Yesterday, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the educational tour organized by the Association Strada dell’Olio e.v.o. Dop Umbria took place as part of the second edition of the “Anteprima Olio Dop Umbria” (Preview of Umbria PDO Olive Oil). The protagonist of the tour was the project “Amerino Tipico. Land, Flavors, Community” featuring the Amerino territory and a selection of its iconic products, including the Rajo olive oil.
The educational tour, which involved journalists from the main national publications in the food and wine and tourism sectors, selected foreign operators from the Umbria Chamber of Commerce, Umbrian chefs from the Evoo Ambassador circuit, food and wine experts, and industry professionals, took place on the second day of the “Anteprima Olio Dop Umbria” initiative. This event was organized with the aim of celebrating the quality of a certified product such as PDO olive oil, as well as the quality of the territory from which it comes and the Umbrian landscape shaped by olive cultivation.
In this perspective, the group of participants was guided to explore the territory of the Colli Amerini, one of the subzones of Umbria PDO, the birthplace of the Rajo olive variety, an ancient native variety. They discovered the villages, products, and producers involved in “Amerino Tipico,” the project for territorial development and the enhancement of food as a key element for territorial innovation and a new opportunity to narrate the Amerino landscape. This project is promoted by the municipalities of Amelia, Alviano, Attigliano, Avigliano Umbro, Baschi, Giove, Guardea, Lugnano in Teverina, Montecastrilli, Montecchio, and Penna in Teverina.
The journey involved Lugnano in Teverina (TR), one of the most beautiful villages in Umbria, and in particular, the “Olea Mundi” world olive collection—a “collection field” with approximately 1200 olive trees, including over 400 olive accessions from 23 olive-growing countries in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and new cultivation areas. The collection includes 263 Italian varieties from almost all regions of Italy, 128 varieties from various countries worldwide, and 60 minor varieties from the Umbria region – already illustrated to the participants by representatives of the Umbria Agri-Food Technology Park 3A-PTA, who recently created a dedicated publication signed by Mauro Gramaccia and Andrea Massoli, who personally accompanied the group during the visit to the olive collection.
The visit then focused on the city of Amelia (TR), where the participants were guided to discover the historic center and the Archaeological Museum, which preserves the archaeological evidence of the ancient center of “Ameria,” from its origins to the early Middle Ages. The tour concluded at the Frantoio Suatoni in Amelia, custodian of the historic centuries-old Rajo Olive Grove, where the tasting session, based on products from the partner producers of the Amerino Tipico Project, was an opportunity to present the project itself to industry professionals. This project is financed by measure 16.7 of the Rural Development Program for Umbria, and the companies currently involved include the Sandonna Winery in Giove (TR), Cantine Zanchi in Amelia (TR), Frantoio Suatoni in Amelia (TR), the Fava Cottora Producers Association (Slow Food Presidium), and the Agricultural Company F.lli Tamburini in Montecastrilli (TR).
Present at the presentation were Elide Rossi and Alberto Rini, Councilors of the Municipality of Amelia, the leading municipality of the “Amerino Tipico” project, and Alessandro Dimiziani, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Lugnano in Teverina. Also in attendance were Federico Varazzi, Vice President of Slow Food Italy, and the newly formed Slow Food Community of Rajo Olive Oil producers from Amelia.
Organization and communication were handled by Add Comunicazione ed Eventi
