Italian Olive Varieties

Varieties of olive trees used exclusively for the production of Olive Oil.

Agogio (also called Sweet Agoglia, Nerella, Olivella). Cultivated only in
Umbria and poorly diffused due to its scarce productivity, it yields a
fairly prestigious oil. The olives are large and black (2.5-3 grams).

Biancolilla (also called the Biancuzza, Bianchetta, Buscarino, Jancuzza,
Rizza, Signura). Cultivated prevalently in Sicily, its broad branches
produce a large yield of fruit and thus oil. Once mature, the olives become
yellow with pinkish accents and are medium in size. Resistant against the
cold, it is partially self-fertilizing and is pollinated by Moresca and
Zaituna varieties.

Bosana (also called the "Tondo del Sassarese). This variety is typical of
Sardinia, is highly productive and yields a large amount of oil. The olive
is small to medium in size (1.5 grams), resistant to the cold and to plant
parasites. It is sterile.

Canino (also called Caminese). Cultivated in the Latium region, its medium
yield of olives translates into a low yield of oil. Sterile, it is resistant
against parasites.

Carboncella (also called Carbognola, Carbona, Marsella, Ritornella, Oliva
tonda). Originally from Latium, it is also widely diffused in the Marche and
Abruzzi regions. The vigorous plant is medium sized and produces
bluish-black fruit weighing between 1.5 and 2 grams. The good, constant
production produces a fair quality oil in large quantities.

Casaliva (also called Drezzeri, gentle olive, Casaliva del Garda).
Originally from the Benaco area, it can be found in the Lombardy, Veneto,
Trentino and Friuli regions, and has a high production of ovoid fruit
weighing 2.5-3 grams.

Correggiolo (also called Raggiolo). Similar to the Frantoio variety (see
below), it is widely found in Tuscany, Umbria and the Marche region.

Dritta (also called Loretana and Moscufese). Found above all in Abruzzi, it
is a vigorous and tall plant, producing a large quantity of olives but
medium yield of oil. The fruit weighs 2.5-3 grams. The plant is resistant
against the cold and plant parasites, sterile and pollinated by Gentile di
Chieti and Leccino varieties.

Frantoio (also called Frantoiano, Grognolo, Raraggio, Razza). Common in
central Italy (particularly in Tuscany, Marche and Umbria) and in the Lake
Garda area, the tree is vigorous with sturdy foliage and high productivity
and yield of fine quality oil. The olives are oblong and violet-pink tending
towards red, weighing 2.5-3 grams. Self-fertilizing.

Gentile di Chieti (also called Nostrana). Derived from the Frantoio variety,
it is cultivated in Abruzzi. The vigorous and wide-spreading tree is very
productive with a medium yield of good quality oil. It is highly resistant
to cold weather. The Gentile di Larino variety can be found in the Molise
region, whereas the Gentile di Nizza variety is found in France.

Leccino (also called leccio). Originally from Tuscany, it is diffused in
Umbria, Marche, Latium. Its medium size with dense foliage boasts a fair
productivity of black olives weighing 2.5-3 grams, and a medium yield of
oil. Resistant to the cold, it is sterile and impollinated with Pendolino,
Frantoio and Morchiaio varieties.

Moraiolo (also called Morello, Morinello, Morellina). Originally Tuscan, it
is also cultivated in Umbria. Its medium sized tree produces small, round
fruits weighing little more than 1 gram and black when mature. With a
medium-sized production of fruit, the oil yield is medium to high. Sensitive
to cold weather, it is sterile and pollinated by the Pendolino variety.

Ogliarola Barese (also called Cima di Bitonto, Marinese, Paesana).
Cultivated in the Apulia, Campania and Basilicata regions, its broad limbs
and foliage produce a large quantity of medium-sized fruit with medium to
high oil yield. Resistant to the cold, it is sterile.

Ogliarola Messinese (also called Calamignara, Castriciana, Ogliara,
Paturnisa). Cultivated in Sicily, the tree is vigorous and has high but
inconsistent productivity. Its medium-sized fruit has a high oil yield. The
plant is self-fertilizing.

Olivastra Saggianese (also called Olivastrella). Cultivated in Tuscany, it
has a good level of productivity, a high oil yield and is self-fertilizing.

Passalunara (also called Palermitana). Originally from the province of
Palermo, its high productivity leads to a high oil yield, and is sterile.

Pendolino (also called Principino). Cultivated in Tuscany and Umbria, it is
a tree of medium height with good productivity and medium oil yield. Its
small to medium sized fruits are light green with traces of violet. Sterile,
it is useful in pollinating other varieties.

Rosciola. Common in Latium and central Italy with medium vigour and scarce
development, it produces blackish-red fruits that mature early with low but
constant production levels and medium oil yield. The self-fertilizing plant
is robust and adapts to conditions.

Sargano (also called Sargana di Ascoli). This vigorous plant can become very
large, has dark violet fruits, high productivity and medium oil yield. It is
often used for alternating. It resists against high winds and brackish
water.

Taggiasca (also called Lavagnina). Widespread in the Ligurian region,
especially in the provinces of Savona and Imperia, its large production of
fruit is medium-sized, the olive yield is high and the tree is
self-fertilizing.


Varieties of Olive trees used for both oil production and olive consumption.

Bianca di Villacidro (also called Pizz'ecarroga). This typical variety of
Sardinia is cultivated mainly around Cagliari. The vigorous plant has spare
foliage, with high productivity and medium oil yield.

Carolea (also called Caroleo, Catanzarese, Cumignana, Olivone). This medium
to large sized tree cultivated in Calabria bears olives weighing 4 grams, at
high production levels and medium oil yield. It resists the cold, is sterile
and is pollinated by the Nocellara Messinese variety.

Coratina (also called Racioppa di Corato). Cultivated mainly in Puglia and
Molise, it has medium dimensions and upward pointing branches. Its high
production yields fruits weighing 4 grams and a large quantity of oil. It is
sterile.

Itrana (also called Cicerone, Getana, Trana, Oliva di Esperia). Cultivated
in Lazio, it's a vigorous plant,with high production levels and medium oil
yield. Fruits 3/4 grams. It is sterile.

Maiatica (also called Pasola). Cultivated mainly in Basilicata, especially
in Basento valley, its vigorous plant is pendulous-limbed. Its good
productivity leads to high oil yield. It is sterile.

Moresca (also called Catanisia, Nerba, Maiorana, Reale, Turdella). Common in
Sicily, its vigorous plant is broad-limbed. Asymmetric fruits are black when
mature and weigh about 4 grams. Its good productivity leads to medium oil
yield. Sterile, it is pollinated by Ogliarola, Messinese and Biancolilla.

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