Meridione is our bold salute to the southern Italian palate—pressed not on the Mediterranean coast, but in the sunrise mist of California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Nine Italian cultivars, harvested green-gold in early November, rush from grove to mill within hours, then rest under nitrogen until each drop tastes exactly like the fruit it came from: deep green tomato, wild arugula, and a slow-building pepper that keeps talking long after the fork is down.
Certified USDA-organic and woman-led, this tiny 900-tree estate filters its oil for clarity, and longevity, then ships just a few thousand bottles a year. The result? Judges can’t resist it: ATHENA Double Gold (95+), California State Fair Best in Class, and “Best Organic EVOO Worldwide.” Your salad, soup, or grilled lamb won’t resist it either.
Pour Meridione over bitter greens, drizzle it into a ribollita, or finish a marbled rib-eye straight off the grill. One hearty splash turns Tuesday night into a Tuscan celebration—passport optional, scarcity very real. Stock up now; the grove won’t yield this power again until next harvest.
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