National Oil Tourism Competition: the winners

Grand finale for the second edition of the National Competition Tourism Oil, the initiative promoted by the National Association of Oil City with the support of Bene Assicurazioni, the collaboration of UNAPROL-Coldiretti, the Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Rome Agro Camera and the patronage of Mipaaf and the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

The awards ceremony that took place today in Rome at the Temple of Hadrian's Hall of the Chamber of Commerce conducted by Nicola Prudente (Tinto) of Rai Radio 2 and broadcast through the social channels of the National Association of Oil Cities, has held with bated breath the 30 finalists selected from 179 experiences of oil tourism in the race, decreeing the overall winners in the 6 categories provided and assigning 3 special mentions.

The jury of experts chaired by Prof. Roberta Garibaldi has chosen the experiences that have met the high standards of quality introduced this year, showing creativity and innovation. All the awarded experiences are now proposals of excellence of the Cities of Oil. In the most crowded category - with more than 50% of proposals in the race - the category "Frantoi/Aziende olivicole" - Umbria triumphed with the Azienda Agricola Passo della Palomba of Todi (PG) with the experience "Slow Food Fundamental Knowledge of Extra Virgin Olive Oil" recommended for those who love to know what is behind the extra virgin olive oil: a path of knowledge of the history, properties and characteristics, classifications and labels with specific tasting sessions.

In the category "Oleoteche" Tuscany triumphs with "Extra Gallery Cocktail Experience" of Frantoio Pruneti of Greve in Chianti (FI), the signature mix - oil - logy of Pruneti, reserved to the fans of the aperitif: an unusual shot glass tasting of the three Pruneti Monocultivars Leccino, Moraiolo and Frantoio in the Olive Oil Spritz, the Blooily Mary, Oliveto and many others, accompanied by appetizers and sottoli from Pruneti's collection of gourmet specialties made with oil.

The MOOM Museum of Olive Oil in Matera with the experience "Oil in the Sassi of Matera: technologies, quality and daily life in an underground oil mill" won first prize in the category "Museums of Oil". Here, the visit begins with a description of the neighborhood, the recovery works of the factory and the main characteristics of an underground oil mill and merges with the story of the life of the oil mill workers and the story of Peppino Mitarotonda (an artist from Matera) and the ceramics created exclusively for the museum that depict the different phases of oil production.

Triumphing in the category "Restaurants/Osterias" were the Al 588 Restaurant in Bagno a Ripoli (FI) with the experience "Al 588 Il Ristorante dell'Olio", a tasting path that from appetizer to dessert places excellence oil as the main element, and the Il Frantoio Restaurant in Assisi (PG) with "L'olio e le sue consistenze": a declination of extra virgin olive oil that, thanks to the technique of Chef Cantoni, plays to take on new forms and new consistencies; a cooking workshop on oil, on its use, on its becoming an "ingredient" and not a simple condiment. Inside the restaurant it is possible to visit a synergistic garden with spontaneous herbs and edible flowers used to create together with extra virgin olive oil healthy condiments.

In the category "Farmhouses/Historical Residences/B&B/Hotels" the winner is Emilia Romagna with Palazzo di Varignana and the experience: "Olivum Experience: a sensorial journey dedicated to the unique oil of Palazzo di Varignana" which includes a traditional VARSANA SPA journey including the following circuit 

of sensory baths and showers, bio-sauna, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, ice waterfall, sound bath, Kneipp path, swimming pool with jets and water blade, hydromassage sessions, relaxation area and herbal tea room and EVO oil tasting in a charming location for two people with expert sommeliers. Also included is dinner for two with a tasting of their Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Olive Oil Treatment, the ritual in which oil is brushed all over the body with slow, relaxing movements, followed by a massage with olive oil moisturizing emulsion.

Equal merit in the category "Tour operators/Travel agencies" are the Association of Oil Road DOP Umbria of Trevi (PG) with the experience "Frantoi Aperti in Umbria", which proposes five weekends in the period of the harvest and pressing of the olives characterized not only by traditional events in the squares and initiatives of tasting the new oil in the places of production, but by nature trails, performing and musical activities, use of new languages, in which the involvement of people is essential, and the Soc. Serapia of Ostuni (BR) with the experience "Ciclotrekking among the green patriarchs of Puglia", a ciclotrekking in the heart of the plain "olivetata" of Puglia, where the great green patriarchs have made the history of a people dedicated to the land and the sea.

The jury also awarded 3 special prizes to the Oil Bar Caffè del Mercato of Livorno (LI) for the experience "Street Olive Oil School & Frantoiani Coraggiosi" during which Alessandro Camici makes school of the oil inside the market "Street Olive Oil School" telling that the selected producers are young "Frantoiani Coraggiosi", lovers and custodians of their Land, with a passion for olive cultivation; Sa Mola di Escolca (SU) for the "Sa Mola Glamping Experience" which includes a visit to the company, a walk among the ancient olive trees and tasting of the different oils produced, in addition to a preparatory course of tasting of extra virgin olive oil, you can make a pleasant experience glamping sleeping among the olive trees in a tent or a vintage caravan. A mention was also given to Agriturismo Essentia Dimora Rurale in Larino (CB) with the experience "Tour of the oil: between e-bikes, tastings and stories". The full path provides for the reception in the themed rooms of the farm, and the one dedicated to the olive grove of grandfather Salvatore then continue with e-bike rides through the olive groves to discover the most common variety in the area and tasting dinners of products of the house combinations and tastings of local oils and stories of the theme.

"The second edition of the Tourism Competition of Oil is even richer experiences related to EVO oil and all to live - said Michele Sonnessa, President of the Oil City - thanks to Bene Assicurazioni who has always believed in this project and congratulations to the winners but also to the many participants. From this year to better qualify the experiences of oil tourism we have introduced new standards and then thanks to the contribution of UNAPROL we will create a free training course for companies that participate in the competition".

"Expressing a preference is always difficult. This is why I thank the experts on the jury for the generosity and competence with which they evaluated the experiences in the competition. We have experienced the passion of those who believe in oil tourism and are committed daily to build best practices that become the heritage of all - said Prof. Roberta Garibaldi, President of the Jury - oleotourism represents the future of wine and food tourism. We have a duty to reward those who want to be there, grow and count, and therefore invest more in training".

Associazione nazionale Città dell'Olio