Where Sicily becomes olive oil, hospitality and culture. There are places where the land is not merely something to be cultivated, but a heritage to be preserved, interpreted and shared.
Mandranova, in Palma di Montechiaro, in southern Sicily, is one such example. An estate where extra virgin olive oil embodies the terroir, the agricultural heritage and a family history.
In the late 1990s, Giuseppe and Silvia decided to breathe new life into the family estate, transforming it into a venture that combines tradition, innovation and hospitality. Across some 180 hectares of olive groves and almond orchards, an agricultural enterprise has taken shape that places quality and respect for the land at its heart.
At the heart of Mandranova lies extra virgin olive oil. The olive groves are home to cultivars such as Nocellara, Biancolilla, Cerasuola, Giarraffa and Coratina, which are showcased through single-varietal and blended oils. Harvesting takes place early, between September and October, whilst pressing is carried out at the estate’s own mill using mechanical cold extraction. Every stage, from cultivation to bottling, is overseen directly on the estate.
The result is oils ranging from medium to intense fruitiness, rich in polyphenols and characterised by fresh, vegetal aromatic profiles. Nocellara, for example, reveals notes of freshly cut grass, artichoke and tomato, accompanied by a balanced bitterness and a pleasant piquancy. These oils reflect the strength and diversity of the Sicilian landscape.
But Mandranova is not just about production. Giuseppe and Silvia have chosen to open the estate’s doors, transforming it into a place for people to meet and learn. Walks through the olive groves, tours of the oil mill, tastings and cookery classes allow guests to discover the value of extra virgin olive oil and its deep connection with the island’s culinary tradition.
Giuseppe and Silvia are ‘Frantoiani Coraggiosi’ (Courageous Oil Millers) because they have succeeded in transforming a family legacy into a contemporary project, in which agriculture, culture and hospitality coexist without losing their own identities.
At Mandranova, olive oil is not simply a product to be tasted. It is a story woven from the land, choices, people and traditions. A story that began in Sicily and which Giuseppe and Silvia have decided to share with the world.
