Athena is a DOP certified olive oil from Sicily’s designated DOP Val di Mazara. From 1000 trees this family farm produces three extra virgin olive oils, and we have selected Athena for our customers.
The Arcuri family has tended their olive groves in the area of Valle del Belice for over 200 years. The farm is in an area in the inlands of Sicily in a little place called San Carlo. The farm is part of a natural preserve set aside by the Sicilian government known as Riserva Naturale della Valle del Sosio. The irrigation waters come from a nearby river called Sosio River, considered both beautiful and one of the purest rivers in all of Italy. The preserve is free of pollution and pesticides. The olive trees are fed only mineral salts. The special micro climate and quietness provides the setting to grow the very best olive trees—among berries and groves of peach, fig, and pear trees. As a result, the mature trees yield a lovely olive oil with 0.18% acidity.
Athena DOP is very green with a delightful and intense aroma of fruits, vegetables, herbs, green tea, and notes of Mandarin orange. The taste brings nuances of citrus and ripe tomato, with a slight, pleasant bitterness in the finish...the scent of tomato blended with a scent of grass and olive fruit. Inside your mouth it brings a full body and taste like a piece of fresh almond. The fragrance spreads out pleasantly and balanced with a taste of a little bit of bitter and a taste of spice that goes towards a persistent final wonderful taste. The blend is similar to Sicilian Gold with a bit more cerasuola, bringing forth a bit more "green" taste.
Most notably, Athena DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil was judged by Associazione Italiana Sommelier dell’Olio and granted 4 out of 5 stars into the “L’OLIO Book” in both 2006, 2007 and 2008. Recognition in 2008 from der Feinschemecker.