The family of consortium members expands in Ponente and in Levante. Our survey begins with three farms in the province of Imperia. First is Gianni Bianchi and Franca Devia’s “Terra Leggiadra”, based in Lucinasco, an outstanding olive growing area in the Impero valley, the hinterland of Imperia Oneglia. The face of Terra Leggiadra is embodied in the engaging smile of Gianni Bianchi, who states: “our project springs from our enthusiasm and passion for the land, with 3 and a half hectares of olive groves and the aim of producing high quality oil and other outstanding specialities from Riviera Ligure. We are committed to the protection of the area and future generations. It’s a responsibility”. Firmly rooted in the area, he manages estates such as Le Caselle, Campettu and Cianelli, renowned for centuries for their exposure and production. With houses which were once a shelters for shepherds, who later fertilised and maintained the soil for the olive groves. Dedication which can be read in the very name of the farm, borrowed from Cardelli’s poem entitled “Liguria”: Liguria is a graceful land./The burning rock, the polished clay/quicken with the wine leaves in the sun./The olive tree is a giant.
Next to Lucinasco is Paolo Pellegrino’s olive mill. A careful eye, expert gestures, constant and solid labour. The Pellegrinos are based in Ville San Sebastiano, in the municipality of Borgomaro. Il Maro, the upper part of the Impero valley, is marked by a passion for olives. And it all started with Domenico Pellegrino. He was a builder, heir to a longstanding local tradition. Just think of how stones are used in Liguria: thousands of kilometres of dry stone walls, with no cement. Domenico purchased olive groves in the second half of the nineteenth century and divided them up among his six children. One of these was Paolo, founder of the farm as well as a great olive milling enthusiast. His passion became a job when he bought a small traditional olive mill with original millstones. To process Taggiasca olives, of course, with skill and commitment. Forty or so years later came the new production plant, which since the 1990s can boast a traditional as well as continuous cycle mill. The aim is to always produce a quality extra-virgin olive oil and thus a PDO Riviera Ligure-Riviera dei Fiori, slightly fruity, sweet, characteristic and distinctive.
The group of new consortium members concludes on the far side of Ponente Ligure with the Monaci Templari farm owned by Emanuela Rebaudengo. Emanuela’s soft, modest smile counterpoints the driving enthusiasm of Flavio Gorni. We are in Seborga. A place renowned for the fact that it was “forgotten” by all international peace treaties and thus had to remain independent, as a principality connected to the Lérins monastery. Its history is complex and fascinating, and the Cistercians on the island of Lérins, opposite Cannes, also inspired the protection of the Templar monks, present in the Holy Land as well as in the nearby Ventimiglia. These form part of the local tradition and its longstanding farming vocation. “Monaci Templari” includes an agriturismo, has an open farm, produces delicious food with its impeccable catering service. The olive groves on the estate still benefit from a natural spring which appears to have been used since Roman times, if not since the earliest local farming period. An emotional place, also because knowing Emanuela and Flavio’s olive trees is like knowing actual people, because there they have names. Like the olive tree called “Anime” (souls), near the spring, probably an offering for the souls in Purgatory. When extra-virgin olive oil means eternal salvation.
