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Palazzo di Varignana presents the new oil
The limited edition Aurum, made from centuries-old olive trees, debuts

The 2025/2026 olive oil campaign brings a collection of six extra virgin olive oils that reflect a vintage with clear aromas and true to the Emilia-Romagna terroir. The limited edition "Aurum" seals the deal, produced for the first time exclusively from centuries-old olive trees owned by the estate.

Palazzo di Varignana | The new extra virgin olive oil collection

Varignana (BO), November 3, 2025 | From the heart of the Bologna hills comes the new Palazzo di Varignana oil: a collection of six extra virgin olive oils, made from selected cultivars and including four monocultivar (Pandesco Bio, Brisighella DOP, Vargnano, and Stiffonte) and two multivarietal (Cabianca Bio and Lafonte). The year's climate, with spring rains and mild temperatures, supported the balance of the soil and an orderly ripening of the olives, producing fresh, fragrant, and perfectly balanced oils with a high biophenol content and rich in green fragrances that subtly convey the complexity of this part of Emilia-Romagna . In a challenging context for the sector, the new campaign confirms the qualitative consistency and style that Palazzo di Varignana has consolidated over the years .

"In a challenging year for many Italian olive-growing areas, we managed to obtain oils of great freshness and quality," confirms agronomist Aleandro Ottanelli. "The weather conditions favored the vegetative balance and the vivacity of the aromas: this year's oils fully reflect the expectations and the Palazzo di Varignana style."

Extra virgin olive oil from centuries-old olive trees

To seal the 2025/2026 olive oil campaign, the limited edition “ Aurum ” makes its debut, For the first time this year, it is made from a separate batch obtained exclusively from centuries-old olive trees owned by the company . The choice of batch favors freshness, aromatic clarity, and long shelf life , resulting in a rare oil, extracted separately and selected for its freshness and longevity, which concentrates the memory of the place in just a few drops.

Palazzo di Varignana | Aurum Limited Edition

From the largest olive grove in Emilia-Romagna, the 2025/2026 olive oil campaign

Agrivar, the Palazzo di Varignana farm, was founded in 2015 on the hills of Castel San Pietro Terme with a clear goal: to enhance the local area through a circular model that combines landscape, agronomy, and hospitality. Over a decade, the recovery of soils and crops has reshaped an agricultural mosaic that now spans 700 hectares : an open-air laboratory where biodiversity is integral to the strategy. The project's centerpiece is the olive grove: 265 hectares, the largest in Emilia-Romagna , with over 195,000 trees . Local varieties such as Nostrana di Brisighella are grown here, preserved and revitalized using sustainable techniques. The vision of founder Carlo Gherardi , who has also been Ambassador of the Cities of Oil since 2024, continues to guide a project that unites tradition and innovation, roots and future, confirming Palazzo di Varignana as a benchmark for Italian agricultural excellence .

It is from this heritage that each year the collection of six extra virgin olive oils is born, recognized for its quality and agronomic excellence. In the 2025/2026 olive oil campaign , each label interprets the Bolognese hills with a different accent . The Pandesco Bio (100% Maurino cultivar) opens on a refined note: a green and crunchy nose, between tender almond and heart lettuce; the taste is clean and measured, with a harmony that invites a second taste. The Vargnano (obtained exclusively from the Nostrana cultivar) favors breadth and continuity: a bright fruitiness, hints of citrus zest and hillside herbs, a broad and enveloping palate. The Stiffonte (from a central Italian cultivar, the Correggiolo) moves towards a classic balance: young artichoke and fresh almond intertwine with an elegant vegetal maturity; in the lingering finish, bitter and spicy dialogue without overpowering each other. The Brisighella DOP (Monocultivar Nostrana di Brisighella) - from an early harvest of still green olives , in order to best enhance the characteristics of a quantitatively limited but extremely high-quality production - concentrates the identity of the area: olive leaf, cut grass, a clear hint of tomato, and a tasty and precise finish.

The two multi-varietals complete the picture with a chorus of aromas. Cabianca Bio offers a medium fruitiness: green olives, wild herbs, a lively flavor with a balanced bitter-spicy texture. Lafonte finally emphasizes the vegetal component—cardoon and artichoke—supported by a marked vivacity and a persistence that reflects the care taken in harvesting and milling.

Palazzo di Varignana | Organic Pandesco, 100% Maurino cultivar

Varignana Palace | Centuries-old olive tree

Varignana Palace | Olive Harvest

Varignana Palace | An olive grove

Palace of Varignana | Landscape with olive trees

Varignana Palace | An olive grove