Olive Oil Tour and Soave

Nothing beats a great-tasting olive oil and at Bonamini we got to experience some of the very best.  We ventured out rather early from Vicenza and after getting turned around a bit (I was in charge of navigating…) finally made our way about an hour out of the city.

We walked inside and were warmly greeted by Sabrina who was to be our lovely tour guide.  She later told us that Bonamini was in fact her company and had been a family run business since 1965!  She first told us about the process of how the olives are removed from the tree–they aren’t ready until they are dark purple–not green, which normally happens in mid October through December.  To check to make sure they are ready, you cut one open and inspect the color of the “pulp.”

Olives are then combed off the tree with rakes and collected into nets.  Then the nets are immediately moved into the production area.  She stressed how important it is that this process be immediate for high-quality oil. The olives are then placed in several different machines that wash, mash, separate, etc. the olives.  Also she told us that true Extra Virgin Olive Oil (come on guys, the good stuff) is made only by using a cold-press process (not hot).

Sabrina told us that by Italian law (unlike in U.S.), olive oil producers can only sell the highest-quality oil (Extra Virgin) or the lowest (plain olive oil).  Anything in-between won’t be found on store shelves.  For an oil to qualify as Extra Virgin, it has to have an acidity below 0.8%.  Sabrina told us proudly  that her oils average from 0%-0.1% – we’re talking darn good olive oil, here!

At this point, we were dying to try a taste and lucky for us that was next! Sabrina lead us into the tasting room where the table had been set appropriately with an olive table cloth and I knew at that point we were in for a treat.

 She told us the correct way to sample olive oil. First, warm it in your hands…

Next, sniff and put a small amount on your tongue–suck a little air through your teeth and then slowly (seriously slowly…this stuff is intense) swallow.

That’s all there is to it!

Cheers!

After our tasting, we did a little shopping in their gift store.  Not only did they have the lovely olive oil we had just been sampling but they also have lotion, shampoo and soap along with plenty of other little goodies.

It was a wonderful (and informative!) morning spent at Bonamini and we will most definitely be back!  (On the way out we couldn’t resist taking a picture under an olive tree.)

After we left Bonamini we stopped into the small town of Soave, which is known for their white wine and their beautiful castle. Judging by grape-decorated entrances, it looks like we just missed a grape sagra!  (Sagras are little themed festivals that towns put on throughout year.)

  

We wandered around a bit and then found a cute little place to stop for lunch, with the sweetest little man who had a soft spot in his heart for tattoos and Ohio.  We sipped wine and nibbled on meat and cheese. Ah, bellissimo!

xo Mela