More than 50 years ago we decided to extract from the ancient Simona cultivar what the elders of the area define as “ a fine oil ”.
With a medium intensity bitter and spicy flavour, Simone oil is therefore a monocultivar oil (produced, therefore, from a single variety of olive trees).
In Italy, there are approximately 550 different types of extra virgin olive oil. Olive quality, soil, cultivation, adverse weather conditions, and pressing methods all influence the final flavor and aroma of the oil. For this reason, each monocultivar has well-defined and unique organoleptic properties.
Precisely because of these factors, even the same single-variety oil can vary slightly each year from the previous one, making each bottle even more unique and special. Born and bred exclusively on the hills of Conversano—our place of origin— the Simona cultivar is a prized and exclusive variety. For every 100 kg of pressed olives, only 8-9 kg of oil can be obtained. Indeed, it is somewhat stingy in yield due to the rather unbalanced ratio of pulp to stone.
The low yield, however, doesn't discourage us from preserving it. On the contrary, we grow Simona olives with the knowledge that we have a unique variety on our hands.
Furthermore, its trees are known to be immune to attack by the olive fly, an aspect that once again confirms its uniqueness.
Below you will discover the characteristics of Simone oil, including color, flavor, and nutritional values.
Organoleptic properties and nutritional values of Simone oil
Our bottles – both the classic and luxury versions – hide and protect the green from the golden hues of Simone oil.
But the beauty of its color and its packaging is only one of its characteristics:
- it has a medium fruity aroma , characterised by herbaceous hints ;
- its taste is bitter and spicy of medium intensity but balanced ;
- tasting it, you will perceive notes of leaves, green olives (i.e. ripening), turnip tops, almond, artichoke and vegetables ;
You'll see how a drizzle of Simone olive oil on soups, vegetables, meat, and fish will moderately enhance their flavors, without overpowering them.
In the case of specific diets, it will be useful to know that 100 ml contains 91 g of fat, of which 18 g are saturated fatty acids, for a total of 812 kcal.
However, 100 grams of olive oil also contain significant quantities of monounsaturated fatty acids .
One of these is undoubtedly oleic acid, a member of the omega-9 family. It is a precious nutrient that can be found in extra virgin olive oil in percentages ranging from 59 to 80%. Simone oil's percentage is 75%.
Oleic acid is known for its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system as
- maintains normal blood cholesterol levels (especially “bad” cholesterol levels);
- reduces blood pressure values .
Furthermore, oils rich in this acid – such as extra virgin olive oil – have a very high smoke point, making them ideal for frying.
Luxurious packaging for a fine olive oil
The first single-variety oil we decided to produce was – precisely – Simone oil .
The plum-colored label decorating its dark glass bottle is no accident: recalling the color of Simona's olive paste, it gives its use a touch of class.
However, since it is our flagship, we decided to dedicate a second bottle to it that would enhance its quality and uniqueness.
Simone Luxury olive oil, in fact, stands out in its opaque magenta glass bottle among the refined labels of the Peranzana , Picholine , Coratina and Olivastro monovarietal oils of our Monocultivar Collection .
You will find further interesting information on the oils just mentioned in the news Monovarietal oil, characteristics and cultivars compared .
