AZIENDA AGRICOLA SANTA BARBARA SS

Umberto Costa has resumed his family tradition by reclaiming abandoned land at the foot of the Monte di Portofino in Nozarego, a hill facing the Gulf of Tigullio, an area of relevant natural value overlooking Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.

The farm grows Lavagnina, Pignola (which can also be found in the province of Savona), and the rare Mattana, which is useful for pollination. The farms still refer to noble villas, Aviglia, Durazzo, Furco, Piaggio, Pistella, di Spagna, and Marciane (in Marciane, there is perhaps a reference to a Roman estate).

Nozarego, where the Azienda’s trees flourish, stands between Paraggi and Costasecca. It is a farming area mentioned in documents dating back to 1143,

A long journey through time and space for the oil to reach South America: in 1871, Giuseppe Costa sent his son Giovanni Battista, the grandfather of the present manufacturer, 14 barrels of Nozarego oil to Santiago de Chile.

From the cold pressing of lavagnine and pignole comes Santa Barbara extra virgin oil. Its sensory characteristics – fragrant, with a precise balance between bitterness and spiciness, and an intense fruitiness with an aftertaste of pine nuts – match the features of Mediterranean cuisine. This PDO Riviera Ligure – Riviera di Levante EVO has won several awards.