Trentino Alto-Adige Olive Oil

The Trentino Alto-Adige region in Northern Italy sits in the foothills of the Alps where it forms part of the border between the countries of Switzerland and Austria. While the total output of olive oil here is small, the region is important to international olive culture due its distinction as the northernmost region in the world where olives have continually grown for centuries. The area has a long agricultural history, dating back to the Celts and Romans who planted the first vineyards and olive groves over 2000 years ago. Trentino Alto-Adige is one of the regions included in the Garda DOP, and olive oil from here is known for its distinct organoleptic qualities often attributed to the unique microclimate created by the valley of Lake Garda as it meets the Dolomite mountain range. One of the major producers in this region is the Agraria Riva del Garda cooperative producing olive oil under the name Frantoio di Riva. Frantoio Bonamini of the Veneto region also produces oil certified by the Garda DOP. The primary olive varieties found here are Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino.