Tonio, who has harvested olives on his family’s land every year since he was five, led us through an olive oil tasting (after first serenading us, including his musical signature – a verse of just whistling.)
We learned that 75% of olive oil, especially that sold in supermarkets, is fraudulent, and that most of the words on the label – first press, EXTRA virgin, etc. – are meaningless.
He posed the question: why is wine presented with great fanfare and ritual, but olive oil as an afterthought? Having his outstanding Creanza family olive oil at every meal has made me a convert to the good stuff.
Gigi's Italia 