Photo: Oio Vivo

Extra virgin olive oils produced by the Vodnjan brand Oio Vivo have been one of the world’s top 20 finest oils for years

Buried deep in the Greek myths, there is a story of the origin of the olive tree, a noble tree the fruit of which has been a source of food and inspiration for centuries. The legend says that it all started with a battle between the goddess Athena and Poseidon, the powerful ruler of the sea.

Poseidon slammed his trident into the ground, creating a salt spring. Athena, on the other hand, did not want to destroy the ground with salt water. She touched a cliff with her spear instead, and an olive tree sprouted from the ground. Gods were thrilled with her gift. The olive tree provided food, oil and timber, becoming a symbol of peace and prosperity. 

Firm and tough, olive trees are an inseparable part of the Mediterranean DNA, including Istria, where we have records dating to ancient times confirming that ancient Greeks and Romans highly appreciated the quality of the Istrian olive oil, which was, at the time, considered the standard against which all other oils were evaluated. It is, therefore, no wonder that today the Croatian peninsula is a world-famous destination known for extra virgin olive oil.

The oil that stands out among the elite Istrian olive oils is the brand from Vodnjan, Oio Vivo, whose products, for years, have been featured as stars in highly prestigious guides and have won many international awards. These oils can be considered more than foodstuff; they are liquid gold, telling a story about excellence and passion.

The name Oio Vivo, meaning ‘oil that is alive’, has an ancient Roman heritage and is a nod to the Istriot dialect, which is still in use in Vodnjan. The name is not only a token of respect for the ancient tradition of making olive oil but also a symbol of the perfect combination of the ideal geographical position of Istria and state-of-the-art production technologies. Each drop of this oil tells a story of the earth, history and innovation, creating a unique and outstanding taste.

In 2005, the largest olive grove in southern Istria was planted in a place where there once was a fire-devastated wasteland. That was Oio Vivo, the heart of Istria, which attracts people who want to taste the true essence of the Mediterranean. Today, in a green oasis situated only 5 km from the sea, there are 15,000 olive trees with a spectacular view of the Brijuni Islands. 

What Oio Vivo offers is not only olive oil but also a real symphony of flavour and aroma. In the Oio Vivo extra virgin olive oil range, there are the monovarietal oils: Istarska Bjelica, Vodnjanska Buža, Rosignola, and Žižolera, the old local cultivar and the company’s flagship. For those who like blends, there are also Gajardo and Bon.

The quality and excellence of the Oio Vivo oil have been recognised by qualified olive oil experts in many international competitions. In every competition the Oio Vivo oils participated in – from New York and Tokyo to Paris, London, Monte Carlo and Dubai – they only won gold medals. For years, they have been part of the reputable guides Flos Olei and EVOOLEUM, which are considered olive oil bibles in the world of olive oil. Last year, all four monovarietal oils – Vodnjanska Buža, Žižolera, Istarska Bjelica and Rosignola – won gold at the New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC), the largest and most prestigious quality extra virgin oil competition in the world. The judging panel of the olive oil Oscars is made up of leading international experts, who follow a rigorous technological protocol in order to analyse each sample of oil, and the winners are featured in the official guide to the world’s best olive oils – The Best Olive Oil Index. Its annual list of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the best extra virgin olive oils…