Who we are
The estate
The Masseria Maccarone cultural heritage estate extends for some sixty one hectares (approximately 150 acres). The estate has around twenty thousand olive trees, many ancient,
including semi-certificate varieties.
The historical defense walls that surround Masseria Maccarone protect a number of heritage
buildings. A 16th century Sheperds House; 17th century Farm House; 1754 Manor House; 1758
Family Church; 1790 Oil Mill and a 1820 Barn.
Within the perimeters of the heritage property but outside the defense walls is a historical
Hypogeum (subterranean chamber) with a mill that is still operational. Inside the chamber,
still preserved, is an ancient olive oil production system followed by Basilian Monks (330 to
400 AD) of Greek origin.
The mill
Traditional olive oil processing (dating back to 4000 BC) begins with crushing the olives into paste. The purpose of crushing is to facilitate the release of oil from the vacuoles. From generation to generation, Masseria Maccarone has followed the traditions of olive oil processing, with only minor variations over time to improve the quality of olive oil. But they have replaced granite stone crushers with metal crushers. Modern olive milling is very gentle in order to avoid overheating the paste, so not to exceed 27 degrees centigrade.
The olive oil processing
Masseria Maccarone is one of the few producers to practice organic olive cultivation. The cultivation is
overseen by technicians from the Intensive Production Consortium. Cultivation includes olive varieties
such as Ogliarola from ancient trees and Leccino; Coratina; Cima di Melfi; Carolea; Picholine; Frantoio;
Sant'Agostina; Nociaria; Frangivanta; Cima di Mola; Cellian and other indigenous varieties from
recent olive tree plantings.
The Masseria Maccarone olives are harvested by hand by “bacchiattura” (hitting
the tree with a stick) and mechanical shakers. They are crushed the same day as
harvesting, exclusively extracting the oil at low temperatures to produce an extra
virgin olive oil without acidity. This Masseria Maccarone traditional technique
ensures the unique and inimitable characteristics of each variety of olive are rich
in flavour, fragrance and pleasing to all the senses. The notorious producing
problem of extra virgin olive oil oxidation is neutralised by storing the oil in
stainless steel thermal air extractor silos. Furthermore, the exposure to air is
reduced to almost zero by the bottling process developed by Masseria Maccarone,
which keeps the quality and characteristics of the extra virgin oilve oil by
avoiding any form of oxidation degration.