Sicily's Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the Slow Food Guide 2023

Sicilian extra virgin olive oil is an extraordinary and essential product of Mediterranean cuisine, widely appreciated all over the world. Slow Food, the international organization that promotes the culture of food and sustainable agriculture, has published the Extra Virgin Guide 2023, which lists the best Italian olive oils, selected by a panel of experts. Among the more than 1,200 oils reviewed are also the best oils from Sicily that have received the "chiocciola," Great Slow Oil and Slow Food Presidium of Secular Olives awards.

Not surprisingly, Sicily has collected quite a number of awards in the guide. With its ancient traditions and centuries-old knowledge of olive growers, Sicily has proven to be highly experienced in producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

Slow Food Extravergini Sicilia: the Chiocciola

The "la Chiocciola" award (the most prestigious), honors mills, farms and oil mills whose work well interprets the values and philosophy of Slow Food! There are 6 Sicilian companies that have received "la Chiocciola":

• Terraliva – Buccheri
• Vernera – Buccheri
• Agrobiologica Rosso – Chiaramonte Gulfi
• Titone – Misiliscemi
• Vincenzo Signorelli – Nicolosi
• Tenuta Cavasecca – Siracusa

Slow Food Extravergini Sicilia: Great Slow Oil

The Grande Olio Slow award is given to the excellent oil, able to excite in relation to native cultivars and the territory to which they belong, obtained with sustainable agronomic practices. Twelve Sicilian oils have received the Grande Olio Slow award:

• Nettaribleo Dop Monti Iblei di Agrestis – Buccheri
• Rosso e Villa Zottopera di Agrobiologica Rosso – Chiaramonte Gulfi
• Evo Antico Baglio di Antico Baglio – Paceco
• 6 File Grand Cru – Cerasuola e Alberelli Grand Cru – Cerasuola di Baglio Ingardia – Porticalazzo Paceco
• Evo Disisa di Disisa – Monreale
• Siracusana – Zaituna di Tenuta Cavasecca – Noto
• Cherubino Igp Sicilia – Tonda Iblea di Terraliva – Siracusa
• Qulfe Dop Monti Iblei di Terre sul Dirillo – Chiaramonte Gulfi
• Dop Valli Trapanesi e Nocellara del Belìce di Titone – Locogrande
• Le Terre di Vito e Le Case di Lavinia di Vernera – Buccheri
• Girì – Cerasuola di Xiggiari – Paceco
• Contrada Mancusi Igp Sicilia di Vincenzo Signorelli – Nicolosi

Slow Food Extravergini Sicilia: Secular Olives Slow Food Presidium

The Slow Food Presidium of Secular Olive Trees promotes the environmental, landscape, health and economic value of ancient olive groves of native cultivars and brings together producers who do not use synthetic fertilizers and chemical herbicides. Thirteen Sicilian producers have been awarded the Slow Food Presidium of the Secular Olive Trees:

• Zichichi di Agriturismo Don Carlo – Erice
• Rosso e Villa Zottopera di Agrobiologica Rosso – Petritoli
• U Crastu di Alessandro Zito – San Mauro Castelverde
• Evo Antico Baglio di Antico Baglio – Paceco
• 6 File Grand Cru – Nocellara e Alberelli Grand Cru – Cerasuola di Baglio Ingardia – Paceco
• Case di Latomie Igp Sicilia e Case di Latomie Dop Valle del Belìce di Centonze – Castelvetrano
• Mallia di G & G – San Mauro Castelverde
• Diodoros Igp Sicilia di Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle Dei Templi – Agrigento
• Siracusana-Zaituna di Tenuta Cavasecca – Siracusa
• Cherubino Igp Sicilia – Tonda Iblea di Terraliva – Buccheri
• Le Terre di Vito e Le Case di Lavinia di Vernera – Buccheri
• SolOlio di Virzì – Cesarò
• Contrada Mancusi Igp Sicilia di Vincenzo Signorelli – Nicolosi

Slow Food's Extravergini 2023 guide once again proved that Sicily has a long tradition of producing high-quality olive oils. Thanks to its geographical location, the variety of olives and the expertise of olive growers, Sicily's extra virgin olive oil continues to reap accolades around the world, receiving praise from food enthusiasts and chefs everywhere.