2.3.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 78/21
New version: ‘“Riviera Ligure” extra virgin olive oil, optionally accompanied by one of the additional geographical references, must be obtained from one or more of the following local olive varieties (some of the most common synonyms of which are indicated in brackets), which are present in the olive groves of the territory specified in Article 3 either on their own or in combination: Arnasca, Carparina, Castelnovina, Colombaia, Cozzanina, Cozzanone, Fiandola, Frantoio, Finalina, Lantesca (or Mattea, Pertegara), Lavagnina, Leccino, Liccione (or Lizzone, Olivastrone), Merlina, Mortellina, Mortina, Negrea, Nostrale, Olivella, Olivotto, Pignola, Prempesa (or Principina), Razzola, Rondino, Rossese, Taggiasca (or Gentile, Giuggiolina), Taggiasca di Feglino and Toso.’
It has been found that there are varieties in the area that can be traced back in particular to the Frantoio variety and which have adapted over time to become native varieties; it is therefore clear that there is a need to involve as many of the olive growers concerned as possible.
Moreover, laboratory analyses have shown that the oil obtained from these varieties meets the characteristics specified for ‘Riviera Ligure’ extra virgin olive oil.
The specificity of the product is not affected by removing the previous restrictions on the varieties used for ‘Riviera Ligure’ extra virgin olive oil.
This is because in an average year almost all of the oil produced under the designation comes from processing olives of a single variety: Taggiasca.
This variety, which is grown under that name in the provinces of Imperia and Savona, has also adapted to the specific characteristics of Liguria and given rise to varieties with different names, such as Lavagnina in the province of Genoa and Razzola in the province of La Spezia.
The fact that the olives grown in Liguria all derive from a common strain was noted by Italy’s most distinguished botanist, Giorgio Gallesio, in the early years of the nineteenth century.
He established that there was a single type of olive tree, that he called Gentile, which had gradually come to characterise the entire territory of Liguria and had become known by different names depending on where it was grown and the various ways it had adapted to the environment in those places.
‘Riviera Ligure’ oil therefore has uniform characteristics, as the differences between the oils designated with the three different geographical references are quite marginal and can normally be detected only by a highly skilled and experienced taster.
Growing characteristics Amendment concerning Article 5 of the product specification and point 4.5 of the published summary on the description of the growing area This amendment does not affect the single document. — In line with the previous amendments, the description of the growing area in which it is possible to use the ‘Riviera Ligure’ designation, optionally accompanied by one of the additional geographical references, has been rewritten: the growing area is now described briefly with a single description covering the various sub-areas included in the current specification.
Current version: ‘3.
Hillside olive groves on a medium or steep slope, mainly laid out in terraces, that are situated in the area indicated in Article 3 above and whose soils derive from fragmentation of the parent rock of calcareous origin, are thus suitable. 4.
For the production of extra virgin olive oil with the “Riviera Ligure” protected designation of origin accompanied by the geographical reference “Riviera dei Fiori”, the suitable olive groves are those located in the production area described in Article 3(2), lying on land with a greater or lesser degree of slope, laid out in terraces, where, as a result of the mechanical fragmentation of the parent rock of calcareous origin (Eocene), the formation of layers has, over time, given rise to medium soils becoming looser at higher altitudes. 5.
For the production of extra virgin olive oil with the “Riviera Ligure” controlled designation of origin accompanied by the geographical reference “Riviera del Ponente Savonese”, the suitable olive groves those located in the production area described in Article 3(3), lying on sloping land and laid out in terraces, excluding the Albenga plain, where the parent rock of calcareous origin has been affected by meteorological phenomena and waterways, giving rise to medium, generally deep soils, becoming looser and more permeable at higher altitudes owing to the presence of shale.