Schirinzi: 60 Years of Family Olive Oil Production in Puglia

The Ancient Land of Otranto

Drive south through Puglia, past Bari and Brindisi, until the land narrows to the slender heel of Italy's boot. Here, in the province of Lecce, lies the Salento peninsula—a place where olive cultivation isn't measured in decades but in centuries.

The Schirinzi family's 40 hectares of olive groves extend from the coasts of Salento, in what they call "the Ancient Land of Otranto." This isn't marketing poetry—it's geography and history intertwined. The mineral-rich soil, formed from ancient seabeds, the hot Mediterranean summers, the mild winters, and the constant sea breezes create conditions that olive trees have thrived in since Roman times.

Among their 6,000+ trees, some are centuries old, their gnarled trunks bearing witness to generations of harvests. Young trees grow alongside ancient ones, a living succession plan that ensures the estate's continuity.

1963: A Family Business Takes Root

In 1963, the Schirinzi family formalized what had likely been generations of informal olive cultivation into Azienda Olearia Schirinzi—the Schirinzi Oil Company. The decision to establish a formal business reflected a commitment that went beyond seasonal harvesting.

What makes 1963 significant isn't just the founding date—it's what came after. For 60 years, through economic upheavals, changing agricultural practices, and the industrialization of food production, Schirinzi remained stubbornly committed to their original vision: producing authentic extra virgin olive oil from their own groves, processed in their own mill.

Three Generations of Knowledge

The Schirinzi story isn't just about one generation's vision—it's about how knowledge compounds across generations. Each generation adds to the collective understanding:

• First generation: Established the groves, learned which varieties thrived in which microclimates, built the foundation
• Second generation: Expanded production, invested in modern milling equipment while maintaining traditional methods
• Third generation: Embraced direct-to-consumer sales, innovative packaging, and international shipping

This isn't a business where someone arrives fresh each season—it's institutional knowledge accumulated over 60 years of harvests, processing decisions, and quality observations.

The Salentine Varieties

Unlike industrial producers who might source olives from multiple regions (or countries), Schirinzi cultivates specific varieties adapted to Salento's terroir over centuries:

Olives are picked manually—harvested "from the tree even before the ripening process of the fruit is completed"—ensuring maximum polyphenol content and freshness.

Cold Pressed Within 24 Hours

The Schirinzi mill operates in Carmiano, just kilometers from their groves. This proximity matters critically for quality:

Olives begin oxidizing the moment they're picked. Every hour between harvest and pressing degrades the oil's potential—reducing polyphenol content, increasing free fatty acid levels, and diminishing the fresh, grassy flavors that distinguish genuine extra virgin olive oil.

Schirinzi's same-day processing—cold pressing within 24 hours of harvest—maximizes the retention of beneficial compounds that make olive oil valuable beyond basic cooking fat.

Two Flagship Oils: Santa Lucia and Boschino

Schirinzi produces two main extra virgin olive oil lines, each with distinct character:

Santa Lucia (Balanced/Equilibrato)

The more approachable of the two, Santa Lucia offers a well-rounded profile with:

• Medium intensity suitable for everyday use
• Almond and artichoke notes
• Light bitterness and gentle peppery finish
• Ideal for cooking, finishing, and bread dipping

Boschino (Fruity/Fruttato)

For those who want the full Puglian experience:

• More intense, complex character
• Fresh grass and green tomato notes
• Pronounced bitterness and pungency
• Best for raw applications and finishing

Both carry the "Fruttato" (fruity) and "Equilibrato" (balanced) designations that Italian producers use to communicate flavor intensity.

The Bag-in-Box Innovation

Here's where Schirinzi distinguishes themselves from tradition-bound producers: they've embraced bag-in-box packaging.

This isn't about cutting corners—it's about solving a real quality problem. Traditional glass bottles have a fundamental flaw: every time you open them, air enters. That air begins oxidizing the oil, degrading polyphenols and flavor with each use.

Schirinzi offers both traditional dark glass bottles and bag-in-box options, letting customers choose based on their usage patterns and preferences.

Direct from Producer: No Middlemen

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Schirinzi's approach is their commitment to direct sales:

"Our cold-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, both fruity and balanced, is not available in the traditional trade, much less in large distributors."

This isn't anti-business philosophy—it's quality control:

• No warehouse aging: Oil ships directly from temperature-controlled estate storage
• No supply chain degradation: No sitting in retail store shelves under fluorescent lights
• Harvest date accountability: You know exactly when your oil was pressed
• Producer relationship: Questions? Contact the family directly

Visiting Schirinzi

For those traveling to Puglia, Schirinzi welcomes visitors:

"Especially in the summer, tourists and vacationers who stay in Salento stop each year for a greeting visit to the farm and take advantage of purchasing."

The estate is located in Carmiano, in the province of Lecce—accessible from major Puglian destinations like Lecce, Otranto, and Gallipoli. Visitors can see the groves, the mill, and purchase directly from the source.

Why Schirinzi Matters

In an olive oil market flooded with misleading labels, anonymous blends, and degraded supermarket bottles, producers like Schirinzi represent something increasingly rare:

• Complete transparency: Single-estate production with full traceability
• Generational commitment: 60 years of accumulated knowledge and reputation
• Quality over volume: Direct sales model that prioritizes freshness over distribution reach
• Innovation within tradition: Embracing packaging solutions while maintaining production integrity

For consumers seeking authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil—not just oil bottled in Italy from imported olives—Schirinzi offers documented provenance from grove to bottle.

Our Verdict

Schirinzi earns our recommendation not for marketing claims but for verifiable practices: 60 years of family production, estate-grown traditional varieties, same-day pressing, and a direct-to-consumer model that eliminates quality-degrading intermediaries.

Their 88/100 score in our full review reflects solid performance across transparency, production methods, and freshness—with room for improvement in detailed polyphenol disclosure.

For anyone seeking a reliable source of genuine Puglian EVOO, Schirinzi's six decades of family commitment deserve serious consideration.