CULTIVARS OF THE WORLD

VARIETAL BIODIVERSITY

There are different types of extra virgin olive oil, with countless subtle gradations of flavour and fragrance.
This sensory richness originates from the vast variety of olive cultivars around the world,
which differ in form, physiology and cultivation properties depending on the geographical areas where they are grown,
and which give of their best in different parts of the planet.

Let our passion for oil be your guide to discovering
the unique characteristics of the most widely grown cultivars.

Croatia

Olive oil has been made in Croatia for millennia and for various reasons Croatian oil is considered one of the best in the world. However, nowadays, olives are only grown in the Istria and Dalmatia regions, and because of the mainly rocky ground and the small number of growers, quantities are very low, accounting for just 1.5% of total agricultural output.


Cultivar of Croatian origin widespread in the Pula, Porec and Rovinj zone.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: light bitter and moderate fruity and peppery components with overtones of lettuce, peas and almond.

Cultivar of Croatian origin widespread in the Dignano, Fazana, Istria and Rovinj zone.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: light bitter and moderate fruity and peppery components with overtones of almond, peas and lettuce.

Cultivar of Croatian origin widespread in the Krk, Istria, Losinj and Cres zone.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: light bitter and moderate peppery and fruity components with overtones of artichoke and cardoon.

Cultivar of Croatian origin widespread in the Istrian peninsula.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: strong peppery, bitter and fruity components with overtones of walnut, artichoke and grass.

Greece

Olive growing is the country's main agribusiness and biggest source of export earnings. Greece is one of the world's 5 top producers. Most of the olives grown are destined for the EU (about 90%), but during the last few years overseas trade has also expanded, especially to Canada, Australia, Japan and the USA.


Cultivar of Greek origin widely grown on and around Lesbos.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderate fruity and peppery components with overtones of artichoke and tomato.

Cultivar of Greek origin, widely grown in Attica, on Corfù, in the Peloponnese and on the island of Crete.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of green leaves and almond.

Cultivar of Greek origin widely grown mainly in the Peloponnese (Greece).

Use: or oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant impressions of green leaves and artichoke.

Cultivar of Greek origin, widely grown on the island of Crete and in the Peloponnese.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavour of freshly cut grass and sweet almond.

grown on the island of Corfù, in the Peloponnese and on the island of Crete.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity and peppery with slight touch of bitter, with notes of walnut, tomato and artichoke.

Cultivar of Greek origin widely grown in the Corinth and Dendron area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: intensely fruity and peppery, with overtones of exotic fruit.

Cultivar of Greek origin widely grown in the Olympia area.

Use: for oil production

Sensory profile: strongly fruity and bitter, slightly peppery, with impressions of artichoke, notes of freshly cut grass/leaves and green apple.

Cultivar of Greek origin widely grown on the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Skyros and near Mytilene.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: slightly bitter, intensely fruity and moderately peppery, with notes of grass and banana.

Italy

Italy is one of the world's top 3 olive oil producers, but ranks first for number of olive varieties, with no fewer than 538, representing about 42% of the world heritage. Perhaps no surprise, since it is believed that the Ancient Romans were responsible for spreading olive growing around the Mediterranean basin. Except for Valle d'Aosta, olives are grown in every region of Italy, with a sharp disparity in quantity terms: southern Italy alone accounts for over 85% of national output.


Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Abruzzo region.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: Oil with a moderate-strong fruity component and a moderate-light bitter and peppery component, with overtones of grass/leaves, tomato, artichoke and fresh almond.

Cultivar of Italian-Slovenian origin widespread in the Venezia-Giulia region and in Slovenian and Croatian Istria (Istarska Belica).

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderate/light bitter component but intensely fruity and peppery, with prevalent overtones of artichoke/leaves, green banana and herbs.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Sicily (Italy).

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of grass and fresh almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Sardinia.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with impressions of grass, fresh almond, artichokes and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Latium region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of green leaves, artichokes and almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Latium region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of almond, artichoke and grass.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Calabria.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, light bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of grass and sweet almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Lombardy and Trentino regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately/intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of grass, fresh almond, artichokes and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Apulia region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery with overtones of berries.

Cultivar of Italian origin mainly grown in Sicily.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: intensely fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of green leaves and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Apulia region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately/intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of grass/leaves, artichokes, fresh almond and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Apulia region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, intense bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of sweet almond and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Abruzzo and Marches regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately/intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of grass, fresh almond, artichokes and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin grown virtually nationwide.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavours of fresh almond, grass and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Abruzzo region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity with moderate-light bitter and peppery component, with impressions of fresh almond, grass/leaves artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Abruzzo, Umbria, Molise and Tuscany regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of fresh almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Molise region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of grass/leaves, artichokes and fresh almond.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderate-strong fruity component and moderate-light bitter and peppery component, with overtones of grass/leaves, tomato, artichoke and fresh almond.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Sicily.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: strong fruity component and light bitter and peppery component, with overtones of grass/leaves, tomato, artichoke and fresh almond.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Veneto region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: strong fruity component and moderate bitter and peppery component, with predominant overtones of tomato, artichoke and fresh almond and a distinctive impression of grass/leaves.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Latium, Abruzzo and Molise regions.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of herbs and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin mainly grown in Tuscany and Umbria.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, light bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of almond and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Basilicata region.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant impressions of grass, almonds and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Tuscany region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with impressions of grass, fresh almond, artichokes and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Marches region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery with overtones of berries.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Latium, Marches, Apulia, Tuscany and Umbria regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of grass/leaves and artichoke and a slight impression of fresh almond and tomato

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in eastern Sicily.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately-intensely fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of grass, tomato and fresh almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: intensely fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavours of grass/leaves, artichokes, fresh almond and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin mainly grown in Apulia and Basilicata regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of sweet almond and grass.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Apulia region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with slight impressions of forest fruits.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Tuscany region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of grass/leaves and light impressions of fresh almond, artichoke and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Molise region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of apple, almond and freshly cut grass.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Latium, Campania and Calabria regions.

Use: dual purpose

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of fresh almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Campania region.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderate-strong fruity component and a moderate bitter and peppery component, with predominant flavours of grass/leaves, tomato, artichoke and fresh almond.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Calabria.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with impressions of grass/leaves, fresh almond, artichoke and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Tuscany region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: strongly fruity, bitter and peppery, with impressions of grass/leaves and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown mainly in the Apulia region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant impressions of grass, artichokes and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Marches region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with flavours of leaves, fresh almond, artichoke and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Marches region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: good fruity, bitter and peppery profile, with flavour of fresh almond, grass/leaves and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin mainly grown in the Campania region.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of fresh almonds.

grown in Latium, Abruzzo, Umbria and Marches regions.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-light bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of fresh almonds.

Cultivar of Italian origin mainly grown in the Province of Salerno.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavour of grass and light impressions of fresh almond, artichoke and tomato.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Campania region.

Use: or oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity with moderate-bitter and light peppery components, with flavour of fresh almond, grass/leaves artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in the Liguria region.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity with moderate-light bitter and peppery component, with predominant flavour of fresh almond and light impression of grass/leaves and artichoke.

Cultivar of Italian origin widely grown in Sicily.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: strong fruity and moderate bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of grass/leaves, tomato, artichoke and fresh almond.

Portugal

Olive growing has always had an important role in Portuguese agriculture, thanks to olive trees' ability to withstand drought and rocky terrain. Olive oil played an important role in the country's international trade as long ago as the 13C, and in Medieval times its production was a key part of the economy of the religious orders, which helped to revitalise agriculture and engaged in the production of "holy oil".


Cultivar of Portuguese origin widely grown in the Tras-os-Montes area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderate fruity and bitter components with notes of almond, lettuce and apple.

Cultivar of Portuguese origin, the most widely grown throughout the country.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderate fruity and peppery components with flavours of lettuce, apple and tomato.

Spain

This country is the world's top intensive producer and exporter of olive oil and table olives; it has the largest area of olive groves and the largest number of olive trees. About 60% of total output is from the Andalusia region. Spanish cultivars are widespread throughout the Mediterranean basin: their expansion dates from the time of the ancient Romans, who promoted their spread and the trade in oil.


Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Alicante, Valencia and Levante area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: balanced peppery and bitter components, with notes of ripe tomato and banana.

Cultivar of Spanish origin, native to Catalonia but widely grown.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately-light fruity, bitter and peppery components, with predominant flavours of apple, grass and sweet almonds.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Alicante, Valencia, Murcia and Albacete area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: very fruity flavour, very high peppery and bitter component.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Guadalajara, Cuenca and Madrid area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: very distinctive fruity and peppery profile, with flavours of green grass, leaves and banana.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Levante and Valencia area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: intense fruity and peppery and lightly bitter component with flavours of almond, apple and wood.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Ciudad Real, Toledo and Madrid areas.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-strong bitter and peppery components, with predominant

Cultivar of Spanish origin, widely grown in the Aragon region and the Balearic islands.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavour of sweet almond.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Cordoba, Malaga, Seville and Granada areas.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately-intense fruity, bitter and peppery components, impressions of herbs and tomato leaves.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in Andalusia.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: extra virgin olive oils made with this variety have a balance of green, peppery and bitter notes. They are very fruity oils.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Extramadura and Salamanca area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: balanced bitter and peppery components and fruity component with flavours of green grass, lettuce, green apple and tomato.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Badajoz and Seville areas.

Use: dual purpose.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavours of tomato and herbs.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Castellon and Tarragon area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: intense fruity and peppery and lightly bitter components with flavours of almond and green apple.

Cultivar of Spanish origin which originated in the Jaen, Cordoba and Granada areas but is widely grown nationwide.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, moderate-strong bitter and peppery components, with herbal flavours.

Cultivar of Spanish origin grown in Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Jaen.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: moderately fruity, bitter and peppery, with predominant flavours of bitter almond and herbs.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the province of Jaèn.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: sweet, very fruity flavour with predominance of fig.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the province of Tarragona and Castellòn.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: light bitter and noticeable peppery component. The predominant flavours are banana and apple.

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the north of the Extremadura area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: lightly bitter component with a hint of pepper; intense fruity component with flavours of almond

Cultivar of Spanish origin widely grown in the Valencia and Alicante area.

Use: for oil production.

Sensory profile: intense fruity component with peppery and bitter overtones, and flavours of mown grass, apple and almond.