LIQUID GOLD

Nestled in the hills, just a 30-minute drive from Agrigento, lies a treasure trove of precious liquid gold. In a typical Sicilian country house, enclosed by a garden of palm trees and exotic plants, a dynamic, forward-thinking husband and wife team works hard to keep local traditions and flavours alive. An oasis of olive groves, many over one hundred years old, extends for forty hectares, spreading a dark green canopy over the sepia, sun-parched landscape.

Here the finest extra virgin olive oils are produced by combining traditional knowledge, modern techniques and a heartfelt reverence for the territory. Meticulous control over each stage of production ensures the high quality of these oils which are celebrated by prestigious accolades both nationally and abroad. Rigorously hand-harvested from mid-September to the beginning of October and immediately crushed on the on-site mill, four different varieties of olives generate monocultivar oils boasting rich, complex bouquets of aromas.

Greenish with golden hues, Nocellara del Belice is fruity with a pleasant fragrance of freshly cut grass, artichokes and tomatoes, an ideal condiment for marinated tuna and oily fish, first courses with shellfish, grilled meat, vegetables au gratin and aged cheeses. Pale green Giarraffa, with its nuances of fruit, basil and lettuce, is ideal for fish dishes, herb salads, white meat and cottage cheese. Biancolilla’s aromas of bitter and spicy tomatoes enhance the flavours of seafood appetizers, steamed crustaceans and fish en papillote. Tinges of hay, almonds and marjoram make deep green Cerasuola the perfect match for emmer salads, first courses with vegetables, soups and red meat.

In the late afternoon your private chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel in Agrigento and drive you to the estate. Upon arrival you will be greeted by the owners and enjoy an introduction to farming and olive oil making. After sampling a selection of oils you will be treated to a delicious candlelit dinner accompanied with Sicilian wine. Tasty highlights might include stuffed peppers, wild fennel pesto, eggplant ratatouille, meatballs in sweet-and-sour sauce, cous cous, almond cake and cannoli… Buon appetito!