Laudemio Frescobaldi EVOO - Limited Edition Gift Package Tasting Set - Harvest 2022/2023

A true precursor of the excellence of Italian extra virgin olive oil: in medieval times the name Laudemio indicated the part of the harvest reserved for the landowner. He received the best part of the harvest called “Laudemio”, and the term has been synonymous with value and quality ever since. Already in that time, the Frescobaldi family produced olive oil in Tuscany. Today, Laudemio Frescobaldi represents the maximum expression of extra virgin olive oil from the Frescobaldi olive groves.

The history of Laudemio Frescobaldi

In agriculture for seven hundred years, in 1984 the Frescobaldi estate farm installed a new, latest generation, continuous cycle mechanical press to improve the quality of olive oil. (source: Olive Oil Times)

Then, in 1985 a historical freeze hit Italy and the story of Italy's best oil begins with a natural disaster.
In fact, the great snowfall of 1985 whitened all the olive trees, a resistant evergreen that does not do well in certain temperatures. Then came the freeze, unexpected and devastating. In Tuscany, the temperature dipped to -15°, -20°, or even -25°C at times, and the precious olive trees that have always covered the gentle convexity of the hills lost all their branches.

For the Frescobaldi family, which dedicates hectares of its historic estates exclusively to olive oil, it was the signal for a definitive reset of the approach to production and qualitative yield: in a word, it was time for change and to apply the same philosophy used in the wine world, with its rhythms and parameters of excellence used for years.

Thus Laudemio was created, the selection that will forever define the haute couture of evo oils, beginning with the name. "The etymology already implies excellence, it comes from the Latin laude, praise; in the Middle Ages, it was used in Tuscany to refer to the excellent part of the harvest that was donated by farmers to landowners. The name Laudemio, therefore, indicates a product of excellence that comes from a careful selection, a true specialty, and a tribute to the region," is today’s explanation from Matteo Frescobaldi, 30th generation of the family among the oldest in agricultural history and culture in Italy. 

The Frescobaldi family essentially decided to transform such a negative event into a real opportunity. In this sense, we can affirm that their intuition was visionary because Laudemio Frescobaldi oil, born from the need to guarantee to consumers the oil’s origin, production methods, and organoleptic characteristics, is today a guarantee of excellence. Since 1989 the production of Laudemio has been regulated by a specification that was a precursor in those times, to protect the highest quality of extra virgin olive oil. The regulations of the European Union and the subsequent IGP and DOP, in fact, were formulated only later, around the 1990s. 

The current regulation of the European community relating to the characteristics of olive oils and olive pomace oils as well as the methods relating to them is the COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No. 2568/91 of 11 July 1991. 

Laudemio oil is already more than 30 years old, while the first Italian DOP oil - Sabina, year of origin: 1996 or 7 years after Laudemio (source: Sabina PDO) - has yet to turn 25. The Tuscan oil IGP, on the other hand, was founded in even more recent times, precisely in 1998 (source: olio Toscana IGP).

So, when we talk about extra virgin olive oil of excellence, we immediately think of this enlightened Tuscan company. And therefore it is not really an exaggeration to argue that the real revolution in the field of oil started in 1988 when Vittorio Frescobaldi created Laudemio. 

Excellence in five rules

1)     The Frescobaldi olive groves are located in Tuscany, around Florence, between 200 and 500 meters above sea level, and the terroir and the microclimate ensure that the olive trees produce fruits that are unique in the world for the intensity of their nutritional and organoleptic properties.

2)     Harvesting always takes place before the olives ripen, in October, and before the end of November. This way, all the properties that generally decrease with the aging process remain intact in the product.

3)     The pressing takes place in the shortest possible time, no later than 24 hours after the harvest. Frescobaldi owns its own oil mill and in this way is able to follow the entire production chain, guaranteeing the highest quality.

4)     Frescobaldi oil is filtered and for this reason, it is clear and without residues. This feature not only makes it particularly long-lasting because it is free of substances that can deteriorate over time but also allows it to maintain its bright green color for longer. Just store it correctly, always in its packaging, tightly closed, and away from heat sources.

5)     Once produced, the extra virgin olive oil is tasted and evaluated by a committee of experts and only the highest quality is selected as Laudemio Frescobaldi.

How to tell if an oil is good?

"Let's start with three senses: sight, smell, and taste. On viewing, there must be brilliance and clarity: a high-quality oil must be transparent. We Tuscans prefer the color to be bright emerald green ... The more intense the color, the younger the oil. But that doesn’t mean that in the following months when the color is less vivid, the oil isn’t as good. The important thing is that it is not cloudy or dull. If the oil is cloudy, it is not perfect," explains Matteo Frescobaldi.
Be wary of marketing claims that unfiltered oil is better: impurities are not good for oil longevity or flavor. As for the sense of smell, the analysis needs to go back to where the oil begins, the mill. "You definitely must have a sensation of freshness, of the fruit that it comes from, fresh olives. It means that the olives were harvested at the right time, pressed after a short time, and managed well from start to finish. There should not be “fusty” tastes or smells, the technical term used in Italian is “riscaldo”. When the oil has oxidized or if the olives were too ripe, it gives a sensation of warm smell, like a woolen sweater." The sense of smell also reinforces the notes and makes the taste stronger. Furthermore, there is a small, delicious paradox that characterizes the tasting of good extra virgin olive oil. "Even if it is correct to say that the flavor should be persistent, perhaps pleasantly pungent, it should not feel greasy in the mouth or coat the tongue. Technically, it is called clean" specifies the producer with a smile. It gives the idea of something exquisite, which leaves an impression and dominates the palate with absolute clarity. 

Characteristics of Laudemio Frescobaldi oil

What first catches the eye is the packaging of this product, unusual, original, and especially elegant. The choice of an iconic octagonal-shaped bottle with a retro design similar to that of French perfume was designed to underline and reinforce the excellence of Laudemio. The facets and the transparent glass enhance the color and the luminous highlights of the oil. Each bottle shows the harvest vintage. This characteristic of Laudemio differentiates it from common extra virgin olive oils. The bottles are packaged in individual cardboard boxes to protect the Laudemio from the effects of light. Once opened, it is advisable to always put it back in the special packaging and store it in a cool place away from heat sources. Laudemio Frescobaldi oil is particularly clear, emerald green in color, and has an aroma of fresh-cut grass and artichokes. On the palate, it has a very intense flavor of fresh fruit and a pleasantly spicy aftertaste and has a minimum acidity of less than 0.2%. 

Laudemio Frescobaldi Awards and Recognitions

ITALIAN

2005, 2006, 2007: 5 Gocce, Associazione Italiana Sommelier

2005, 2011: 3 Olive, Slow Food

2010: Olio dell’Emozione, Slow Food

2015, 2018, 2019, 2020: Grande Olio, Slow Food

2019: Best Of, Armonia

2020: 3 Foglie, Gambero Rosso

2020: Best Olive Oil & Wine, Gambero Rosso

2020: Bicchiere D’Oro, Milan International Olive Oil Award

2020, 2021 Best of ARMONIA

2020, 2022 Corona Maestro D'OLIO - TERRE D'OLIO

INTERNATIONAL

1997: # 1 Tuscan Oil, Wine Spectator, USA

2001: Best Olive Oil, Summer Fancy Food Show, New York, USA

2009, 2018, 2020: One of The Best Olive Oils, Der Feinshmecker, Germany

2011, 2018: Silver Award, Los Angeles Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, USA

2017, 2020: Bronze Award, Los Angeles Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, USA

2017, 2019, 2020: Gold Award, New York International Olive Oil Competition, USA

2019: Silver Medal, Olive Japan, Japan

2020: Gold Medal, Olive Japan, Japan

2019: 1 Star, Great Taste, UK

2020, 2022 Gold Medal, EVO International Olive Oil Contest.