In the heart of Tuscia, the Antico Frantoio Cesare Battisti guards a centuries-old tradition: extra virgin olive oil from the Caninese variety. It is the olive that best tells the story of the Viterbo area, and for generations we have worked it with care.
The Caninese, native olive of the Viterbo area
Grown since Etruscan times in the territory of the province of Viterbo, the Caninese (also known as Canina or Montignoso) is a vigorous tree, resistant to wind and adaptable to the area’s different soils. It produces small drupes, with an average yield of around 16% that can reach 20% in the best years. It is precisely this hardiness that, over the centuries, made it the reference variety of the territory: a tree that rewards even where other cultivars would struggle.
How to recognise its oil
Caninese oil stands out for:
- an emerald green colour with golden highlights;
- a fruity aroma with hints of cardoon, field grass and artichoke;
- a bold flavour, with a pleasantly bitter and pungent aftertaste.
It is rich in polyphenols and natural antioxidants, with a maximum total acidity of 0.5% that confirms its high quality. Bitterness and pungency are not defects, but the mark of a living oil: the same polyphenols that give those sensations protect the oil from rancidity and extend its life.
From harvest to bottle
We harvest the olives in the optimal period, between October and December, choosing the moment when the balance between yield and quality is best, and we mill them within a few hours: this is how freshness and quality are preserved. Used raw, where it is at its best, the Caninese enhances pulse soups, bruschetta and grilled meats, while the prolonged heat of cooking would disperse its aromas.
A tribute to our land
Every bottle is a homage to the Viterbo Tuscia and to the passion that has driven our work for generations. Behind a well-made Caninese oil there are the groves of Vetralla, its volcanic soils and the hands of those who tend them. Would you like to taste it? You will find it in our shop or get in touch.