Anyone who has been to Puglia will recall the beautiful landscape of crystalline blue sea, giant wild fennel by the roadsides, white-washed villas and of course the unmistakable trulli scattering the countryside. And everywhere you look you see olive trees; it is therefore no surprise that around 40% of Italy’s Olive Oil is produced here. This region has an incredible history of cultivating olives and those who are not shy of manual work (it takes around 6 times the labour to tend a century old tree than a young one) have kept their old trees in production. Of the 50 million trees planted in the region, 4 million are over 300 years old and some of these appear to have 2,500-3,000 years of history. There is a massive range of quality coming out of Puglia and so we taste extensively every year, feeling duty bound to seek out the very best EVOO we can find.
The De Carlo family has been making Olive Oil since 1600. That is quite some legacy. Based in Bitritto within the golden triangle for olives near to Bari, the De Carlo family grows the Coratina and Ogliarola cultivars between 3 distinct sites that all yield particular characteristics. They are a truly honourable, hard-working and committed family deserving of some attention from those who are passionate about ingredients. Marina De Carlo heads the family business today and we are never disappointed by the blind tastings we conduct each year – De Carlo is a beacon of quality and it is extremely hard to find oils that are so consistently good.
Having purchased the land in 1600 the De Carlo family established their first frantoio in 1668 and within a hundred years, they were the most important oil producing family in the region. They own 100ha of olive groves and farm entirely organically (although they never shout about this fact). They are completely faithful amid the chaos of the industry in Puglia. Absolutely nothing gets bottled if it is not of the highest quality. They are extremely sensitive to their environment and sustaining it for the next generation, as you would be if your family had over 400 years of experience.
Puglia’s southerly location ensures plenty of sunshine and you can taste this in the olive oil – there is a richness and fruitiness that you don’t get further north. What always strikes us when we visit this beautiful region is that we eat more vegetables in Puglia than we ever usually do when travelling (something we usually miss!) – Puglia really is the ‘orto’ of Italy: fresh, seasonal, ripe. The texture of De Carlo oils is luxurious, almost buttery yet with a complexity and spice that truly enhances a broad range of vegetables. They also benefit from exceptionally high polyphenolic content – these oils are packed full of antioxidants and truly enhance your cooking.
IL CLASSICO
A blend of Ogliarola and Coratina, this brilliant EVOO is suitable for every use, including baking. It has a lovely rounded character, is gentle on the palate but has the benefit of being extremely good for you. Children will love this oil too.
Frantoio De Carlo
IL CLASSICO
FELICE GARIBALDI
This is the most recent addition to the De Carlo range, released in 2011 in homage to Felice Garibaldi (brother of Giuseppe Garibaldi) who was instrumental in building the reputation of Puglian EVOO. It is a monocultivar Ogliarola Barese from trees that are more than 500 years old. Beautifully herbaceous and concentrated with an extremely fine character of tomato leaf, and radicchio there is no bitterness, just spice. It is perfumed but delicate, making it a fabulous pair for raw or baked fish as well as steamed seasonal vegetables.
Frantoio De Carlo
FELICE GARIBALDI
TENUTA ARCAMONE DOP TERRE DI BARI - BITONTO
An ancient parcel of land in the family for generations, Tenuta Arcamone is certified organic and dedicated to the Coratina cultivar, the queen of Puglia. This incredibly elegant EVOO has a moderately spicy profile and abundant perfume. Great with a broad selection of vegetables ranging from grilled to roasted to raw. It lifts your vegetable game by a mile.
Frantoio De Carlo
TENUTA ARCAMONE DOP TERRE DI BARI - BITONTO
TORRE DI MOSSA DOP BARI - BITONTO
From a single parcel of land this monocultivar Coratina is extremely rich in antioxidants – if you are really interested in your health then you should have this olive oil in your larder. Coratina is a later ripening cultivar and features a mix of complex herbs plus artichoke and green almond with a decisive kick of spice. Structured and complex, it is fabulous accompanying vegetables or red meat.