With olive cultivation covering over 85% of its territory,
Basilicata is among Italy's top olive oil-producing regions. Its soils, predominantly of volcanic origin, ensure the growth of the olive tree, giving its fruit unique and distinctive organoleptic properties.
The land of Basilicata
An ordinary-statute region in southern Italy, with Potenza as its capital, Basilicata boasts the oldest olive groves in Italy and approximately
27 native olive varieties , with an average annual production of 13,000 tons of oil (2.5% of national production). The particular
mineralogical composition of the Lucanian soil (primarily volcanic in origin) gives the olives unique organoleptic characteristics. Cultivated since the times of Magna Graecia, the Lucanian olive tree produces a very distinctive oil that is rarely sold outside the region, but is produced primarily for domestic consumption.
The main production areas and qualities of Lucanian olives
The main production areas of Lucanian olive oil are:
Vulture, the Lower Agri Valley, and the Lower Matera Hills. The most famous olive-growing centers in Vulture are: Melfi, Rionero in Vulture, Barile, Rapolla, Acerenza, Lavello, and Venosa. The most widespread olive variety in Vulture is the "ogliarola." The most widespread olive variety in the Lower Matera Hills and the Lower Agri Valley is the "maiatica di Ferrandina."
Basilicata extra virgin olive oil and the "Olivarum" award
Lucanian extra virgin olive oil, filtered and unfiltered, obtained from the very first cold mechanical pressing of the olives, is the foundation of every Lucanian dish. Basilicata's extra virgin olive oil production boasts excellent oils with protected designations of origin, such as the
Lucano PGI. A total of 57 extra virgin olive oils from Basilicata participated in the
regional "Olivarum" award , now in its 15th year.
