Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Sardine Terracotta Bottle

Frantoio Muraglia extra virgin olive in a sardine terracotta bottle is not only a fine Italian olive oil, but is also a piece of art for your kitchen.

The intensely fruity olive oil is made from cold-pressed Coratina olives – a variety native to the Apulia region of Italy, where the Frantoio Muraglia olive groves are located. Coratina olives are unique in that they contain three times more antioxidant polyphenols than any other Italian olive variety. This gives the oil its intense flavour, with spicy notes and hints of astringency.

The sardine terracotta bottle is part of Frantoio Muraglia’s Pop Art collection. Every bottle is handmade and hand-painted, so each one is unique. As well as being stunning to look at, the terracotta also helps to keep the olive oil tasting its best. It protects the oil from exposure to light – one of the biggest causes of deteriorating flavour in olive oil.

The making of decorative terracotta vases, jars and bottles in Apulia is a tradition going right back to ancient times. The region is rich in red clay, and artisans trained in traditional hand-crafting methods are still very much a part of the region’s culture.

Use the fruttato intense olive oil over cold bean salads, or drizzle over a traditional bread all’acquasale. This is a rustic dish of stale bread soaked in cold water and plenty of salt, with lots of fresh vegetables and a glug of olive oil.

Frantoio Muraglia are passionate about olives. Watching over their company is the oldest olive tree in their grove – a majestic Coratina olive tree that is at least 450 years old and still gives fruit. They’ve been growing and pressing olives in the same way for nearly five generations of the Muraglia family, and their extra virgin olive oils have won over 16 awards in the past 10 years alone.

Ingredients: 100% extra virgin olive oil, obtained directly from coratina olives solely by mechanical means