Saecula

Produced on Vulcino’s 15-hectare estate, Saecula captures the essence of the volcanic landscape between Lake Bolsena and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The secular olive trees — around 2,000, cultivated non-intensively at 200 m above sea level — are part of the innovative “Vulcino Music” project, where sound frequencies of Mozart and Bach accompany the trees during growth and production, enhancing vitality and harmony.

Harvested early in October and cold-pressed within four hours using a MORI 2-phase system, the oil expresses exceptional freshness and purity. With polyphenols exceeding 550–600 mg/kg, Saecula is both elegant and powerful — a liquid expression of art and terroir.

Deep green hue with golden tones. On the nose, fresh herbs, artichoke, and almond emerge, leading to a full, structured palate with pronounced bitterness and a distinct peppery finish. The aftertaste lingers with lettuce, chicory, and green leaf nuances.

Olive Oil Profile:

• Fruitiness: Medium-high (herbal and artichoke)
• Bitterness: Strong and well-balanced
• Pungency: Distinct, peppery and fresh

Pairing:

Ideal with beef carpaccio, porcini mushrooms, artichoke salads, swordfish, lentil soups, pasta with meat sauce, grilled tuna or game, and mature hard cheeses.

In the northern part of Lazio, close to the border with Tuscany, lies Canino — a small town surrounded by olive groves and shaped by the ancient volcanic landscape of the Viterbo area. This is the home of Il Vulcino, an organic farm where agriculture, gastronomy and music come together in a particularly personal way. The estate is located near the natural monument of Lago di Vulci and Torre Crognola, in a landscape deeply connected to the Etruscan history of this part of Italy.

At the heart of Il Vulcino is Eugénie , a classical musician and sommelier. Together with her husband Silviu and a young team, she has given new life to an old agricultural property, with particular attention to its centuries-old olive groves and to organic farming. Her background in music is more than just part of the family story: it has become one of the defining elements of the estate itself. The olive trees are accompanied by the music of composers such as Mozart and Bach!

The local protagonist is Caninese, an olive variety deeply rooted in this corner of Lazio. Il Vulcino works with Caninese both on its own and together with varieties such as Frantoio. Its Saecula oil, produced from old olive groves, is centred on Caninese and expresses the more powerful side of the variety, with intense green aromas, notes reminiscent of artichoke and leafy vegetables, and a pronounced bitterness and peppery finish. Principe, the estate’s traditional blend of Caninese and Frantoio, has a somewhat more rounded character, combining fresh vegetal notes with aromatic herbs and almond.

The farm works organically and produces considerably more than olive oil. Black garlic, almonds, grains, asparagus and fruit are also part of its agricultural world, reflecting an approach based on biodiversity rather than a single crop.

Over the years, the oils have gained recognition well beyond Lazio. Slow Food awarded Il Vulcino's oils its Grande Olio distinction in its 2021 guide, while Gambero Rosso included Principe Bio among Lazio's Tre Foglie oils in 2022. The estate also reports gold awards in New York, Tokyo and Amsterdam in 2022, while both Saecula and Principe have been selected by the specialist publication Merum.

To learn more about the philosophy of Vulcino read our journal feature:

Vulcino - When Land Shapes Flavor: Vulcino, Volcanic Soil and Olive Oil

🇮🇹 Merum 2023 – ❤️❤️ / Zwei Herzen (❤️❤️)

Selected among Italy’s best extra virgin olive oils in the Merum Guide 2023, which highlights exceptional EVOOs for professionals and enthusiasts in Germany.

🔗 Source – Merum Guide 2023

🇺🇸 New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) 2022 – Gold Medal / Goldmedaille

Awarded Gold among more than 1,000 entries from 30 countries at the NYIOOC, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious olive oil competitions.

🔗 Source – NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition

🇯🇵 Japan Olive Oil Prize (JOOP) 2022 – Gold Medal / Goldmedaille

Recognized with Gold for exceptional quality and purity. The JOOP celebrates top-tier extra virgin olive oils that demonstrate innovation and authenticity in production.

🔗 Source – Japan Olive Oil Prize (JOOP)

The MERUM Guide is a respected German-language publication focused on Italian olive oil. Each year, expert tastings highlight Italy’s top extra virgin oils with a simple heart rating system (❤️ to ❤️❤️❤️).

NYIOOC – New York (World Olive Oil Competition): One of the world’s largest EVOO competitions. An international jury conducts blind tastings to recognize oils for excellence, consistency, and authenticity; results are published in the Official Guide to the World’s Best Olive Oils.

JOOP – Japan Olive Oil Prize (Tokyo): An international competition in Tokyo evaluating extra virgin olive oils through panel-based blind tastings. Awards promote quality, varietal identity, and best production practices in global markets.