Ben seven generations of olive oil producers distributed along 200 years of historyIf it's not a record, it's close. Also because reconstructing such a long past requires not only the patience to pass on memories, but also in-depth oenological studies. This is why the celebration of the bicentenary of Olis Solé , in the small town of Mont-roig del Camp, Catalonia, was not just a celebration for family, friends and customers, but a real event that allowed us to reconstruct the history of traditions and values that have accompanied this part of Spain from the early 800th century to the present day.
With legitimate pride Judit March Solè, who together with her sister Sara represents the seventh generation, greeted the many people present who did not want to miss this event, including the CEO Pieralisi Aldino Zeppelli, Mayor of Mont-roig del Camp Fran Morancho andÒscar Ordeig, Councillor for Agriculture and Food of Catalonia who brought official greetings.
The sessions concluded with the screening of the commemorative video for the 200th anniversary. From there, the entire group moved to the oil mill where Antonio March, director of Olis Solé, explained to those present how the company obtains its golden elixir. The tour of the facilities, including a visit to the modern Pieralisi systems of transformation of olives into extra virgin olive oil, concluded with a visit to the SOLÉ Oil Museum, located in the 1801 manor house.
On the occasion of this anniversary, thespecial edition of the AOVE PDO Siurana “Mas Tarrés 200 years”, which all participants were honored with. To conclude the day, the guests went to the Mont-roig hermitage where, surrounded by unique views of the Mediterranean Sea, a sea of olive trees, and the red mountains, they immortalized the moment with a "family photo."
What better way to end this celebration than sitting around a table in a warm and familiar atmosphere? After the tasting of the AOVE Special Edition 200 Years of Mas Tarrés, led by head of the Tasting Panel of Catalonia, Ma Àngels Calvo, everyone enjoyed a typical Catalan lunch which ended by blowing out the 200-year candles.
Olis Solé, as mentioned, is a 7-generation family business, with a feminine accent and the essence of the MediterraneanIt is present in more than 23 countries and 4 continents, bringing the essence of Mont-roig to a bottle. Olis Solé dates back to 1825, the year that marks the beginning of its 200-year history. This family olive oil story can be divided into several stages:
- 1825 – 1st Generation – The Beginning: According to the historical documentation of the family from 1825, our ancestors Francisco Bargalló and Maria Gassó rented the presses of the municipality of Mont-roig paying 7 hard (coins).
- 1842 – 2nd generation – Two countries unite: Maria Bargalló (from Mont-roig) and Vicens Llevat (paid(a farmer from Almoster) married and continued the family tradition. In 1833, Francisco Bargalló donated the “Partida Tarrés” estate to his daughter Maria Bargalló.
- 1870 – 3rd generation – The legacy: Vicens Llevat donates all his properties in the municipality of Mont-roig to his son Francisco Llevat, which will later pass to his nephew Mariano Llevat.
- 1906 – 4th Generation – The Sailor: Mariano Llevat (sailor and son of Mont-roig and married to Carme Bes) buys the presses from the Blanch Foundry in Reus and installs them in the family's manor house.
- 1955 – 5th generation – Union of two families of millers: In April 1955, two families of olive oil mill workers married and merged their two mills. Anselmo Solé Font (son of Anselmo Solé and Dolores Font, who ran the Mont-roig Cooperative and later opened their own mill across the street from the Cooperative) married Maria Llevat (daughter of Mariano Llevat, who had an oil mill in the 1801 manor house to make homemade olive oil) and settled on Avenida de Reus.
- 1987 – 6th Generation – Back to the Origins: Ester Solé (daughter of Anselmo Solé and Maria Llevat) and her husband Antonio March inaugurated the new Olis Solé facilities with a new olive mill and bottling line, returning to the family's manor house.
- 2008 – 7th generation – Looking to the future: Judit and Sara March Solé (daughters of Ester Solé and Antonio March) join the family business, following the family olive oil making tradition that dates back to 1825.
