Olive oil and Aceto Balsamico
Olive oil
In Italy, there are four products that are worth taking a closer look at: Olive Oil, Aceto Balsamico, Prosecco and Grappa. We have done so in each case. In the case of olive oil, for example, we offer only traditionally produced, natural extra virgin olive oil and no industrial mass-produced products. In the case of Aceto Balsamico di Modena, too, we are convinced of the uncompromising skills of the Manicardi family business and are sure that you, too, will notice the difference.
What is extra virgin olive oil?
A virgin olive oil with the designation extra virgin may be pressed exclusively from the high-quality, first harvest. Similar to wine, the aim is to process the olives as healthily, quickly and gently as possible. This means that harvesting is done manually and only the unripe olives of the first harvest are used. Only they have an acidity level (free fatty acids per 100 g) that must not exceed 0.8 percent. The less, the better. If this value, which can only be analyzed chemically, increases, it means that the olives were not processed immediately, for example, or come from a later, more mature harvest. The best harvest time for the desired unripe and green olives is from early to mid-October, depending on the region. Mechanically pressed (or cold pressed) means that the olives have been slowly pressed as gently as possible, in modern metal impact mills, at a temperature that must not exceed 27°C.
How many olives does it take to make one liter of oil?
To produce a high quality olive oil, you need at least ten kilograms of freshly picked olives, although this figure can vary depending on the variety and the time of harvest.
What is Aceto Balsamico di Modena?
Aceto stands for vinegar. Balsamico could be translated as "balsamic", which means fragrant. Balsamico is not a protected designation, nor is it a quality criterion. The addition of "di Modena", similar to wine regions, specifies the production region more precisely. However, the production conditions offer some leeway, so ideally one checks on the label whether the Aceto Balsamico di Modena consists mainly of grape must or of pimped-up, cheap wine vinegar. The I.G.P. label, on the other hand, is a protected geographical indication. It guarantees that mainly grape must and wine vinegar from the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia are used.
What is Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena D.O.P.?
The little word "Tradizionale" and the addition "D.O.P." are decisive. An Aceto, which may call itself so, belongs to the best and rarest, which the region has to offer. The strict criteria for this are closely scrutinized.