GUSTI Blog

Gustiamo's Olive Oils Receive the First 3 Foglie by Gambero Rosso!!!

Verona will host Vinitaly and SOL (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) trade shows from April 7th to the 11th. If you see fewer people around, it is because everybody is in Italy, these days. What's new this year? Gambero Rosso, famous for publishing the "Guida ai Vini d'Italia" where the wines are star rated with "bicchieri" (glasses), the "3 bicchieri" being the highest, this year will publish its FIRST "Guida agli Oli d'Italia" where the stars are "foglie" (leaves) and the "3 foglie" is the maximum.

We are very pleased to announce that the following EV Olive Oils received the "3 foglie" by Gambero Rosso:
- La Quagliera, made by Prisca Montani in Abbruzzo;
- Colle Nobile, made by Giorgio Tonti in the Marche Region;
- Il Tratturello, made by Francesco Travaglini in Molise.
Particular mention goes to Francesco Travaglini's Il Tratturello, since this is the ONLY EV Olive Oil with "3 foglie" from the Molise region. Bravissimi Tutti!!! If you are in Verona, go see Francesco, Giorgio and Prisca and give them a big 5 from us. If you are in America, you can buy their olive oils, here!!!

Saffron from Cooperativa Navelli - DOP zafferano dell'Aquila - In the NYTImes!!!

  I just called Gina to congratulate her for the beautiful article in the NYTimes which features our saffron from Cooperativa Navelli (a town near L'Aquila, in Abruzzo), a group of 97 families that makes the only DOP Zafferano dell'Aquila. WOW, to be in the NYTimes! Huge!

As many of our producers, Gina (aka Giovanina Sarra, in the article) is very difficult to reach. The cooperative has one number that works as telephone and fax; no cell phone; no email. Perhaps smoke signals would work? After the earthquake, last year, they were also without internet connection for several months. But they have no email, anyhow. It took me two full days to find her on the phone. Gina is the daughter of the founder of the cooperative and she is the factotum, as she puts it. She is happy about the article and no, she didn't know it was out. She gave me the email address of her nephew Simone (also NYTimes famous) to whom I will send the link. Will they ever get it to read it?

Earthquake in Abruzzi

 Last night, a strong earthquake shook the region of Abruzzi, east of Rome, killed almost 100 people and left at least 100,000 homeless.

We called Prisca Montani, in Abruzzo. She is the young lady who makes the EV Olive Oil la Quagliera. She and her family are fine. Glad we called. The farm where she lives and makes the Olive Oil is near Pescara, near the adriatic sea and the damages were not as devastating as inland. She said that at around 3:30 in the morning the earth trembled for 30 seconds, it felt like you were on a boat in rough sea. They all left the house and spent the rest of the night outside. They are all scared but fine, thank goodness.

It's a sad day. We are reading the news as they unfold. Abruzzesi, our thoughts and prayers are with you.