Sicilian Gold 2007, DOP Val di Mazara ~ SALE (375 ml)

Sicilian Gold is a produced from the same family farm that has produced Athena, which has been popular among our customers. Like Athena, Sicilian Gold 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.

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.

The taste of the oil is unique, light and sweet, and smooth to the palate. Slightly bitter and stringent. Delicate and harmonious in intensity and a slightly spice aroma of fresh extra virgin olive oil. Our tasters found it to be grassy with an element of artichokes.

This oil is recommended for use with salads, raw vegetables, meats, fish, breads, and beans – and it is exceptional for dipping.

In late October, young olives are hand-picked, and gathered in ventilated baskets, before being promptly cold pressed. Reflecting the standards of DOP Val di Mazara, Athena is pressed from the Nocellara del Belice (50%), Biancolilla di Caltabellotta (45%) varietals, and Cerasuola (5%).

Sicilian Gold uses the same olives as “Athena” but can not compete in any Italian contest due to Italian regulations concerning the name of Sicilian Gold. Sicilian Gold was mentioned in the 2007 L’OLIO book. The bottles labeled for the U.S. carry the Athena DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil and were judged by Associazione Italiana Sommelier dell ‘OLIO as a premier Olive oil of Sicily in 06, 07 and 08. Received recognition in 2008 as in the top 200 Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the world at the der Feinschmecker‘s Exhibition in Germany.