Tuesday 15 November 2022

Olive Harvest and 2022's Extra Virgin Olive Oil - It's happening earlier than usual this year, in the Sabine Hills, near Rome

Can Olives be picked too early?

After a very long hot and dry Summer the olives this year are being harvested at least 2 to 3 weeks earlier than usual. The usually warm weather has continued throughout October and into November so the olive farmers are picking as soon as they can and taking this precious fruit  to be pressed at the olive mills as soon as possible.

What a great time of year to visit the Roman countryside and especially the Sabine Hills. The Sabina region, just 40 kms north of Rome is famous for it's extra virgin olive oil and with over 2,5000,000 trees squeezed into hilly terrain you can understand why it is so important. The olive farmers make sure that the quality of the olive oil is at its best by picking the olives just as they are turning from green to black in colour. This is when the anti-oxidants are at their highest. The olive producers really concentrate on quality, not quantity and the Sabine Hills are now 'alive with the sound of music' of olive pickers. It is an exciting time to visit.


Olive picking with crates of olives already picked


Olive Harvest has been going for 1000's of years here in the Sabine Hills


We, at Convivio Rome, run Half Day Rome Olive Oil Tours all year round, but if you happen to be in the area in late October to early December, this is the time where olives are picked. You can understand how labour intensive olive picking is, when seeing it in action.

Olive harvest in progress takes teamwork

The olives need to be picked and taken to the local 'frantoio' olive mill, within 24 hours to ensure the quality of the extra virgin olive oil remains high.

Being an eighth generation Roman, means that even as a child I was taught by my parents and grandparents the importance of the Sabine Hills for it's D.O.P. extra virgin olive oil. I remember travelling with my family through the Sabine Hills to renew our supply of the famous Sabina extra virgin olive oil, and other local produce, to take back home to Rome. 

We operate Rome Olive tours all year round, to discover more:
Or contact me, Guido, at Convivio Rome on info@conviviorome.com