Recognizability from a qualitative point of view represents one of its very important strong points: La Dritta, together with the Toccolana and Leccino varieties, is the reference cultivar in the production of the Aprutino Pescarese DOP oil. This oil was the first in Italy to have obtained European DOP recognition in 1996. The DOP Aprutino Pescarese oil is 80% made up of the Dritta monovarietal and guarantees the protection of the quality of the product. Within the Colline Teramane PDO it represents 10%. It is also present within organic production but in smaller volumes. The Consortium for the Protection of Aprutino Pescarese extra virgin olive oil was established in 1992 by the will of the Associations of Olive Producers, Cooperatives and a group of olive growers from the Province of Pescara. As soon as the Consortium was established, it promoted the development of the production regulations for the recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin by the European Community, which took place on 2 July 1996, with Regulation 1263. From the few initial members, today the Consortium it boasts over 50, divided between olive growers, cooperatives, millers and bottlers. It is led by President Silvano Ferri and carries out an important information, training and promotion action. Numbers are important. If we make, for example, a comparison between the 2020 and 2021 vintages: the 2021 olive oil campaign started under the best auspices in the Vestino area, where olive growing and viticulture, represent the historical and traditional vocations that account for 45% of the income produced in agriculture. In 2020, the DOP “Aprutino-Pescarese” productions presented volumes of 20,626 liters of certified oil and 13,506.25 liters of oil authorized for packaging. The success demonstrated by the numbers has been growing year by year.

CPT Dritta of the Pescaresi Lands

The headquarters of the CPT “Dritta delle Terre Pescaresi” is at the headquarters of the leader, Associazione Culturale Pleiadi, in Via della Monache n.4 in Loreto Aprutino. The “Terre Pescaresi” GAL has also granted the use of the “Terre dei Vestini” Gallery of Taste in the premises of the former Court of Penne in Largo San Giovanni Battista for the activities. The Galleria del Gusto is the third in Abruzzo after that of the “Province of Chieti” opened in Casoli (CH) in September 2008 and the “Terre Pescaresi” inaugurated in Manoppello (PE) in August 2015. The project was born in Abruzzo within of the local development plans promoted by the LAGs, to create knowledge centers on the culture of the territory and food. The Municipality of Penne accepted the invitation of the GAL Terre Pescaresi to create a space dedicated to food and wine and the territory in the city, inside a building of historical and architectural value. The intervention was financed by the GAL Terre Pescaresi within its Local Development Plan, PSR Abruzzo 2007-2013, with the co-financing of European Community Funds EAFRD.

 

The weather cooling down and the sea rippling. Everything tells me that winter has arrived for me andthat I must, without delay, harvest my olives andoffer the virgin oil to everyone. ‘altar of the good God.
Frédéric Mistral