Tenuta del Barone di Montemurlo — Tuscan extra virgin olive oil
Questions
Storage, shelf life, shipping, and the questions about olive oil we get asked most.
How should I store extra virgin olive oil?
Dark, cool and closed. The three enemies are light, air and heat: a dark bottle in a cupboard keeps for months, the same bottle on a sunny worktop loses its aroma in weeks. No need for the fridge — cold makes the oil cloudy, and it clears again with no harm done.
How long does a bottle last?
Eighteen months from bottling, but the real point is different: extra virgin oil does not expire, it declines. It is at its best for the first six months, then slowly loses bitterness and aroma. Once opened, finish it within a couple of months.
Why is new oil cloudy?
Because it has just been milled and still holds particles of pulp in suspension. That is a virtue for taste and a flaw for keeping: those residues ferment at the bottom over time. This is why oil is left to settle before bottling, and why clear oil keeps far longer.
What is the difference between extra virgin and plain olive oil?
Extra virgin is obtained mechanically only, with no solvents and no heat, and must have acidity below 0.8% and no defect on tasting. Plain "olive oil" is refined oil with a little virgin blended back in: it costs less and has almost nothing of the fruit left.
When is the new oil pressed?
Between late October and November, right after milling. That is when it is greenest, most bitter and most peppery — and also when it divides people most: first-time tasters often find it too sharp. That sharpness is the polyphenols.
Can I send it as a gift?
Yes. At checkout you can choose "This is a gift": we remove the prices from the paperwork and add a card with your message.
Do you ship abroad?
Within Italy, across the European Union and worldwide. Bottles and tins travel in shock-proof packaging; if anything arrives damaged, write to us within 48 hours with a photo and we replace it.
Can I collect it in person?
Yes, by appointment: we are at Montemurlo, in the province of Prato. Write to us or send a WhatsApp message and we will arrange it.
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