The Aix-en-Provence region is one of the cradles of olive oil in France. The influence of the Phocaeans and later the Romans anchored this region in the tradition of olive oil.
L’AOP huile d’olive of Aix-en-Provence guarantees the know-how, olive and local varieties.
Geography of the AOP olive oil terroir of Aix-en-Provence
Located in the South-West of lower Provence in the cradle of the Durance, between the Alpilles, Sainte-Victoire and Sainte-Baume, the territory of AOP Aix-en-Provence olive oil includes 73 communes.
Spread over two departments, the Aix region remains one of the largest in Provence, 555 hectares and produces on average 150 000 liters of olive oil per year.
AOP Aix-en-Provence in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône
Municipalities entirely included in the AOP zone: Aix en Provence, Allauch, alone, In prison, Auriol, will have, Barben (The), Belcodene, Beaurecueil, Bouc-Bel-Air, Bouilladisse (The), Cabries, Cadolive, Carry-le-Rouet, Chateauneuf-le-Rouge, Cornillon-Confoux, Coudoux, Cuges les Pins, Destrousse (The), Eguilles, Ensues-la-Redonne, Fare-les-Oliviers (The), Fuveau, Gardanne, Gemenos, Gignac-la-Nerthe, Greasque, Lambesc, Lancon-Provence, Rove (Le), Pennes Mirabeau (The), Meyreuil, Mimet, Pelissanne, Peynier, Peypin, Plan-de-Cuques, Puyloubier, Rognac, Rognes, Roquefort-la-Bedoule, Roquevaire, Rouset, Sausset les Pins, Simiane-Collongue, Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon, St. Cannat, Saint-Flames, Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde, Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, Saint-Savournin, Tholonet (Le), Shots, Vauvenargues, Velaux, Alleys, Ventabren, Vernègues, Vitrolles.
Communes partly included in the AOP zone : Berre-l’Etang, Chateauneuf-les-Martigues, Big, Istres, Martigues, Marseille, Miramas, Puy-Sainte-Reparade (Le), Port-de-Bouc, Saint-Esteve-Janson, Salon-de-Provence.
AOP Aix-en-Provence in the Var department
Forcious, Pourrieres, St. Zacharias.
Varieties of olives authorized for PDO
In addition to the area defined above, AOP Aix-en-Provence claimants must have an olive grove that includes certain varieties of local olives. The PDO imposes a multi-varietal oil. The orchard must include 80% the following main varieties : Aglandau, Salonenque, Cayanne.
The orchard must include at least two of these three main varieties.
Secondary varieties cannot exceed 20% and are limited to the following olives : Bouteillan, Coarse, Picholine, Verdale-des-Bouches-du-Rhone, Ribier, Sabine, Saurine, Sigeoise, Triparde.
A land, two types of oils
The AOP olive oil of Aix-en-Provence offers two types of oils, mostly the fruity green and some mills work there’matured olive oil.
Green fruity olive oil from the Aix-en-Provence region
The green fruitiness is an oil where green olives are pressed immediately after harvest. This oil is characterized by pronounced aromas of raw artichoke or freshly cut grass. It has a moderate ardor and a slight peppery taste..
Ripe fruity olive oil from the Aix-en-Provence region
Matured olive oil can also be worked with olives picked green but left to mature for a few days so that they turn purple.. They are then crushed and pressed to obtain a ripe fruitiness.. The aromas are completely different and we are more on cooked artichoke, tapenade smells, ripe fruit, toast. The ardor is felt for the first few months and then tends to disappear. It is a very sweet and fruity oil.
Cooperative olive mills
3 cooperative mills are present in the AOP Aix-en-Provence sector :
- Le Coudoux Cooperative Mill,
- le Mill of La Fare les Oliviers,
- le Mill of Velaux.
Private olive mills
4 oil mills are spread over the territory of the PDO :
- Moulin des Costes in Pelissanne,
- Moulin Donnier in Velaux,
- Moulin Margier in Auriol,
- Moulin Chateau Virant in Lancon-de-Provence.
Olive-growing estates
15 large estates work with olive oil with the AOP Aix-en-Provence :
- Chateau Calissanne in Lancon de Provence
- Chateau Virant in Lancon de Provence
- Domain of La Fanette in Le Puy Ste Reparade
- Domain of La Pomme in Trets
- Domain of Saint-Ser in Puyloubier
- Domaine de Suriane in Saint-Chamas
- Domain of Masks in St Antonin sur Bayon
- Calabrun area at La Fare les Oliviers
- Domaine du Petit Léou in Château-neuf les Martigues
- Domaine La Michelle in Auriol
- Domaine Saint-Hubert in Pourrieres
- Carbonel family in Velaux
- The Blue Mas in Gignac La Nerthe
- But Merici in Berre l'Etang
- More Seneguier in Lancon de Provence