Lanaitho

In the heart of Sardinia, at the foot of the Supramonte mountains, lies Oliena — a village where olive growing has shaped both the landscape and the local culture for centuries. Here, ancient olive trees stand among wild Mediterranean vegetation, many of them created generations ago by grafting cultivated varieties onto native wild olive trees.

It is in this remarkable setting that the Cooperativa Olivicoltori di Oliena, known as Olioliena, brings together around 150 small olive growers. Founded in 2016, the cooperative continues a much older local tradition of working together, following in the footsteps of an earlier cooperative established during the first half of the twentieth century. Today, its members unite the experience of older generations with the ideas and energy of younger farmers, sharing one goal: to preserve Oliena’s olive-growing heritage while producing extra virgin olive oil of exceptional quality.

At the centre of Olioliena’s identity is the Nera di Oliena, an indigenous olive variety closely connected to the territory. Alongside it grows Bosana, one of Sardinia’s best-known cultivars. Together, these varieties express the distinctive character of the island: intense aromas of Mediterranean herbs, fresh green notes and a deep connection to the rugged Sardinian landscape.

The cooperative’s flagship extra virgin olive oil, Iliò, is produced in Oliena from olives grown by its members and processed mechanically at low temperatures. Its quality has earned important recognition in Italy and abroad, including first prizes at the Ercole Olivario competition and international gold medals. In 2024, Olioliena was also named “Cooperative of the Year” by Gambero Rosso’s Oli d’Italia guide, while Iliò received the guide’s highest “Tre Foglie” recognition.

What makes Olioliena particularly special, however, is not simply the awards. It is the collective behind the bottle: dozens of small farming families caring for centuries-old trees, protecting local varieties and keeping agricultural knowledge alive in Sardinia’s interior. Their work is both a continuation of tradition and an investment in the future — creating reasons for younger generations to remain connected to the land and to see olive growing as something worth preserving.

Olioliena is therefore more than an olive oil producer. It is a story of community, landscape and continuity: 150 growers working together so that the olive groves of Oliena, and the culture surrounding them, can continue to thrive for generations to come.