Extra Virgin Olive Oils
‘Extra Virgin’ simply means that the olive oil we are buying has 1% acidity or less (expressed in oleic acid). Generally this should mean the best quality olive oil, but not always. Much depends on the price - all good or superior quality extra virgins have prices to match - and of course the reputation of the producer, too, is of great value.
All our oils are EXTRA VIRGIN and are first pressing which means that the oil is obtained by the first pressing of fresh olives at the oil mill, the frantoio. It is the standard method to make all extra virgin oils of quality.
Cold pressing indicates the same method of extraction as first pressing. Pre-pressing - the naturally surfacing oil from the mashed olives paste - is highly prized for its freshness, but expensive because there is little of it.
PDO/DOP - ‘protected denomination of origin’. It shows that the oil’s name and local provenance have been certified and protected according to EU regulations. At a little extra cost, perhaps, but worth it to some consumers.
RANGING GUIDETTI EXTRA VIRGIN OILS
We have listed our extra virgin olive oils according to the region they come from. For each, we specify the region, olive varieties and harvest times. In addition, we try to give an indication of the oil's style, i.e. its colour, aroma, flavour and finish (peppery, smooth, etc).
Some of the oils in the list are unfiltered and appear cloudy, but retain more of their character as some sediment - bits of the crushed olives - will remain in the oil and settle in the bottle over time. This is a natural process - especially if the oil temperature goes below 4C - as in the fridge - and it does not normally affect the quality of the oil. The oil can still be enjoyed to the full, so please shake the bottle carefully until the oil regains its original cloudiness, the degree of which depends on the amount of bits from pressing originally left in by the producer.
Most of our extra virgin olive oils come from small to medium sized producers. We have included a few good quality blends for more general all-round kitchen use, such as Clemente, Il Fattore, and Rustico di Sicilia. These are intended for all types of everyday use and are priced accordingly. We guarantee however that the oil has not been blended to reduce acidity and that from a flavour perspective they are considerably better than their supermarket rivals.
