The Story
On our tour of the Iannotta estate in the hills above Sonnino we were immediately struck by the rustic feel of the hillside grove. All the Itrana olive trees in these hills are grown with organic practices, and despite a few ruins - an ancient pathway for water called 'sassora;' an old hand-built road used by mules to carry the olives down the hill - the grove looks just as one might expect it did 200 years ago. The Iannotta family founded the company in 1952, beginning with Lucia Iannotta's grandfather. The company was passed down over the generations until Lucia took over in 2008 after completing her Economics degree. Lucia points out that although there were no male heirs in the family at the time, she has managed not only to keep the company afloat, but also made the Iannotta name even more well known. "Not bad for being 'just a girl,'" Lucia says.
The view West from the hills overlooking Sonnino.
Sonnino is located halfway between Rome and Naples in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region of central Italy. Like all of Italy, this is an area with rich history, especially due to its close proximity to Rome. The most famous landmark local to the area is Fossanova Abbey, built by Cistercian Monks between the years 1163 and 1208. The abbey is considered one of the earliest appearances of Early Gothic architecture in Italy. The abbey church overlooks a small cobbled square in Fossanova, a tiny village made famous for hosting St. Thomas Aquinas when he fell ill and died there on March 9, 1274. In the early 1800's the Vatican ordered Sonnino to be razed due to its being the notorious haunt of bandits, most notably a local brigand called Gasbarrone Antonio. Lucia was quick to tell us that the area's residents are still looking for his buried treasure.
The nave of the abbey at Fossanova.
Each year the area holds a Goat Festival to celebrate local livestock, however olives are the principle crop of the area. Generations of locals have tended the land with care and patience, and Lucia tells us, "it's in our blood… the terrain is rocky and hilly so we really can’t grow much else!" Through the combined expertise of both the Iannotta family and the local workers the company depends upon, Lucia believes they've created the perfect harmony with their surroundings, as they have learned how to best utilize the natural features to benefit their crops.
Lucia's grandparents and parents were always olive farmers, and producing high quality olive oil has been the goal of each generation. While this story is similar to many of the producers we meet, Lucia is one of the few women in the olive oil industry leading her company. The women from her area had a profound influence on her life, beginning with her mother. "I have a great mother who raised us with her teachings about field work, day after day, about the small trials and the small achievements - how we do all of this together." A recent bottle redesign found Lucia giving tribute to the women both in her family and village.
I decided to choose a label representing the women of Sonnino, the women of my village, from the early 1900s. They were strong women, who had to live through some difficulties but they surpassed them, for themselves and their families. I see myself in them, and I like this kind of woman: the village woman, the true woman.
In her youth Lucia often said, “I'll never do my mother's work.” Yet it was the time spent in her village that led to her success in this challenging business. "The strength of these women allowed me to be here. I've learned from them how to make oil, and they taught me to appreciate the olive groves where I grew up. It was all I knew, to have such a territory, so I didn’t appreciate it. Now I feel lucky to have been born here." These days Lucia thrives on what she once considered her "mother's work." When her oil is finally ready each year, the months of anticipation are finally realized in a final product filled with the scents and flavors of the past year. It is this passion that keeps her going, that fulfills her, that inspires her.
It’s a job that draws you in, but you need to do it properly, and have the drive to improve. I try to get better at my job with each passing year.
