Badia a Coltibuono

It is hardly surprising that an agricultural property which was founded in the 11th century should have at its soul a deep connection to the land around it, especially as it is called Badia a Coltibuono, the Abbey of the Good Harvest.

Founded by Benedictine monks, the beautiful Abbey, surrounded by fir and chestnut trees, has for centuries been a hub for progressive agriculture and known for welcoming visitors. The property was acquired by the Stucchi Prinetti family in 1846. Piero Stucchi Prinetti, who inherited the property in the 1950s, was considered to be a leading light in the production of quality Chianti Classico wines and one of the first to promote his wines to the international markets. Then, with the help of his acclaimed cookery book writer wife, Lorenza de’ Medici, he was the first to promote Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil to foreign markets, realising that this was a product that could add a touch of the flavour of the Tuscan land to international cuisine.

Our relationship with the Stucchi Prinetti family started shortly before the 1985 frost when two wine importers created The Tuscan Olive Oil Advisory Board, and organised what we believe was the first British olive oil tasting for retailers and journalists. It was here that we met Lorenza de Medici and were persuaded that it was, of course, completely feasible to have two Tuscan oils on our (very short) product list. That was the start of a long relationship which now continues with her children, Roberto and Emanuela.

The vast majority of their trees were damaged in the horrendous frost of January 1985/ The family, however, were not going to allow their customers to be deprived of a quality oil so they started to use their blending skills, buying in oil from other farms in Tuscany and from further afield in Italy, to supplement their diminished production. This oil, called Cultus Boni, remains a firm favourite. Many of the trees slowly recovered or were replanted and in due course two of the groves were certified as organic. However, production is very limited from these groves, and in some years oil from them is not available at all.