Discovering extra virgin olive oil

This is one of the most interesting & informative tours we have ever taken. We learned so much about what it takes to produce organic extra virgin olive from the perspective of a small family owned production company. Everything from the maintenance of the olive grove to proper storage of the oil. Pierluigi is passionate about olive oil production and is enthusiastic to share his knowledge with the public. Following the tour of the olive grove we visited the business location for a delicious tasting of his product and local delicacies, including a glass of terrific wine. Pier and his mom were so warm and welcoming that we truly felt as though we were leaving a visit with good friends. Pier speaks perfect English, but told us he also speaks German, Russian and, of course Italian.

This was a fabulous introduction to olive oil production and one of the highlights of my trip to Vieste. The tour began in an ancient Olive grove a short ride from the starting point. Pier gave a detailed and informative talk in fluent English about all aspects of cultivation, including the use of drones and AI in modern organic agriculture. The event finished with a wonderful tasting session, including a plate of local types bruschetta, cheeses and hams. It was a fantastic way to spend a few hours and I highly recommend.

This was the most interesting tour that we’ve taken on our seven extended trips to Italy. Pier, a 36 year old, runs the entire process, as well as the tour. What an incredible young man! We spent two hours in the grove where he explained every aspect of caring for trees that are 600+ years old…the art of pruning; organic pest control; when irrigation is necessary and when it’s not; the tilling of the plants and herbs within the ecosystem of the grove to insure the trees get the natural elements needed from the soil as chemical fertilizers cannot be used; to the harvesting process; to the milling process and finally to the bottling process. We were born and raised in NYC so agricultural is not something that we have been exposed to but this really was very interesting. If you’re visiting Vieste, you really don’t want to issue this. It’s ten minutes out of town, very easy to find and worth every minute! Oh, after the tour of the grove, we returned to his home and met his mother, Anna, who, along with Pier, prepared for us the most amazing lunch. It was the perfect ending to this amazing experience. We returned to his home and met his mother, Anna, who prepared for us the most amazing lunch. It was the perfect ending to this amazing experience.