In the western Lake Garda area the are not many farms that rely exclusively on olive oil, a product that in most cases in this area is often complementary to wine. One of the exceptions to the rule is no doubt represented by Frantoio Montecroce in Desenzano: a reality that can be well defined historical as is tha been active for four generations on a hill called in fact Montecroce, in one of the touristic capitals of the Lower Garda. In truth even here once, many years ago, Domenico Ramanzini produced mainly wine in a family estate of about 20 hectares. But forty years ago, since the owner passed away, his son Egidio Ramanzini has chosen the path of olive growing concentrating the work on the exclusive production of oil.
“And now we find ourselves with a company that, among our olive groves and others run by ourservels, comes to a total of 11,000 controlled plants located between Desenzano and Toscolano – says Paolo Venturini, nephew of the owner and manager of the farm -. A bona part of these plants, about 7000, are quite young: we have planted them over the last 25 years focusing on all the local varieties linked to the Dop Garda Bresciano “.
The oil mill, even if private, also accepts olives by external producers: for most of the families that own olive trees between Sirmione and Padenghe the structure has become the point of reference for Lower Garda.
“The mill, as all the technologically oriented companies suited who are devoted to quality implement, is based on a modern production process in continuous cycle with crusher knives, who works in the absence of air against oxidation, a facr that guarantees higher quality but also a longer storage – explains Venturini-. The centrifugal force separates the solid from the liquid part, on which then we operate further to separate oil from the water. ”
The heart of the activity is focused on the company’s production, which in normal years can count on an average harvest of 2,200 quintals of olives from which Montecroce earns about 30,000 bottles of oil in various formats.
“The raw material that we work consists of several varieties grown exclusively on Garda, where there are more than 25 cultivars, some of which do not even belong to our area – says Venturini -. With this generic mass we produce three basic extravirgin, three different blends ranging from a particularly delicate type to come up to most intense flavors. The typical cultivar of Garda territory are used exclusively for out other three labels: our DOP Garda Bresciano, the Blend, and a monocultivar Casaliva, our last born. ” Montecroce oils have won many awards: in 2004, the Dop won the gold medal of the Competition Sol d’Or at Vinitaly in Verona for the light fruity category: the same product is back in obtaining a Special Mention in the same competition in 2014 while the Casaliva in the same year has won the gold medal in Japan by the local association of Oil Sommelier.
The choice to differentiate the range in six different types helped Montecroce to become a company strongly oriented to the tourist market of the Garda basin.
“Basically we only do direct selling at the mill, we have not agents nor representatives, no commercial network. Here we have always spoken foreign languages and this has quite naturally led us to a warm reception with tastings, guided tours, in an environment at the same time familiar but professional. ”
The oil mill is open all year from Monday to Saturday from 8 to 12 am and from 2.30 to 7 pm and Sunday from 9 to 12. Families and small groups can go directly to visit the mill and for small tastings in free mode, while for larger groups there’s a planned tour of an hour and a half to book. In stock you will also find a small selection of honeys and artisanal balsamic vinegars.
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