EVOO - Extra Virgine Olio di Olivi - is the "in term". The definitions and production of the oil is one of the major exports Puglia - Italy's Bread Basket and our very own special joy

With 350 olive trees, some over 1000 years old, producing EVOO is our passion. The journey starts in January, where maintenance and pruning are essential processes that provide the ground work for producing the highest quality oil. 
The trees need as long as possible to remain dormant and January and February being the coolest months (as low as 5°) offer that opportunity. So we take this time to do the work that needs to be done. 
As the temperatures pick up in April, the trees blossom and the Adriatica Breeze helps fertilisation. This is also an important time to spray with biofertilisers to support fruit growth and reduce pests - both before and after flowing.

We cannot (and will not!) use non-biological aids

Once the flowers set, the fruit starts to develop and there is not much we can do other than continue to ensure we minimise any pests (such as the Olive Fruit Fly - Bactrocera oleae).
We start additional watering at the end of June until mid September. 
We are fortunate to have our own well and with the power of the sun use an electric pump to draw water up and over the land. 
This means late June is spent checking and organising our 2 or 3 kilometers of pipe!
Come the end of September, we have to plan the harvest and we asses the volume of fruit and talk to various people who will assist in the process. Increasingly, mechanical services are required and this usually means a professional team are engaged. We have tried to do this manually. Never again!
As the harvest is collected into a large number of "cassette" we take it directly to the frantoio (the olive oil mill). We do not wait until all the olives are harvested as this will mean that the quality will reduce. Doing it in 500-750Kg loads is easier to manage. 
We then wait for a couple of days until the frantoio tell us the oil is ready. They will then tell us how good it is... We expect the best!

The annual process of EVOO Production is a fascinating process and we are in it all through the year. At each stage - from Pruning (Potatura) to Harvest we will let you know what's happening and when the oil will be ready to order!