What regions are the best for growing Olives in Italy

Question

Are there a some“can’t miss” destinations in Italy if one is going on a tour to research growing olives for oil?

Answer 1

HI I'M ITALIAN.

GARDA LAKE, TOSCANY ARE THE BEST. AND ALL THE SOUTH OF ITALY. BYE

Answer 2

Lele is correct about the famous olives of Gaeta, and Sorrento. Extra-virgin production is common all over Southern Italy. Meanwhile famous oil are found in Liguria (light and fruity), west of Genua (link here http://www.olioligure.com/) ; in Veneto region (but near Verona and around Garda lake, bordering Lombardy province of Brescia, not near Venice (see link:http://www.oliodopgardabresciano.it/ )  in Tuscany (tasty -medium) , mainly near Siena,  and Umbria  (see link here http://www.stradaoliodopumbria.it/), in Puglia, Calabria  and Sicily.

A suggestion is to make a search in internet for "olio DOP" which is a controlled origin European certification given to special traditional area of production of specific foods (olio, of course, means oil)

Answer 3

aalexis yo and tomjc43 are both wrong.

the most famous olives in italy are from Gaeta,

a little  city in the south of latium, between rome and naples.

those olives are called "olive nere di Gaeta" (black olives of Gaeta)

Answer 4

tuscany oil is famous all over the world and it is certainly the best  

Answer 5

Because most of Italy is on the side of old volcanic mountains just about anywhere is excellent olive growing country.

The areas of Sicily are renown for their oil but excellent oil is also grown in Calabria, Molise, and Abruzzia. Tuscany also grows excellent olives but the slopes are more suited for vinyards and wine.

Answer 6

venice and sicily

Answer 7

Siena (in Tuscany) has wonderful oil.  The Lucca area also produces some nice oils- mostly small "boutique" labels.

If you are interested in researching the olive oil production process October is the month to come because that is when the olives are harvested and pressed.  

Take a look at www.cenami.it   I am helping out the family who owns this villa and suggested that they do some sort of olive oil harvest package where guest can come and stay and participate in the harvest, then go with us to the olive press and watch the process from olives to oil, then bottle and label your own olive oil to take home.

This year we are going to have a great harvest- we had a lot of rain in the spring and already the olives on the trees are very big.  We will make a lot of oil.  Though last year there was very little rain and the harvest was extremely small, the oil was absolutely delicious- rich and flavorful- the result of it being so dry.  It is hard to have a season right in the middle, balancing quality and quantity.  

It is a really interesting process to watch.  Where ever you end up going you will be sure to have an interesting and fun trip.  And of course plenty of wonderful oil!