Oliveto is the Italian name for an olive grove.
In November 2024 we started a new adventure and bought 700 olive trees, our Oliveto, in Picinisco.
Our single estate extra virgin olive oil will be available, nature permitting, from November 2025.
The olive varieties are a mix of Itrana, Marina, Maraiolo and Leccina. The trees are between 50 and 150 years old.
The Oliveto is in our ancestral village of Picinisco. Picinisco is a commune in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region of Lazio. Located 120 kilometres from Rome. It is included in the Valle di Comino and National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise.
The Oliveto is approximately 2300 ft above sea level.
The land was held in the same family from the 1850’s and has been left untended for a few years. Victor and with local expert help is sharing the love and bringing the trees back to full health so that we can benefit here in Scotland.
January 2025 job was to prune over 300 trees. This was essential to re-establish their health. Mulching will be taking place in February. Vital to nurture the soil around the trees once all the wild, over grown grass has been cut back.
The remaining trees will be lightly pruned around their centres to allow light into the trees.
Having nurtured our Kitchen Garden in Lasswade, Midlothian in Scotland this is the next part of Victor’s love of nature, and love of sourcing the very best produce for our lovely customers.
In addition to the Oliveto there is half an acre of fruit trees. Everything from plums, apples, figs, kaki, elderflowers in abundance. We’ll be harvesting and drying as much as we can to add to our menus in our lovely venues in Edinburgh. Plus very well established walnut and hazelnut trees.
The land was previously registered as organic and we will be re certifying over the coming weeks.
Victor's love of bees will also be serving us well and we hope to house 40 of my brother's bee hives within the grounds..
We will be welcoming Oliveto tours once the land has been established and looking at it’s best.
You are all welcome to visit the village though. The Oliveto is less than 500 metres from where my brother has been making a difference to the local community for over 15 years. You might have watched the Chanel 4 series “Help We Bought a Village” Fun watching if you haven’t seen it. You can also stay in their boutique hotel or Albergo Diffuso. https://iciacca.com/
