Olive oils from Brda on pedestal

Olive trees in Brda represent a silver tie between grapevines and cherry trees

The oil growers from Brda are especially proud of their two autochthonous species -“black earth” (črnica) and “small cattle” (drobnica). Foto: Mojca Dumančič

At the recently held international competition Maslina 2016 in Split, where more than 450 samples of olive oil from the entire Mediterranean area were graded, olive oil manufacturers from Brda won 16 gold, 4 silver, and two bronze medals.

The oil growers from Brda are especially proud of their two autochthonous species -"black earth" (črnica) and "small cattle" (drobnica). This year Jadran Jakončič won the title of vice champion for his autochthonous »črnica« from Brda. At that occasion he said: »On three locations in Brda I grow 400 olive trees, one fifth of them are of autochthonous species. "Črnica" prevails, but "drobnica" is interesting because it is suited to very high altitude. I grow it in my olive grove in Vrhovlje-Krasno at 420 metres above sea level."

Goriška brda are the northernmost location of olive groves in the Mediterranean. Actually, it is the upper limit, the highest ground where olive trees still grow on the territory between the sea and the mountain tops of the Alps. Olive grower Boris Marinič from Ceglo who won four gold medals at Maslina, and made it to the "Top 10", is convinced: "Our northern positions force an olive tree into constant struggle for survivals, and most certainly it gives its best. On the other hand, it is caressed by the warm sea breeze full of iodine, while the cold northern wind descends from the top. The air of different temperatures mixes, and creates the best possible climate for the best possible olive oils. It's a proven fact!

Boutique quality
In Goriška brda olive trees are like a sliver tie between grapevines and cherry trees, between vineyards and orchards. There are no large olive plantations, but smaller olive tree groves of some tens of olive trees, planted among grapevines, cherry trees, or on edges of terraced hills. Last year 21 tons of olive oil was pressed by the olive growers in Brda, which is a 70% harvest. In Brda they practically don't know olive oil of lesser categories, only extra virgin olive oil obtained by cold pressing of olives at 27 degrees Celsius; the oil is never subjected to any chemical or thermal treatment, and contains no additives. The quality is guaranteed not only by the climate profiting from the influence of both North and South, but exclusively manual harvesting of olives, and extremely short waiting time before processing.

Mojca Dumančič (TV Slovenija), Translated by G. K.