Jannìa

Company: Angelo Oliverio

Jannìa is extra virgin olive oil coming from secular Pennulara olive trees, a particular re-covered type of olives. It has excellent nutritional values and was most probably first planted in this area by Basilian monks who came from the East around year 1000. Jannìa oil is cold extracted with pressing starting within 4 hours after the collection of fruit, which guarantees preservation of all of its organoleptic properties. Crops are harvested, depending on the weather, in the middle of October, collecting olives in small crates and keeping them in the shade to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Laboratory tests have revealed a particularly low acidity and a high level of polyphenols, which makes Jannìa an exceptionally high-quality olive oil. Tasting attributes: clear, emerald green colour, scents of freshly cut grass and lime peel, tomato leaf and thistle, alternated with artichoke, sage, mint and bitter almond skin, well-structured palate, balancing quite fine and fragrant long-lasting bitter and spicy notes. The olive grove is located in the heart of Calabria, right between the Ionian and the Terranean Sea, in Carello, a valley that is called after an adjacent village, uninhabited now but still worth a visit, which is situated right next to a place where the plateau of Sila slopes down to the Neto river. According to a local legend, the church of San Teodoro in Carello (the ruins of which can be seen today) was named after a Roman soldier who, besieged by enemies, appealed for help to God who transformed olive trees into troops that defeated the enemies. Sila is the biggest European continental plateau which was already well-known by Greeks and Romans for its rich resources of timber and minerals. Today, it is a mountainous area covered in virgin woods with diverse vegetation and wildlife. The olive grove is located 500 to 600 meters above the sea level, at the foot of Campo di Manna and Gimella mountains (1,200 meters above the sea level), the highest peak of the Neto Valley and the last offshoot of Sila. Jannìa has always been famous for its unique microclimate. In fact, average temperatures there are significantly less rigid than on the surrounding mountains, which allows the grove to be protected from the wind and adverse weather conditions. The land plot extends for 5 hectares and comprises about 500 olive trees, whose centennial stems are easily visible when going up the road surrounded by oaks, spruces and pine trees that leads to San Giovanni in Fiore, the main town of Sila. The terrain is fairly homogeneous tending towards sandy with a rocky structure, which is ideal for olive tree root system since it prevents water deposits in the soil. Often, foxes, boars and roes pass through. The roots of this orchard go deep into the past and now represent an authentic gem that deserves attention and appreciation.