Meet Francesca: our new Sicilian olive oil producer

Born between the mountains and sea, this extra virgin olive oil is telling the story of rural Sicilian identity. 

We were always going to have an olive oil from Sicily.

Sicily and the southern part of Italy has the bulk of the Italy's olive cultivars, and the diversity of flavours across the island is striking.

You also have the iconic Nocellara olives—those big, buttery olives give off real "cool natural wine bar" vibes.

But even in one of the biggest olive oil regions in the world, finding the right partner wasn't straight-forward.

Sicily is a whole other place, with complicated regional, social, and familiar lines.

To put it straight: finding a partner we could trust was a big deal.

Meet Francesca.

Her last name literally means "olive", and her family's ties are deep in this region.

After returning back to the island and taking over when her father had a stroke, Francesca has turned her family business into one centred on quality and sustainability. And her colourful land, filled with centuries-old olive trees, flowering lemon groves, and the iconic prickly pears is something she's work hard to preserve.

With a landscape of olives, citrus, and seasonal vegetables on their land, Francesca explains: "We grew up with our plants and we are aging with them."

She's also fought her fair share of fires, sitting in one of the hottest places in Europe.

But Francesca is tenacious. 

We sourced her oil exclusively for our Club last year and, after incredible feedback, we knew we had to go back for more.  

Sadly, it wasn't so simple. This year, extreme drought massively affected Francesca's harvest. In fact, her yield was so small, it wouldn't have covered our Club. But still, we desperately wanted to source from her again while supporting her in a difficult year. So, we worked together to bottle a delicious but small batch from her Cerasuola trees.

Discovering Syracuse.

This part of Sicily kept drawing us in.

It sits on the Eastern side of the island, just down from Catania.

We first came across all its magic on a road trip around the island when we stayed over for a couple of nights Palazzolo Acreide (might just be one of the most charming towns in Italy) and the beautiful Baroque city of Noto.

In fact, we were so in love the countryside that we didn't even visit the city of Syracuse on that visit.

As a city, Syrcuse has its own rich history, with artistic eye-fulls like the outstanding Cathedral in Ortigia, the Fountain of Arethusa (the papyrus fountain), the ancient Greek Theatre, and the beautiful Maniace Castle.

But just a few minutes down the road in Solarino, what we encountered was more that of a"fairy tale" (which also happens to be the name Francesca has given to her own brand).

Trailing bougainvillea and bright lemon fruits dot the landscape, contrasting with the iconic prickly pair cactus structures and olive trees both young and old.

“We are proud to live in a friendly land full of colours and culture, and that is what our oil is about."

How to use this olive oil

As always, the best way to understand an oil is to get to know it. Put it in a little cup, swirl it around, and have a smell and a sip. (See more on how you should properly taste EVOOs.)

Let the aromas you smell guide you as to what to make with this oil.

This oil sits in our “every day” range of extra virgins—waiting to be poured over a range of dishes (though, we'd point out it does sit on more of the savoury end unless you're using it in rich desserts).

What the oil tastes like

This extra virgin olive oil is 100% Cerasuola cultivar. 

You'll find aromas of green bell pepper and chicory, followed by softer notes of creamy artichoke and red apple. There’s also herbal notes too, like wild spearmint.

On the palate has a medium bitterness that’s short, with a chicory and nutty note. The finish is like a chile on your throat, with a lingering spice.

How to pair this EVOO...

Whether drizzled over lemon pasta, rocket salads, or paired with anchovies and warm bread—this oil brings a fresh, classically Sicilian feel to the table.

The ideal accompaniment to aperitivo, summer dinner party, or the centrepiece for your summer tablescape.