Introducing My New Calabrian Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
“The day that Calabria was created God found 15,000 Km of green clay with purple reflections in his fist…the Lord promised himself that he would make a masterpiece and Calabria came out of his hands…..” ~ Leonida Repaci
My ancestral homeland of Calabria is at the core of my heart and the basis for all of my inspiration-culinary and otherwise. I've been dreaming about importing products from Calabria to the United States for years now. Finding the right products isn't easy, though, and selecting small producers that can handle international distributions is more challenging.
A few years ago, however, I heard about Tenute Cristiano, an award-winning producer from Lamezia Terme, Calabria, who collaborates with my long-time friend and colleague Stefano Ferrari of LIFeSTYLE. This last year while I was at a trade show in Milan, I got to meet up with Isabella Cristiano and lay the groundwork for what would become a beautiful collaboration. While visiting her family olive orchards this summer, I learned that my dear friend and co-author, Dr. Simon Poole also filmed a piece for British television at Tenute Cristiano years ago, and that he also endorses their products.
As I strolled through the vast orchards both in the valleys and the hills of the idyllic Mediterranean landscape I was mesmerized by the sight of the Carolea trees that spread as far as the eye could see. After meeting with the Cristiano family, I learned not only how amazing their extra-virgin olive oil is, but how much attention, care, and passion that they pour into their family's business. What a pleasure it was to stroll through the orchards and enjoy a balmy Southern Italian sunset as we nibbled on taralli and olives from the estate. I immediately appreciated the Carolea olive oil for its full-bodied flavor that calls to mind a microcosm of flavors that Calabria is known for.
Once we decided on which oil to offer, we waited for the recent harvest period to end, so that we could offer the freshest oil possible. I'm extremely proud to introduce this newly harvested Calabrian extra-virgin olive oil to the Amy Riolo Selections product line. I'm particularly proud of its extremely low acidity and significant polyphenol content which are indicators of the quality and health-boosting bioactive compounds found in the oil. I pair it with all genuine Mediterranean dishes – from simple tomato sauce and salads to more complex pasta, seafood, and meat recipes. I also swap it out for butter in my baking recipes.
Some specifics about Amy Riolo Selections EVOO:
Production area: Giardino Renda – Tenuta Maida
Cultivar: Mono varietal Carolea
Harvest period: Mid-October
Sensory profile: Intense Green Fruity Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Medium bitter and intense spicy. Balanced.
Chemical analysis
Acidity – 0.16 %
Peroxide – 5 meq O2/Kg
Polyphenols – 430 mg/Kg
Available in
Bottle – 500 ml
This premium extra-virgin olive oil is a gift for both your health and your palate. Order here.
Here's to a season with pleasure and health!