From the sea to the hills, Riviera Ligure olive oil begins its cycle once again. Riviera dei Fiori, Riviera del Ponente Savonese and Riviera di Levante. It’s back up the stone roads, over the terracing walls. Everywhere, the olive harvest has begun. And the quantity is good. The quality: excellent. Satisfaction is there, but still plenty of work ahead and this year’s harvest will go down in history.
We went to see the olives and the people of DOP Riviera Ligure. Here, on a farm above the coast, olives ready to be pressed. Gentle slopes, low dry-stone walls, between mule tracks still in stone. Diligent hands spread out nets, move through the trees, remove the leaves from the precious fruit in the crates. The sun peeps through the trees creating iridescent effects. The sea is below, calm. All is well. No talking, just working.
We move up into the hinterland of Imperia. Into the groves of the Riviera Ligure, where special studies are made of olive farm management. In some areas of the countryside, the olives are still waiting. Their time has nearly come. They have grown: it can be seen from week to week. Their colour is changing. The hills striped with olive groves provide the perfect backdrop. Villages dot that unique, characteristic landscape. We climb upwards, almost running, from one terrace to another, again amidst the stones. Steep slopes. Little cascades of olives in your hands seek the sun of the Riviera Ligure. Even here, we are ready.
