Gianluca Bini’s “Podere Case Piacche” Farm is a little hilly farm situated in the Pistoia municipality, in the area of Vinacciano. It spreads out for four hectares, three of which are intended for the cultivation of olive trees, while the remaining land is occupied by wood. The geographical collocation, the pedoclimatic environment and the cultivation techniques employed all concur to shape the character of the oil here produced: it is a typically Tuscan extra virgin olive oil1, which at the same time is distinguished for its uniqueness. The olive groves are cultivated with eco-friendly sustainable methods; traditional technologies2 are skilfully combined with modern ones in order to produce an oil which is strongly affected by the bond with the land and the secular traditions, but which also benefits from the newest knowledge.
On the farm there are on the whole 560 olive trees, cultivated in a clay soil that gives consistency and character to the oil. The olive tree varieties (cultivars) are the typically Tuscan ones: Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo, with some Pendolino olive trees.
Each one of these cultivars contribute to a particular note, however it’s from their mix that the extra virgin olive oil produced on the farm is born. It is an oil initially of dark green colour but that with ageing turns to yellow with greenish reflexes; a scented oil, with a fruity, spicy and very aromatic taste and a pleasant aftertaste of artichoke. It is a true Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, partially PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) certified, which seems to be directly born from the perfumes and the colours of the land.
1It is exclusively obtained by the mechanical pressing of healthy and fresh olives. Olives are harvested at the right stage of maturity and subjected to cold-pressing as soon as possible after the harvest. The resulting oil is characterized by a very low degree of acidity, in particular, in order to be defined as extra virgin, an oil must have an acidity level below 0.8%. In the course of various years, the oil produced on the farm has had an average acidity level of 0.2%.
2Olives are harvested, with the help of particular machines, in the first half of November, in order to guarantee the right stage of maturity. After a careful selection, olives are brought to the olive mill as soon as possible. At the mill they are turned into oil through cold-pressing. In order to avoid a prolonged stay of the harvested olives on the farm, which would be a risk for the quality of the future oil, arrangements have been made with two olive mills, both employing cold-pressing. “Podere Casa delle Piacche” Farm produces oil exclusively from the olives of its own olive groves. The cultivation techniques are chosen with particular care for the environment. At the express wish of the entrepreneur Gianluca Bini, manuring isn’t carried out with chemical fertilizers, but only with natural ones (sheep manure), and for any particular treatment only products suitable for organic farming are employed. This is not a certified organic farm, but the techniques employed show care for the environment and consumers.
1 It is exclusively obtained by the mechanical pressing of healthy and fresh olives. Olives are harvested at the right stage of maturity and subjected to cold-pressing as soon as possible after the harvest. The resulting oil is characterized by a very low degree of acidity, in particular, in order to be defined as extra virgin, an oil must have an acidity level below 0.8%. In the course of various years, the oil produced on the farm has had an average acidity level of 0.2%.
2 Olives are harvested, with the help of particular machines, in the first half of November, in order to guarantee the right stage of maturity. After a careful selection, olives are brought to the olive mill as soon as possible. At the mill they are turned into oil through cold-pressing. In order to avoid a prolonged stay of the harvested olives on the farm, which would be a risk for the quality of the future oil, arrangements have been made with two olive mills, both employing cold-pressing. “Podere Casa delle Piacche” Farm produces oil exclusively from the olives of its own olive groves. The cultivation techniques are chosen with particular care for the environment. At the express wish of the entrepreneur Gianluca Bini, manuring isn’t carried out with chemical fertilizers, but only with natural ones (sheep manure), and for any particular treatment only products suitable for organic farming are employed. This is not a certified organic farm, but the techniques employed show care for the environment and consumers.
