Italian varieties

Here we provide you information and some details about Italian Olive varieties, as follows:

ASCOLANA TENERA

SYNONYMS:  Oliva Dolce

ORIGIN:  Marche and Central Italy

USE:  Table

TREE: A tree of great vigor with dense foliage and a tendency toward upward growth. The leaves are elliptical,  lanceolate, and medium in size with a brilliant green color.

FRUIT: The fruit is very large in size (8 to 10g), ellipsoidal, and slightly asymmetrical with a rounded, slightly sub-conical top. The fruit is light green in color at harvest and used as table fruit. The flesh represents about 86-87% of the fruit and is of a milky white color and can yield 16-18% oil by weight and is classified as a light oil.

AGRONOMY: An auto-incompatible cultivar with a high percentage of aborted ovaries. Pollinators: Santa Caterina, Itrana, Rosciola, Leccino, Giarraffa, Pendolino. Good resistance to cold and peacock spot. Susceptible to damage from the olive fly.

OIL CONTENT:16-18% by weight. Although the percentage of oil is not high its  quality is excellent.

 HARVEST TIME: In Italy, this variety is harvested early, from September 20th to October 15th

COMMENTS: This cultivar is prized and is used and appreciated all around the world.

BELLA di CERIGNOLA

Area of origin: PUGLIA

TREE: A variety from Puglia of medium vigor with a contained but rather dense crown. It has a spread out shape with a tendency towards a weeping habit. The leaves are of medium size, elliptical, narrow and tapered at the ends with limited surface area of dark green color on the upper side.

FRUIT: For the table it has a notable weight (8-12 grams), its shape is ellipsoidal, asymmetrical with a sub-conical top and flattened base. It is used mostly for preserving green table olives. The olives matures early (October). The flesh is of dense consistency representing about 75% of the fruit. It is also possible to get a quantity of good oil (16-19%).

AGRONOMY: Medium high production, it is self-sterile with ovarian abortion that can reach almost 60%. Pollinators: Maurino, Coratina, Pendolino, Frantoio, Leccino, Olivastra. This tree is moderately resistant to the most common diseases of the olive.

COMMENTS: It requires fertile land and good cultural practices. It responds well to irrigation and is predominately prized for the size and beauty of its fruit.

BOSANA

SYNONYMS: Algherese, Aligaresa, Bosano, Basarca, Bosinca, Olia de Ozzo, Olia terza, Olieddu, Oliva bianca, Palma, Sassarese, Sivigliana da olio, ondo di Sassari, Tonda di Sasserese

ORIGIN: Sardegna

USE:  Oil

TREE: Of medium vigor but with a high degree of site adaptability. The crown spreads to the exterior. It has small branches, long and drooping with tops that grow upwards in a characteristic fashion. The leaf is large, dark green in color, and leathery in texture.

FRUIT: Of medium small size (2-2.5 grams), elliptical in shape, asymmetrical, with a round sub-conical top. Maturation is on the late side (November-December) and very spread out with ripening from bottom to top. At harvest the fruit is black violet in color and gives 17-18% in oil.

AGRONOMY: A cultivar of alternate production that is partially self-incompatible with a small percentage of aborted flowers (25%). Pollinators include Pizz’e Carroga, Olio Niedda and Tonda di Cagliari. The tree has good resistance to cold. This variety is not noted for any particular sensitivity to the more common olive pests.

COMMENTS: A very rustic variety that adapts well to the different climates and conditions of Sardegna.

CANINO

SYNONYMS: Caninese, Montignoso, Oliva canina, Olivastro canino, Olivella

ORIGIN: Latium and Umbria

USE:  Oil / Pollinator

TREE: Very wide spread in the regions of Latium and Umbria, a tree of great size and of a tall upright shape with a compact crown. The leaves are medium-large size, narrow and gray green in color.

FRUIT: A typical oil variety. It has small fruit (1-2 grams), spherical in shape. At harvest, the olives are never all black because the maturation is late (December) but spread out. The yield is high and alternate. The oil yield is moderate (15-16%) but the quality of the product is good.

AGRONOMY: Self sterile with a low ovarian abortion rate (15-20%). This variety is endowed with good productivity even in different climatic environments. Pollinators: Razzo, Maurino, Moriaolo, Olivone, Frantoio, Pendolino, Leccino. Especially resistant to olive knot, the cold, to the olive fly and to the wind.

COMMENTS: It has a late maturation and is usually the last variety to be harvested in the various areas of cultivation. It adapts well to coastal zones as well as to elevations up to 1,650 feet.

CARBONCELLA

SYNONYMS: Oliva Tonda, Carbonello, Carboncina, Carbogna, Ritornella

ORIGIN:  Latium

USE:  Oil

TREE: Typical oil cultivar of central Italy. This tree has a good growth rate with markedly upward habit. It is characterized by long flexible branches that bend under the weight of the drupes. The leaves are small and dark green in color.

FRUIT: The fruit is of small size (2 grams), slightly ellipsoidal, symmetrical and dark violet in color. When mature this variety is noted for the high return of oil (21-25%) and for the quality of its oil which is highly appreciated in Sabina. The fruit matures early (October-November) and all at once.

AGRONOMY: Auto-incompatible and of constant high production. Pollinators: Lea, Ascolana Tenera, Sargano. Good resistance to cold, to rot, to the prays olive fly and to olive knot.

COMMENTS: Often confused with the Tuscan variety Moraiolo. This is a rustic variety that adapts well to dry limestone soils with good exposures.

CASALIVA

 SYNONYMS: Bagoler, Calma, Casali, Casalin, Casalivo, Drizer, Drezzeri, Drissar, Drizar, Olivo casalino, Olivo gentile, Zentil

ORIGIN: Lombardia,Veneto, Trentino

USE:  Oil

TREE: This is an olive of great vigor and constant productivity. It has a pendulous shape called "gentile" with a globular crown made of long slender branches. The leaves are elliptical, lanceolate and of a dark green color.

FRUIT: An oil variety with symmetrical ovoid fruits that at harvest are blue violet, almost black. The fruits are of medium weight (1.8-2 grams) and have a very high yield in oil (22-25%); ripening is late and in stages but the oil that you obtain is very fine, light and aromatic.

AGRONOMY: Self pollinating but it is advantageous to use cross pollinators. High, constant production. Pollinators: Less, Trepp, Pendolino, Rossanello, Grignan and Negrin.

COMMENTS: This variety is very prized in the northern regions of Italy for good quality oil. Correct cultural practices are required for good production.

CORATINA

SYNONYMS: Cima di Corato, Coratese, La Valente, Olivo a confetti, Olivo a grappoli, Olivo a racemi, Olivo a racimolo, Olivo a raciuoppe, Racema, Racemo di Corato, Racemo, Racioppa, Racioppa di Corato

ORIGIN: Puglia

USE:  Oil

TREE: A plant of medium size and moderately pendulant shape. The expansive crown tends towards a globular shape and has long flexible branches. The leaf is deep green in color, elliptical in shape and ends in a slightly mucronate shape.

FRUIT: A typical plant of Puglia with large drupes (5-6 grams) that are elongated ovals and slightly asymmetrical in shape. Ripening is mid to late season (November-December). The fruit which is harvested when the tips are black gives a high yield in oil at the mill (21-26%) that is very fruity in flavor.

AGRONOMY: This variety is self-sterile, of high constant production with a low percentage of aborted ovaries. Pollinators: Frantoio, Leccino, Moraiolo. It has a good resistance to drought, cold and in general to all parasites of the olive tree.

COMMENTS: This variety is characterized by early production and by its very good adaptability to different soils and climates.

FRANGIVENTO

SYNONYMS: CIPRESSINO

ORIGIN: PUGLIA

USE:   OIL / POLLINATOR

TREE: A plant of notably vigorous vegetation, rapid upward growth with a typical rising habit and gathered crown. The leaves are lanceolate, medium-small, flat surfaced and dark gray green.

FRUIT: This olive is of a rounded oval shape, at maturity it weighs 2-5 grams and is used for producing an oil yielding 15-17% that is fine and light. Maturation is spread out but is complete between the middle of November and the middle of December.

AGRONOMY: Frangivento is a self-sterile variety of excellent and constant fruiting with a notable percentage of aborted ovaries (50-60%). Pollinators: Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolino. Excellent resistance to salty winds, good resistance to climatic extremes and parasites.

COMMENTS: This tree has a tendency to grow upwards in the sense of forming a column with branches and shoots that grow straight up. This characteristic, combined with a marked resistance to salty winds, has made this variety one used primarily for windbreaks.

FRANTOIO

SYNONYMS: Bresa fina, Comune, Correggiolo, Crognolo, Frantoiano, Gentile, Infrantoio, Laurino, Nostrato, Oliva lunga, Pendaglio, Pignatello, Raggio, Raggiolo, Rajo, Razza, Razzo, Solciaro, Stringona

ORIGIN: Tuscany and central Italy

USE:  Oil

TREE: An oil variety that is particularly wide spread and appreciated not only in Tuscany and the central zones of Italy, but throughout the world. The plant is of medium vigor, semi-drooping with an open structure and fruiting branches which are long, slender and flexible. The leaves are elliptical, lanceolate, of medium size and glossy dark green.

FRUIT: The drupe is small to medium in size (between 1.5 and 2.5 grams), ovoid in form with visible  whitish markings. Maturation is late and gradual. When mature the fruit is purple-black, but at the preferred picking time green and purple. It is rich in oil (between 17 and 22%) which is very fruity, notably aromatic and of high quality.

AGRONOMY: The tree is self-fertile with high, constant productivity. It is extremely early in setting fruit and has an ovarian abortion rate which rarely exceeds 10%, sometimes being even as low as 1%.

COMMENTS: While the self-fertile character of the tree guarantees a high and constant fruit production, the presence of a pollinator further increases it. This peculiar productive characteristic, as well as the quality of its oil makes Frantoio a highly valuable and irreplaceable variety.

GRIGNAN

SYNONYMS: Bersan, Gargna’, Gargnano, Gargnan, Negrar

ORIGIN: Veneto, Lombardia

USE:  Oil

TREE: A variety of Northern Italy with medium growth and upward habit. The leaves are elliptical, medium to small, and gray green in color.

FRUIT: The oil content is low (14-15%). The fruit is medium small in weight (1.5-2 grams), is of a irregular oval shape and often in clusters of 3-5 drupes. Maturity is simultaneous and harvest occurs when the drupes are black-violet. The oil is considered to be of good quality.

AGRONOMY: This tree is a medium, constant producer. Pollinators: Leccino, Casaliva, Trepp. It has a marked resistance to drought. And good resistance to olive knot and cold.

COMMENTS: This cultivar is an early producer. It must be adequately pruned every year to allow light to penetrate the crown which is naturally very dense.

ITRANA

SYNONYMS: Aitana, Aitanella, Aitanesca, Attanesca, Auliva a acqua, Cicerone, Esperiana, Gaetana, Gitana, Iatanella, Itana, Oliva di Esperia, Oliva di Gaeta, Oliva grossa, Olivacore, Raitana, Reitana, Strano, Tanella, Trana, Velletrana

ORIGIN: Lazio

USE:  Table / Oil

TREE: A very vigorous plant of large size and a tendency toward upward growth. The crown is compact, dense and is covered with medium-large leaves that are elliptical lanceolate in shape.

FRUIT: This cultivar used for both table and oil. The fruit are roundish, asymmetrical and of medium to large size (3-5 grams). At harvest the drupes are dark wine color, freckled with a whitish dusting. The oil is of good quality (average yield is 20%) pleasing in taste and very prized. The cured olives are very much in demand. Maturation is late (November, December-January).

AGRONOMY: Self sterile, very productive, with good resistance to the cold and to the most common olive  pests. Its best pollinators are Leccino, Pendolino and Olivastro.

COMMENTS: A very rustic variety, good for both table and oil and of good adaptability to many of Italy’s olive producing regions.

LECCINO

SYNONYMS: Leccio, Premice, Silvestrone

ORIGIN: Tuscany and Umbria

USE:  Oil

TREE: A widely diffused oil variety due to high adaptability. It has vigorous growth with an open semi-pendulous habit. The crown is expansive with many small branches which are curved at the tip. The leaves are of medium size, elliptical-lanceolate in shape and greenish-gray in color. The underside has a yellowish hue.

FRUIT: The drupe is of medium size (2 to 2.5 grams), ellipsoidal and slightly asymmetrical in shape with a rounded tip and flattened base. The maturation is early and simultaneous. The fruit is purple-black although purple green at the optimal picking time. It has a variable oil content of between 16 and 21%. The oil is good, mildly fruity and delicate.

AGRONOMY: The variety is self-sterile. Its pollinators are: Pendolino, Maurino, Frantoio, Piagente, Razzo and Maraiolo. It has good resistance to winds, fog, olive knot, fungus and peacock spot.

COMMENTS: This is a very rustic variety, widely planted throughout the world. The tree is quick to produce and ia adaptable to adverse climatic conditions and parasites. More recently it has been used for the production of table olives, semi-ripe or black.

MAURINO

SYNONYMS: Razzola, Maurino Luccesse

ORIGIN:  Tuscany

USE:  Oil

TREE: A typical Tuscan oil variety. It is of medium size and vigor with a pendulous habit, while the fruiting branches are delicate with rising tips. The leaves are lanceolate, of medium size and are grayish-green in color.

FRUIT: The fruit is medium in size (3-5 grams), ellipsoidal and slightly asymmetrical in shape and when fully mature is purple-black in color. Fruit maturation is considered to be relatively early and the oil, which is highly regarded, is between 14 and 20%, delicate and not overly fruity.

AGRONOMY: The cultivar is self-sterile, needing a pollinator which can be Pendolino, Leccino, Frantoio or Moraiolo. It has a low ovarian abortion rate, generally under 19%. Fruiting is good, although slightly alternate, and it has a resistance to peacock spot, cold, olive knot and fog.

COMMENTS: This is an excellent pollinator for Moraiolo and Pendolino and can be cultivated in cold, humid zones which are subject to fog. It is widely appreciated for its ability to produce significant amount of fertile pollen and for its compatibility with a wide range of other olive cultivars.

MORAIOLO

SYNONYMS: Anerina, Assisano, Bucino, Carboncella, Cimignolo, Corniolo, Fosco, Migno, Morella, Morellino, Morello, Morichiello, Morina, Morinello, Muragliola, Neraiolo, Nerella, Nerina, Neriolo, Nostrale, Ogliolo, Oliva nera, Oliva tonda, Oriolo, Petrosello, Ruzzolino, Tondello, Tondolina, Tondorina

ORIGIN:  Central Italy and Tuscany

USE:   Oil

TREE: Of medium-low vigor with branches having a rising, spreading habit. The crown is gathered and has leaves which are elliptical-lanceolate in shape, of medium size and dark gray-green in color.

FRUIT: The fruit is small (1.5 to 2 grams), rounded and spheroid in shape. When mature, it is purple-black in color, but at the correct picking time it is purple-green. It has a good oil content, on average between 17 and 20%, but can often be much higher. Fruit maturation is generally premature.

AGRONOMY: This variety has a relatively high and constant fruit production. It is self-sterile and requires specific pollinators, which are Pendolino, Lazzero, Razziao and Maurino. It resists salty winds.

COMMENTS: Moraiolo is considered a rustic variety, ideal for planting in hilly zones subject to winds. For that reason it is very diffuse in the major olive growing regions of central Italy. Its oil is highly regarded, generally fruity with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

NOCCELLARA del BELICE

SYNONYMS: Aliva da salari, Aliva di Castelvetrano, Aliva tonda, Aliva tunna, Aneba, Anerba, Bianculidda, Giarraffa, Mazara, Neba, Nebba, Nerba, Niciddalora, Nocciolara, Nocellaia, Nocellara di Castelvetrano, Nociara, Nociddara, Nocillara, Nuciddara, Oliva da salari, Oliva di Castelvetrano, Oliva di Mazara, Oliva tonda, Oliva tunna, Trapanese

ORIGIN:  Sicily

USE:  Table / Oil

TREE: A Sicilian dual use variety characterized by the shape of its branches and by the expansive crown of modest growth. The leaves are lanceolate, large and dark green in color.

FRUIT: Is of elevated weight (5-7 grams) with a large base and rounded top. The flesh, which is very consistent in texture and prized for brining, represents 85-88 % of the fruit. It contains oil of the best quality, light and perfumed. The maturation is late but if the fruit is for canning, the harvest is over before winter.

AGRONOMY: The plant is of medium and consistent productivity. Self-sterile its pollinators include: Giarraffa and Pidicuddara. It is distinguished for its good resistance to the common parasites of the olive.

COMMENTS: It prefers a deep moist soil. It owes its wide spread planting to the bounty of its production.

OGLIAROLA BARESE

SYNONYMS: Aliva baresana, Ascolana, Baresana, Bitontina, Castellaneta, Cima di Bitonto, Marinese della Capitanata, Marinese di Lavello, Nostrale di Venosa, Nostrale bitontina, Ogliarola di Bitonto, Ogliarola di Molfetta, Ogliarola di Venosa, Oliva ascolana, Olivo baresano, Olivo d'Ascoli, Olivo nostrale, Olivo paesano, Paesana di Bitonto

ORIGIN:  Puglia

USE:  Oil

TREE: A oil use variety from Puglia, characterized by the shape of its branches and by the expansive crown of modest growth.

FRUIT: The fruit is small ( grams)

PENDOLINO

SYNONYMS: MAURINO FIORETINO, PIANGENTE

ORIGIN:  CENTRAL ITALY, TUSCANY

USE:  OIL / POLLINATOR

TREE: This is a slow growing cultivar of limited development with a very obvious weeping habit. The crown is dense and abundant with leaves of medium size which are lanceolate, thin, long and rather dark green-gray in color.

FRUIT: Its form is ellipsoidal, asymmetrical with a rounded tip and weighs between 1.2-2 grams. It generally matures simultaneously, although the time for maturation is intermediate in relation to the other Tuscan cultivars. The drupe, which is black in color with a pruinose surface, has an oil content of between 22 and 23%. The oil has a delicate flavor and is pleasant.

AGRONOMY: Due to its high and constant pollen production, this oil variety is considered an ideal pollinator for most Tuscan oil cultivars. It is self-sterile and prefers Maurino and Leccino as pollinators. It has a mild resistance to cold. Because of its long, flexible branches, it is well-suited to manual harvesting.

COMMENTS: It is a cultivar widely appreciated by growers for its high fruit production and plays a crucial role as an excellent pollinator, both for table and oil cultivars.

ROSCIOLA

SYNONYMS: Caprigna, Caprigne, Caprino, Ogliarola, Procanica, Ragiola, Rasciola, Razzetta, Ricciuta, Risciola, Rossa, Rossaia, Rossastro, Rossellino, Rossolino, Rossolo, Rusciola, Tordino

ORIGIN:  Lazio, Abruzzo, Marche e Umbria

USE:   Oil

TREE: An oil variety from Central Italy,

SANTA CATERINA

SYNONYMS: OLIVA di S.BIAGO, OLIVA LUCCHESE

ORIGIN: TUSCANY

USE:  TABLE

TREE: A plant of notable growth, very vigorous with a globular, expansive crown. The leaves are elliptical-lanceolate, regular in shape, rather short and light green in color.

FRUIT: Very large (7-9 grams), ellipsoidal, asymmetrical with a rounded tip and sub-conical base. Ripening is early, harvest generally takes place in September when the olives are still of a beautiful intense green color.

AGRONOMY: A valuable table variety that has a very high ovarian abortion rate of 60-70%. A good, regular producer, excellent resistance to the cold and good resistance to peacock spot.

COMMENTS: An excellent table variety that is widely planted both within and outside the Mediterranean basin.

TAGGIASCA

SYNONYMS: Lavaginina

 ORIGIN: Liguria

USE: Oil

TREE: Of medium vigor with a pendulant open shape. The crown is very branched, spread out and well supplied with small, flexible fruiting branches at well spaced nodes. The leaves are medium to large, elliptical and elongated and are a shiny dark green color on the upper side.

FRUIT: Cylindrical, elongated, slightly fatter at the bottom and of medium weight (3-3.5 grams). The fruit matures middle to late season (November, December). The fruit gives a relatively high yield in oil at the mill (23-26%) that is prized for its organoleptic characteristics.

AGRONOMY: The principal cultivar of Liguria, self pollinating with a consistent and high production: flowers with aborted ovaries are at a minimum. It has a good resistance to all problems of pests and diseases.

COMMENTS: This variety is relatively recent origin but is very prized for its production and its yield in oil.