Story: Olive Oil: Frantoio Galantino | Apulien
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Frantoio Galantino: An Apulian oil mill with tradition
The Frantoio Galantino oil mill is a family business from Bisceglie in Apulia (southern Italy) that has been producing olive oil since 1926. Founder Vito Galantino - an experienced mastro oleario - converted an old grain mill into an oil mill. Today, the third generation of the family continues the business with the same passion: Michele Galantino expanded the brand awareness in the 1980s and bottled the oil himself in attractive bottles.

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History of the Galantino oil mill
The history of Galantino begins in 1926, when Vito Galantino took over an oil mill near Bisceglie (around 35 km north-west of Bari). Since then, the company has been in family hands. In 1960, the family acquired the La Fenice estate with around 47 hectares of olive groves. Some of the olive trees there are ancient and typical of Apulia. The olives of the Ogliarola and Coratina varieties are harvested by hand or with gentle machines when perfectly ripe. In the 1980s and 1990s, Michele Galantino's son Michele focused on exports and new products: He marketed the oils as branded products and expanded the range to include flavored seasoning oils (e.g. lemon, herb or chili oil) in the old tradition.

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Apulia - Italy's olive oil region
Galantino is located in the heart of Apulia (Italian: Puglia), Italy's leading olive oil region. Puglia produces over 50% of all Italian olive oil and is one of the most important olive-growing regions in the world. The flat, sun-drenched hills and the Mediterranean climate create ideal growing conditions. Typical Apulian varieties such as Coratina, Ogliarola, Leccino and Peranzana dominate oil production. Thanks to the long history of olive cultivation and special DOP areas (“Terra di Bari - Castel del Monte”), a high quality of olive oil has been established in the region.

Puglia is one of the most scenic and important olive-growing regions in Europe. The centuries-old olive groves characterize the image of the region and provide the raw material for Galantino's oils.

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Production methods and quality control
Galantino attaches great importance to traditional, gentle processing. The freshly harvested olives are cold-pressed: First, two old granite stone mills (“136†Image”) crush the fruit, leaving the olive skin largely intact. This is followed by pressing and centrifugation in a protective atmosphere - a modern cold pressing process that preserves the natural aromas. The entire production process is carefully monitored: Galantino constantly checks the processing steps and only harvests at the optimum ripening stage in order to guarantee consistently high oil quality.

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Important products from Galantino
The Galantino range includes a wide spectrum of high-quality olive oils and accessories. These include, among others:

Extra virgin olive oil - in various fruitiness types (light, medium, intense) and packaging sizes (bottles, canisters). Some of the oils bear the DOP designation “Terra di Bari - Castel del Monte”, which certifies their origin and quality. There is also an organic olive oil from certified cultivation.

Flavored oils - natural seasoning oils with herbs, fruits or spices. For example, fresh lemons, chilli or various herbs are ground together with the olives to create completely natural flavored oils. Examples include Olio al Limone (lemon oil) or Olio al Peperoncino (chili oil).

Gift sets and packaging - Galantino offers decorative gifts and stylish packaging. Popular items include 100 ml jugs made of hand-painted ceramic or wooden boxes containing several bottles of oil. Michele Galantino already attached great importance to “attractive bottles”, and even today the products are marketed as sophisticated gift ideas.

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Special features and awards of the brand
Galantino combines traditional craftsmanship with innovation and sustainability. The focus is on:

Traditional production methods: Processing is still partly carried out using historic stone mills. The Galantino family has been shaped by Mastri Oleari (olive oil masters) for generations, which is reflected in their craftsmanship and care. Origin and certificates: The oils come exclusively from Apulia. Many products bear the protected DOP seal “Terra di Bari - Castel del Monte”, and there is also certified organic olive oil. This underlines the regionality and sustainability of production.

International awards: Frantoio Galantino has received numerous awards. Highlights include the Ercole Olivario (Italy), the Sirena d'Oro (Sorrento) as well as gold medals at the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition and gold awards from Gambero Rosso (three times Three Olive Leaves).

Tourism and philosophy: In addition to oil production, Galantino runs a tasting room and even a small restaurant in the facilities - an example of eco- and pleasure tourism in Apulia. The company's philosophy is characterized by its commitment to quality, origin and (artisanal) tradition.

With its combination of family history, regional roots and modern processing, the Frantoio Galantino oil mill has earned itself a solid reputation as a top company in Puglia. - Gerardo [TS06/25]