Agricola Merico Extra Virgin Olive Oil

From a grove of olive trees in Puglia that range from 400 to 700 years old comes the oil of Agricola Merico, a company run by Vito Lisi and his sisters Consiglia and Marta.  Dedicated to organic farming practices, land stewardship, and cold extraction methods of production, the family produces two different oils: Piana Degli Ulive, made from 70%  Ogliarola de Lecce and 30% Cellina di Nardo olives.  Unfiltered, it is a creamy yellow-golden-green color, smelling of sweet grass and almost briny on the tongue.  It tastes of herbs, grass and almonds, with a hint of balancing bitterness.

 Baroco, their other oil, is made from 100% Cellina di Nardo olives.  It is also unfiltered, slightly greener in color, and fragrant.  On the palate it tastes of butter, fresh straw, artichoke and hazelnut.  Both oils are well-suited to drizzling over salads, fresh grilled seafood and soups, or for dipping bread. I discovered, during lunch with the family, that to Italians, olive oil is as much a condiment as salt or pepper is here, to be poured over pretty much all foods, except (maybe) dessert.

To further distinguish their oils, which have won numerous awards in Italian and international competitions, the Lisis package them in gorgeous, hand-made ceramic bottles.  Each is a one-of-a-kind, limited edition, hand-numbered piece made by a local potter in the Apulian tradition, beautiful to give as a gift or to keep and re-use when the oil is gone.

Size: 250ml