The Cultivars · SiciliaI Cultivar · Sicilia

Six native Sicilian olives.Sei olive siciliane autoctone.

An intricate tapestry of olive trees flourishes at Castruriali — youthful specimens and venerable elders, each a distinct Sicilian variety, esteemed for the quality and flavour shaped by the island's climate, soil and centuries of cultivation.

In brief

Castruriali is pressed from three native Sicilian varieties: Nocellara del Belice (fruity, green-almond character), Cerasuola (high polyphenol content and the pronounced peppery finish) and Biancolilla (floral, light and aromatic). Grown in the hills of Salemi, Trapani, for the current harvest, these cultivars produce naturally high-polyphenol oil with a sensory profile impossible to replicate outside Sicily. The 2024/2025 Early harvest is independently verified at 410 mg/kg total polyphenols.

N° 01

Nocellara del Belice

FruityAlmondLow acidity
Valle del Belìce · West

Impressive in size — 5 to 7 grams — rounded, in vibrant green or black, ripening to a rich wine-red. Its firm, crunchy pulp delivers a subtly bitter, delightful taste.

The oil tantalises with a medium-intensity fruity aroma underscored by almond, green tomato, freshly cut grass and artichoke, with a harmonious balance of bitterness, subtle spice and a touch of sweetness. Rich in polyphenols, it excels drizzled raw or in cooked dishes thanks to its high smoke point.

N° 02

Cerasuola

RobustArtichokePeppery
Trapani & Agrigento · West

Remarkable in size — often above 7 grams — with elliptical drupes that transform from vibrant green to deep, alluring black-purple as they mature. Destined exclusively for pressing.

Harvested early, the oil offers medium-high fruity flavours with artichoke and fresh grass, a delightful spiciness and bitterness. Fully ripe, it turns to an intense bouquet of tomato and thyme — sweeter and more delicate. Abundant in oleic acid, antioxidants, beta-carotene and tocopherols.

N° 03

Biancolilla

LuminousFresh almondAromatic
Agrigento · South-West

A cultivar of Sicilian origin, distinguished by lush, robust foliage. Its drupe shifts from delicate pea-green to luminous pink-tinged yellow, culminating in a captivating purplish-pink at full maturity.

The oil is exceptional — luminous in hue, endowed with an intense, captivating aroma. Its flavour unites fruity notes with the distinctive essence of fresh almonds and subtle hints of artichoke, leaving a satisfyingly aromatic aftertaste.

N° 04

Castricianella (Castriciana Rapparina)

RareEarthyFloral
Castroreale · North-East
Rare · Near-extinct heritage cultivar

A rare and ancient cultivar native to Castroreale, almost extinct — unique and precious, with a heritage that speaks to centuries of cultivation in the region.

It embodies the terroir of Castroreale: rich earthy undertones balanced with a subtle floral fragrance. The oil is full-bodied and deeply aromatic — green herbs, nuts and a light peppery finish. From firsthand experience, we believe it produces some of the finest extra virgin olive oil, at notably higher yields.

N° 05

Nocellara Etnea

VolcanicGreen appleBalanced
Etna · East

Robust, medium-sized olives with a rounded shape and vivid green hue that deepens as they ripen — remarkably resilient and adapted to Etna's volcanic soils.

The oil is smooth and low in acidity, brilliant golden-green, with distinct notes of green apple, herbs and freshly cut grass over subtle artichoke. On the palate, a harmonious balance of mild bitterness, pepperiness and a lingering touch of sweetness. Rich in polyphenols, which give it its bitterness and pepper.

N° 06

Verdello

HerbaceousGreen almondBright
Catania & Siracusa · South-East

A vigorous Sicilian cultivar with elongated, deep-green drupes that hold their colour late into the season — long favoured on the island's eastern slopes for its dependable yield and resilience through dry summers.

Pressed early, the oil is brilliantly green and grassy, with notes of green almond, mint and a clean herbaceous lift. A lively bitterness and gentle pepper resolve into a crisp, refreshing finish — a bright, youthful counterpoint within the Castruriali cuvée.

Sicilian soil · The Sicilian advantage

Grown on the island of Etna.

What sets Sicilian olives apart begins underground. Sicily's soils are as varied as its history — volcanic on the slopes of Etna, limestone, clay and stony schist across the rest of the island — and the best olive ground is poor and free-draining, so the trees work hard for water.

Trees raised on hard, dry ground develop a depth that rich, easy soils cannot match: higher polyphenols, a fuller body and the bright peppery finish that marks a true Sicilian oil. Our current harvest grows on the limestone and clay hills of Salemi, in western Sicily.

The soil
Mineral-rich and free-draining
The legacy
Shaped by Mount Etna
In the glass
Higher polyphenols, deeper flavour
Altitude
Up to 700 m above sea level
Harvest method
Early harvest, pressed the same day

“Many believe olives to be vegetables — they are stone fruits. High in oil, low in sugar, an impressive legacy dating back almost 6,000 years.”

Verified Provenance

Certificate of Origin — Mandanici S.r.l.

Our oil carries an official certificate of origin issued to Mandanici S.r.l., confirming that every drop is produced, pressed and bottled in Sicily — nothing more, nothing less.

View CertificateLab Analysis ReportPhytosanitary Certificate
Related guides
What makes Sicilian olive oil different →Why good olive oil is peppery →How to choose real extra virgin olive oil →
Shop the OilThe Castruriali Experience
A purchase with purpose

Taste that brings a grove back to life.

Every bottle you buy helps us reclaim abandoned Sicilian groves and protect rare native varieties for the generations to come.

Shop the oil

Nocellara · Cerasuola · BiancolillaOlio extravergine di oliva Castruriali

Three Sicilian olives, one oilProdotto a Castroreale, in Sicilia

Our three native varieties are pressed together into Castruriali extra virgin olive oil: 2024/2025 Early harvest, 410mg/kg polyphenols, Great Taste 2025.Olio extravergine da olive coltivate sulle colline di Salemi, in provincia di Trapani, prodotto e imbottigliato a mano a Castroreale. Raccolta precoce 2024/2025: Great Taste 2025, 410 mg/kg di polifenoli, analizzati da un laboratorio indipendente.