Stories > The secret behind a great Olive Oil
The secret behind a great Olive Oil

The secret behind a great Olive Oil

Published 2022-12-05 by Zdravko Anticic

Did you know? There is olive oil and there is olive oil. And, the oil you get at a supermarket outside of Italy is usually a watered-down misery very far from the original kind.

What separates great oil from the mediocre? What is Extra Vergine? How can you tell the olive oil on the table is of high quality? All this and more below.

In five minutes you will know more about olive oil than 99 percent of your friends. Let's get started.

Now, I know the earlier statement alone can sound a bit rude, if not pretentions, but hear me out. I’ve been producing prime quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil since i can remember, continuing my family's centuries old tradition.

A real, natural, unrefined extra virgin olive oil should have a strong and fresh, almost grassy smell. Also a distinctly fruity aroma, and noticeably piquant when it reaches the back of your throat. If it is the top of the top, it will also be surprisingly bright green in color, and opaque when fresh, and later will transform into a deeper shade of green, and will become more clear.

You can reach into your cupboard now, and see if the oil you bought at the store has any of these qualities. If it doesn’t, don’t be surprised.

The issue with store-bought oils is, even though they are labeled as “EVOO” – the only relevant criteria for the labelling is a percentage of free fatty acids of less than 0,8%, and “no sensory defects”, which of course is a little vague to the regular consumer.

It basically looks like this, the producers start with an amount of extra virgin olive oil, and lower quality oils, like “Virgin” and “Lampante” – the later basically not considered good for consumption. Then, they put the lower quality oils through a process of refining which is several steps long, and not worth going into detail.

While this process reduces the amount of quality-harming fatty acids to the level acceptable for the oil to be labeled extra virgin, it also strips it of any semblance of taste and smell that it had previously. It also takes away of a lot of it’s color. Then, you end up with a bottle of oil which almost smells like any other vegetable oil, and definitely looks like sunflower oil. Slap an Extra Virgin Olive Oil label on it, and call it a day. While it is not exactly a scam, it is not really genuine towards the consumer either.

Personally, I find this a little depressing, as it completely misses the point and strips the consumer from the enjoyment of Olive Oil.

A good way to try and distinguish oils that are worth it at the supermarkets in Italy is to see if it has a DOP or IGP label on it. This is similar to the DOCG label for wines. It guarantees that the area of origin is genuine, and that the process of making the oil is regulated to the local standards.

Making good olive oil is quite simple. The trees take very little care, and will nearly always give you something back. What must be done is pruning after the winter cold eases, cutting the grass around them, and if you take extra care, giving it the nutrients it needs through various organic fertilizers.

When October rolls around, you start picking them, although the timing depends on what kind of oil you want. Once picked, they must spend no more than 48 hours in the plastic cases in a cool and dark place, before you take them to the oil production plant.

Where I grew up, in small Croatian villages, these plants are usually community-owned from the olden days, and brought up to modern standards over time. You put the olives in the machine, and wait for that green goodness to start dripping out. The entire process is under an hour long. The oil production rate is around 10-20% depending on various conditions. This means if you pick 1000kg of olives, you get 100-200kg of oil from them.

Then you store it in a stainless steel container, similar to wine, and let it sit preferably in a cool and dark place. About a month later, you pour it over into another container to help separate the residual sludge, cover it with a lid to prevent oxygen exposure which harms the oil over time – and voila. You have the best extra virgin olive oil you will ever taste!

Now, here is the secret to directly controlling what kind of oil you produce. It is all about the timing.

For prime quality, what the ancient Romans called “Oleum Ex Albis Ulivis” – some say this is “The oil for the Gods”. The olives are picked while mostly green, or just beginning to show signs of changing to yellowish and purple. This depends on the region, but in Croatia this would mean mid-October.

The “catch 22” here is that while green olives just reaching ripeness produce the highest quality oil, with the smallest amount of free fatty acids, but a lower amount of oil overall. This oil smells very fruity or grassy, is also noticeably greener in color, and more piquant than the later harvests. It is also my personal favorite and the gold standard for fantastic oil.

The second is “Oleum Viride”. This comes from half-ripe olive fruits, mostly green in color with some purple spots. It retains a high quality level, with reduced bitternes, and a slightly more mellow overall taste. It is a deeper green color than the previous type. This is known in folk tales as “oil for priests and doctors”.

The third is “Oleum Maturum”. Coming from ripe, or mature olives if you will. These are nearly fully black-colored fruits. Since they had more time to mature, they produce a higher quantity of oil, at the expense of some aroma and taste. The oil is also more golden in color, and a lot softer on the palate. If it is a very late harvest, the bitterness is almost completely gone. These oils usually fall just barely within the extra virgin criteria. This is because the level of free fatty acids, the main indicator of olive quality, slowly goes up as the fruit matures more and more on the tree.

The ancient Romans had two more oil designations, but I will omit them now. You will likely never see them in the modern era.

Tip: If you ever get the chance – whether it is Italy or Croatia, source your Extra Virgin Olive Oil from local small-time producers wherever you’re staying. Once you smell and taste it for the first time, you will learn what olive oil is really like. And you will learn why all of the Mediterranean is almost religious about it. Although be warned – you will never be able to go back to the store-bought stuff ever again.

Zdravko Anticic
Zdravko Anticic
zdravko@granturismo.org

Coming Events

Gran Turismo Polonia
6-12 July 2023
Warsaw - Gdansk - Kolobrzeg - Poznan
Gran Turismo London
25-26 November 2023
London
Subscribe to our newsletter

The latest news and stories. All the best roads, hotels and restaurants. Invitations to exciting events. Be the first to know by subscribing to our newsletter.

Mondo Gran Turismo

More news and stories from the world of Gran Turismo

Here is why I hate touchscreens
Here is why I hate touchscreens
The trend of big touchscreens in cars is a gigantic problem
The world’s most beautiful roads are in Switzerland
The world’s most beautiful roads are in Switzerland
Here is the holy trinity of Swiss alpine roads.
The legendary Rolls-Royce incident in Sweden in 1986
The legendary Rolls-Royce incident in Sweden in 1986
That time when Rolls-Royce went well out of their way to keep a client happy
Did the Ferrari Museum go too far?
Did the Ferrari Museum go too far?
How the Ferrari Museum coerced Marek to donate his car
Downforce is dark magic
Downforce is dark magic
I lost my downforce virginity recently. Here's how.
A postcard from Rome and The Vatican
A postcard from Rome and The Vatican
On March 23, we did a private tour of the Vatican.
Meet James Holm, our in-house photographer
Meet James Holm, our in-house photographer
Arguably the best automotive photographer in Scandinavia, James has been our event photographer since over a decade.
Houston, we have a massive problem
Houston, we have a massive problem
I love flying. This particular flight though, every pilot's nightmare became my reality.
Porsche is developing a hybrid 911
Porsche is developing a hybrid 911
It will utilize the latest hybrid technologies from the 919 Hybrid
Alfa Romeo is working on a new supercar
Alfa Romeo is working on a new supercar
They are pursuing a new Alfra Romeo tipo 33
Wallypower 118 - the coolest luxury yacht in the world
Wallypower 118 - the coolest luxury yacht in the world
Meet the luxury yacht from the movie "The Island"
Did you know? Rolex was founded in London.
Did you know? Rolex was founded in London.
The story of Rolex goes far beyond luxury watches.
The Ferrari F356 is the best Ferrari you never heard of
The Ferrari F356 is the best Ferrari you never heard of
Over the years, the F356 became one of the most sought-after cars in the world.
Sued by Ferrari because they deserved it
Sued by Ferrari because they deserved it
Guess what? Ferrari will sue you if you use their brand in a malicious way
Mr Bond, you have what the Greeks call thrasos
Mr Bond, you have what the Greeks call thrasos
Why James Bond films are so important.
The bizarre naming convention of Ferrari cars
The bizarre naming convention of Ferrari cars
Have you ever wondered how Ferrari determines the name for their cars?
I have no idea, I just stole the Lotus from a brat at Stureplan
I have no idea, I just stole the Lotus from a brat at Stureplan
The flashing blue light in the rear-view mirror approached at breakneck speed. Then I saw that the police blocked the road.
How to go from zero to owning a Ferrari in just one year
How to go from zero to owning a Ferrari in just one year
Dreaming about a Ferrari? Here is how you can make it happen in just one year.
Why the adorable Fiat 126p is the best car in the world
Why the adorable Fiat 126p is the best car in the world
Forget supercars like Lamborghini and Ferrari. The best car in the world is the Fiat 126p. Bear with us and let us explain.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 1 to 20
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 1 to 20
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 1 to 20.
Mister Kawasaki and the most expensive chicken wings in the world
Mister Kawasaki and the most expensive chicken wings in the world
When you have unlimited money, amazing things can happen.
Forget the Fiat 500 of the 70s - The Lancia Stratos was really cramped
Forget the Fiat 500 of the 70s - The Lancia Stratos was really cramped
Fifteen years ago, I was the king of SEGA Rally. And the fastest car in the game was the Lancia Stratos.
Here comes the Swedish banker and his disgusting Italian girlfriend
Here comes the Swedish banker and his disgusting Italian girlfriend
Cencio la Parolaccia - The most fun restaurant in Rome.
No good deed shall go unpunished - How a Christmas gift went horribly wrong
No good deed shall go unpunished - How a Christmas gift went horribly wrong
A Christmas gift goes horribly wrong in Stockholm, 20 years ago.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 21 to 40
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 21 to 40
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 21 to 40.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 41 to 60
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 41 to 60
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 41 to 60.
I hereby pronounce you dead (he said)
I hereby pronounce you dead (he said)
Mr Andersson had followed our advise and selected "Doctor" when booking flights and hotels. This became a massive problem on the return flight.
The Aventador successor is  due - here is what we know.
The Aventador successor is due - here is what we know.
Here is what we know about the successor to the iconic Lamborghini Aventador.
A look at the Lamborghini Sterrato
A look at the Lamborghini Sterrato
We got a glimpse of the latest Lamborghini, the off-road Huracan Sterrato.
The secret behind a great Olive Oil
The secret behind a great Olive Oil
A great olive oil is simple to make, but hard to find in a store.
How a brand new Ferrari got ruined by a vomiting passenger
How a brand new Ferrari got ruined by a vomiting passenger
This was the work of the Olympic heavyweight champion of in-car puking. A true masterpiece.
A postcard from the most beautiful country in the world
A postcard from the most beautiful country in the world
Here are some pictures from our last driving event in Italy, Gran Turismo Italia.
Greetings from Monaco
Greetings from Monaco
Our annual Gran Turismo Europa-tour ended today. As always, thousands of great pictures were taken. Here is a small selection.
They should have sent a poet. We lack words to describe how beautiful Sardinia is.
They should have sent a poet. We lack words to describe how beautiful Sardinia is.
Here are the best pictures from our 2022 driving event on Sardinia.
Gran Turismo Nurburgring - here are the best pictures from our 2022 event
Gran Turismo Nurburgring - here are the best pictures from our 2022 event
Our annual Nurburgring event took place at the end of May. Here are the best pictures.
Hello from Croatia and Montenegro
Hello from Croatia and Montenegro
Our first big event of the 2022 season was our annual drive on the Adriatic coast. Here are the best pictures from our team of photographers.
A postcard from Paris and The Louvre
A postcard from Paris and The Louvre
It is difficult to describe. We can’t find the words. Being in the most important museum in the world, that hosts Mona Lisa, all by yourself.
Postcard from St Moritz
Postcard from St Moritz
Last week we went to St Moritz and our special event on the Olympia Bobsleigh track.
VIDEO: Happy New Year from Gran Turismo Events!
VIDEO: Happy New Year from Gran Turismo Events!
With this short film we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Welcome to Gran Turismo and the most beautiful countries in the world in 2022.
The digital nomad’s guide to Montenegro
The digital nomad’s guide to Montenegro
Looking to spend winter far away from the cold north? Here is a personal favourite of mine: Montenegro.
More stories

La Guida - The Supercar Owner's Guide to Europe

Our favourite roads, hotels, restaurants and places to visit

Hotel Cala di Volpe
Hotel Cala di Volpe
A legendary hotel on Costa Smeralda
Schloss Lieser
Schloss Lieser
A five star hotel set in a 19th century castle
SS163 - Amalfi Drive
SS163 - Amalfi Drive
A beautiful road along the Amalfi Coast
More locations

Events Calendar

Beautiful road trips and famous racing tracks since 2002. Supercars only.

Gran Turismo Vatican
23-24 March 2023
Rome, Italy
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Adriatica
6-14 May 2023
Slovenia - Croatia - Bosnia - Montenegro
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Nurburgring
29 May - 1 June
Nurburgring, Germany
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Riviera
5-9 June 2023
Forte dei Marmi - Santa Margherita - Monaco - St Tropez
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Sardinia
14-20 June 2023
Sardinia, Italy
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Polonia
6-12 July 2023
Warsaw - Gdansk - Kolobrzeg - Poznan
Gran Turismo Europa
3-10 September 2023
Innsbruck - St Moritz - Andermatt - Monaco - Saint Tropez
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Italia
17-24 September 2023
Florence - Maranello - Sirmione - Cortina - Verona
Gran Turismo Toscana
11-15 October 2023
Florence - Chianti - Grosseto - Lucca - Florence
Gran Turismo London
25-26 November 2023
London
The Drivers Collection
Contact us

While our head offices are in Geneva, Switzerland, the team is spread throughout Europe: Sweden, Poland, Italy and Croatia. Please select the appropriate team member to contact below.

For general enquiries, you can always use info@granturismo.org. For event registrations, please use registry@granturismo.org.

Justyna Weclawiak Justyna Weclawiak
Head of event organisation
+48 509 706 651
Björn Lagercrantz Björn Lagercrantz
CFO
+46 (0)70 844 64 00
Michal Weclawiak Michal Weclawiak
Event coordinator - General
‭+48 602 134 467‬
Chiara Mannucci Chiara Mannucci
Event coordinator - Italy
+39 346 763 22 74
Zdravko Anticic Zdravko Anticic
Event coordinator - Balkans
+385 (0)91 917 32 77
Pietro Bonuccelli Pietro Bonuccelli
Supercar fleet manager
‭+39 349 888 33 89‬
Marcin Jellinek Marcin Jellinek
PR and Media
+48 519 189 081
Joakim Niss Joakim Niss
Head of merchandise
‭+46 (0)70 468 60 75‬
James Holm James Holm
Photography
+46 (0)70 713 71 42
Peter Ternstrom Peter Ternström
Founder
+39 331 332 50 80