Olive trees and vines dominate the landscape of Finca El Paraíso, our largest and oldest estate, located in Maipú. However, to begin to talk about the historical relationship between both crops, we must go back to the Old World, more precisely to the Mediterranean basin. For the societies that developed in this region, food is more than just a carrier of nutrients: it symbolises their culture and their place in the world.
In such a rich area, there were three crops that were born and grew at the pace of civilisation, which have always been the sustenance of human life and the basis of the famous “Mediterranean diet”: wheat, vines and olives.
The first is the main ingredient of irreplaceable foodstuffs from these lands, such as pasta and bread. From the vineyards that populate the landscapes of the region comes the grape, which is enjoyed fresh as a fruit and is used to make wines, the archetypal beverage of the Mediterranean diet. The final component of this trilogy consists of the olive tree and its thousand-year-old specimens from which olives are harvested to make the oil that enhances the flavour of practically all the typical dishes of the Mediterranean cuisine.
The Essencia blend combines the strength and identity of the Frantoio variety with the freshness of the Arbequina and the antioxidant richness of the Arauco, resulting in a harmonious extra virgin olive oil with great personality
The health benefits and the gastronomic importance of wheat, olive trees and vines turned these into identity elements of the Mediterranean culture. For this reason, it is no coincidence that the Argentine olive culture emerged strongly at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, when the great migrations from Europe took place. Thus, olive groves were brought to the province of Mendoza by Spanish and Italian immigrants, whose eating habits required olive oil as a fundamental part of their daily diet. For this reason, the olive tree became part of the customs and culture of the people of Mendoza and, today, the province has specimens of old olive trees that provide them with olives used for the production of excellent quality oils.
The olive groves mostly took root in the Cuyo region due to its geographical peculiarities, such as the type of soil, the climate and the unbeatable phytosanitary conditions. As is the case with grapevines, Mendoza is considered one of the most suitable regions in the world for growing olives and producing quality olive oil.
Specifically in Finca el Paraíso, the Arizu family owns centennial olive trees where our Essencia Luigi Bosca extra virgin olive oil is born. This high-end product is made from olives harvested early to maintain the acidity and preserve the freshness of their aromas, which were milled “at the foot of the tree”, immediately after the harvest.
The Essencia blend combines the strength and identity of the Frantoio variety with the freshness of the Arbequina and the antioxidant richness of the Arauco, resulting in a harmonious extra virgin olive oil with great personality. Due to its elegance and character, it is perfect to perfume and enhance grilled vegetables, pasta, white meats, breads, fish and risottos.
This product was developed by Gustavo Arizu, member of the third generation of the family, who worked on the project for years and is still in charge of it. The first productions began in 2008 on an experimental basis to evaluate the product, and its marketing only began four years later, both in Argentina and abroad.
This way, the healthy fruits of centennial olive trees planted in the emblematic estate of this winery, the early harvest and the extreme care throughout the winemaking process are the keys behind the quality of Essencia Luigi Bosca.
