Photos: Oio Vivo, Marijana Ćurt
For years, the extra virgin olive oils produced by the Vodnjan-based brand Oio Vivo have ranked among the world’s finest – a status reflected in the many awards they have received
Historical records attest that even in ancient times, the Greeks and Romans appreciated the quality of Istrian olive oil, which was, at the time, considered the standard against which all other oils were evaluated. It comes as no surprise, then, that the Croatian peninsula of Istria occupies a prominent position on the global stage of extra virgin olive oil production.
In light of this, the Oio Vivo brand from Vodnjan stands out among the elite Istrian olive oils. For years, their products have been featured in highly prestigious international guides and have won many international awards.
Behind the Oio Vivo brand of extra virgin olive oil stands the Vodnjan-based company Oleum Maris. It was set up in 2009 by Vlado Ćorluka, Martin Milas and Velimir Jurić – three enthusiasts whose passion for olive oil sparked the planting of the largest olive oil grove in the southern part of Istria.
On land that was once fire-devastated and neglected, a new green oasis began to emerge in 2005, located just a few kilometres from the sea, with a view of the Brijuni Islands. Today, as many as 15,000 olive trees grow across 56 hectares of land.
The name Oio Vivo, meaning ‘living oil’, draws on ancient Roman heritage and is a nod to the Istriot dialect, still spoken in Vodnjan. The name is not only a token of respect for the ancient tradition of making olive oil but also a symbol of a harmonious relationship between the ideal geographical position of Istria and state-of-the-art production technologies. The entire production of Oio Vivo is based exclusively on olives from their own groves, and the practice of early harvesting enables the production of fresh, fragrant and high-quality oils.
In the Oio Vivo extra virgin olive oil range, there are the monovarietal gems: Istarska Bjelica, Vodnjanska Buža, Rosignola and Žižolera, the last of which is an old local cultivar and company’s flagship. For those who like blends, there are also Gajardo and Bon.
