The Italian peninsula is a monument to the olive tree. There are 1.2 million olive growers in Italy cultivating 584 varieties and close to 150 million trees. There is as much diversity among oils as there is among wines, and we aim to illustrate this in the oils we offer from Capezzana, Tenuta i Bonsi, Poggiotondo, Selvapiana, Fontodi and Le Ferre. Our focus is on Tuscany, a region that is 23,000 square kilometres in size. The region's heterogeneity of topography leads to a tremendous range of styles, as the olive tree is as sensitive to site as is a grape variety like Sangiovese.
2025 Vintage Report
The 2025 Tuscan olive oil vintage was varied and, in some cases, challenging. Flowering in May was followed by very hot weather in early June, and an unusually mild July, which in some cases allowed the olive fruit fly to propagate. Thankfully, the resulting damage was mitigated through careful management and monitoring by growers, setting the groves up to withstand a difficult September marked by cooler temperatures and rainstorms.
Despite 2025 being a cooler vintage overall, the olives ripened quickly, and harvesting began exceptionally early in October for most producers. At Capezzana, the frantoio (press) closed the first week of November, about a month earlier than usual. Harvesting began with much better weather in mid-October and concluded by November. After the abundant 2024 vintage, lower yields were anticipated for 2025, with harvest yields expected to be around half of last year’s. However, this is compensated by a better conversion of ‘resa’ (the quantity of oil extracted per olive), which had been exceptionally low in 2024. Quality is very good, with some excellent examples being pressed and bottled, characterised by spicy, intensely perfumed notes.
The 2025 harvest in Puglia commenced on the third of November. After a couple of difficult years, this vintage is looking good in terms of both quantity and quality. The Coratina olive variety is notably promising, with early tastings showing excellent flavour intensity. Cold weather is expected in the next few weeks (writing in mid-November) that will improve the resa and continue concentrating the olive flavours. Depending on weather conditions, the harvest is expected to finish by Christmas.
Key Olive Varieties
Italy produces a diverse range of olive oils whose texture and intensity range from vibrant green and spicy through to soft and fruity according to the site, olive variety and time of harvest.
Frantoio (also known as Correggiolo and Raggiolo) is an ancient Tuscan variety, vigorous, expansive and late ripening. It produces oil with an intense green colour and a grassy, spicy flavour. Multi-layered and well-balanced, Frantoio offers spicy black pepper flavours with good intensity, alongside a bitter, peppery sensation.
Moraiolo is an earlier ripening variety, giving a softer, gentler oil than Frantoio, with a slightly more golden colour while still retaining plenty of punch. Both varieties, when grown in the central Tuscan hills, are ideal on beans, in soup, on bruschetta or drizzled on salad leaves and steaks. Conversely, the same varieties grown on the Tuscan coast give a softer oil which is better suited to fish.
Leccino has high vigour and good resistance to cold and pest attacks. Crop levels are generally consistent, and it ripens fairly early. Olive oil made from Leccino is vibrant lime green in colour, with a good balance of bitter and peppery qualities. It is perhaps the most aromatic of these three key olive varieties, with herbaceous aromas of wild herbs and fresh vegetables. Best enjoyed with light dishes, such as salads, mushrooms, raw and poached fish, veal and poultry.
Pendolino is planted in central Italy and is both cold-resistant and early-ripening. It produces olive oils with a characteristic bright straw-yellow colour, a delicate and refined nose with perfumes of fresh and bitter almonds and hazelnuts, with a clean, aromatic finish. Particularly recommended with lighter dishes with a touch of sweetness such as poached fish, white bread, and lightly sauced pasta dishes.
Our Extra Virgin Olive Oils are sold on allocation. For more information please contact your sales representative.
