The valley
Our production
Our olive groves sit high in the Niccone Valley, a picturesque, unspoiled, hilly region located between the Tiber River and Lago Trasimeno in Umbria, Italy. The valley has been a much-travelled route in Italy’s history, and evidence of its strategic position can be seen in the many castles scattered among the hilltops.
From our olive groves you can see on one side, Reschio Castle, now an ultra-luxury hotel for the top-tier of celebrities, and on other side architectural landmarks closely linked to the family, Bourbon of Monte Santa Maria. Further up amongst the hills is Preggio, with its long history, its close ties to the papal state, and its spectacular views.
Our olive farm is at least 15 minutes’ drive from the valley road below or a good 30-minute run uphill along a dusty white gravel road, strada bianca. The property was completely abandoned by the mid-1900s, and no one has properly run this land as a farm since then, partly because the conditions for modern commercial farming are dauntingly tough.
Our farm is surrounded by nature, woods in particular: Italian cypress trees, oak trees, walnut trees, chestnut trees, pine trees, and scrub. The garden overflows with purple: wisteria, Siberian sage, lavender, paulownia. In spring, small wild strawberries and thin wild asparagus grow near the edges of the fields and roads. Through the warmer months we have wild cherry, mulberry, fig, plum, apple, and lemon trees. The scent of crushed wild mint, lavender, rosemary, and magnolia dances on the wind. Later, in autumn, we have lots of chestnuts, pine nuts, and — after rain — mushrooms, whether porcini (ceps) or the reclusive truffle from our gardens
There are many animals including deer, rabbits, boar, foxes, owls, falcons, pheasant, squirrels, woodpeckers, porcupines, badgers, stoats, hummingbirds, and the occasional wolf.
Being in the country, we also have reptiles and multitudes of insects. Lizards recline lazily on our paths; lizards not unlike those in Caravaggio’s famous painting. And, at the right time of year, our lavender hums with bees during the day and our fields flicker with fireflies at night.
