Al Parico, Soul and Art: an olive oil beyond essence

Al Parico, Soul and Art began its journey with olive oil with the aim of bringing life back to the estate, which had been completely abandoned, with the desire to recover its essence and once again give value to the land. In this sense, as they explain from the estate, the olive tree seemed the perfect symbol to achieve this goal. Moreover, they considered olive oil a product of great interest and highly prized, both on the island and around the world.

“This is how our path with olive oil begins: as a project of passion and respect for nature.”

The owners of Al Parico describe themselves as lovers of the island and everything it represents: its roots, commitment to the environment and organic farming. And that is how they have chosen to approach the various projects they carry out—giving back…

The first olive grove was planted in 2018, with almost 400 olive trees, eventually reaching as many as 2,500—around 10 hectares—which is what they currently have planted. Trees that, for the most part, are more than 10 years old. In fact, this year marks three years since they became fully-fledged olive oil producers. “We are very satisfied and proud to be able to distribute our product. From the beginning, we have prioritised quality over quantity, and we continue to do so today, convinced that it is the only way to honour this land.”

All processes are overseen by a team of four people, who handle the operation throughout the year, together with a specialist agronomist engineer. But during harvest time, as they wanted to emphasise, the entire estate team comes together and collaborates.

In fact, all the sectors covered by the estate—such as wine or livestock—are coordinated and complement one another throughout the year. For example, they use wool from their sheep to combat certain soil parasites.

The olive varieties grown on the estate are arbequina, picual and hojiblanca, with arbequina being the dominant one in terms of quantity. The oil therefore has notes of green fruit, a slight bitterness, aromas reminiscent of artichoke and tomato, and that final peppery kick in the throat. However, looking ahead, their idea is to obtain the Organic Farming certification seal and to offer single-varietal oils as well, along with oil-derived products—guided by the soul and art that already characterise this project.

Menorcan olive oil by Al Parico is, by its very nature, quite different: because of the location, proximity to the sea, the climate and the rocky soil—factors that point to a distinctive flavour. But above all, they highlight its insular origin. Menorca offers a unique microclimate, with sea breezes, calcareous soils and the biodiversity surrounding the olive groves. These are the characteristics they have sought to work with and enhance, setting themselves apart from the estate itself.