The olive groves
The first organized planting of olive trees on the Matraja hill dates from the 16th Century. Today the plantation’s olive groves contain approximately 3,000 trees distributed among 17 hectares (51 acres). The varieties of olive trees cultivated on the estate are representative of those traditionally planted in the Lucca region and consist of Frantoio (90%), Leccino (5%) and Moraiolo.
Olive trees must be pruned every year to optimize production, improve the quality of the olives and limit their exposure to diseases, since manufacturing top quality "extra virgin" oil requires a perfectly healthy, unblemished fruit. In order to totally avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides, we only use special pheromone-based ‘eco-traps’ to control the population of dangerous insects. In addition a small grazing herd of 7 Häflinger ponies takes care of the natural fertilization and weeding of the olive groves, making the production of our olive oil ‘organic’ in all respects.
THE HARVEST
The timing and method of harvesting are essential and crucial components in the production of a quality olive oil. According to Tuscan tradition, the olive harvest takes place long before the fruit is fully ripe, with operations usually starting in early November and proceeding through mid-December. This results in an olive oil high in flavor and rich in chlorophyll and polyphenols, ingredients that preserve the oil and prevent it from aging and oxidizing. As far as harvesting procedures are concerned, the Colle Verde Estate strictly avoids the use of canes for beating the trees or of nets to collect fallen olives blown to the ground by the wind. Only hand-picking can guarantee the perfect state required of olives before they are transported to the mill for pressing into oil.