the entire agricultural landscape is dominated by the shapes and tones of the olive tree, and it is a sight that takes the breath away, not only for the first-time visitor but also for the inhabitants themselves. According to the mayor, everyone in Montelibretti has a family connection, almost ancestral, with the olive tree. His maternal grandmother was the owner of the Canneto olive tree, an olive tree more than a thousand years old, the largest in Europe, which still makes a fine show in Fara in Sabina. Luca Branciani himself and his wife have small olive groves from which, as amateur and passionate producers, they obtain oil for home consumption. To understand how deep-rooted the presence of the olive tree is in the village, the mayor recounts that in the past, the possession of one or more olive groves defined the social status of families and was held in high regard when marriages were arranged. "Today, many farms are springing up in our area, often run by young people, with the aim of taking advantage of the proximity of the Roman market and cultivating our olive groves, marketing a true product of excellence," says the mayor, who concludes: "We have in our hands a diamond in the rough that we want, we must protect and properly value.