“Let Food be thy Medicine and Medicine be thy Food” – Hippocrates. With this incipit, Fabrizio Vignolini introduces us to his new work, Olive Varieties and Olive Oil Production in Western Liguria. A book born from years of study on extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) from around the world, culminating in an in-depth analysis of the olive varieties and production techniques typical of Western Liguria.
Passion for Olive Oil
Vignolini tells how tasting the extra virgin olive oil Paul Cassini, an olive grower from Isolabona, was a turning point. “I perceived a perfect fruitiness, clear and decidedly more intense than traditional” , says Vignolini. Cassini's dedication in caring for his Taggiasca olives and his continuous experiments in the mill have given life to an oil that has won multiple awards at a national and international level.
The work is enriched with the preface by Alessandro Carassale, recognized for his expertise in the academic field and the contribution of experts such as Professor Maurizio Servili of the University of Perugia, a student of the great Gian Francesco Montedoro. Servili is known for his pioneering studies on phenols, compounds that not only improve the organoleptic qualities of extra virgin olive oil, but also its health benefits.
“A quality EVOO is not distinguished by oleic acid, but by phenols” Vignolini emphasizes, noting how Cassini oil contains an extraordinary quantity of oleocanthal, a substance with effects similar to ibuprofen.
A medicinal oil
This unique quality makes Cassini oil not only ideal for enhancing the flavour of Isolabona beans, a typical Ligurian variety, but also a real “medicinal oil”. The book explores in detail the organoleptic and therapeutic characteristics of the extra virgin olive oils of Western Liguria, offering a complete vision of how tradition and innovation can harmoniously coexist.
“The Olive Varieties and the Olive Oil Production of Western Liguria” is a tribute to the resilience of Ligurian olive growers and their ability to produce a superior quality oil, respecting the environment and local traditions. An unmissable work for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of extra virgin olive oil and appreciate its infinite nuances.
