There's a good chance the olive oil in your kitchen right now came from a blend. Most supermarket bottles do — multiple varieties, multiple origins, mixed for consistency and volume. Nothing wrong with that. But it means you've probably never tasted what a single olive variety actually tastes like on its own.
That's what Zuccardi's varietal range is about. Four oils, four varieties, each grown in the foothills of the Andes in Mendoza — Argentina's wine country — by the Zuccardi family, who have been farming the region (and producing award-winning wines) for generations. The same terroir that produces some of Argentina's finest Malbec turns out to be exceptional olive-growing country too: high altitude, dry climate, intense sun, cold nights.
But before we get into the varietals — how do you know if an olive oil is actually good? A few things to look for:
Features of premium quality olive oil
- Cold-extracted — the oil is extracted without heat, preserving flavour and nutrients
- Extra virgin — the highest grade, meaning no chemical processing and less than 0.8% acidity
- Single origin — you know exactly where the olives came from, which means traceability and consistency
- Single varietal — made from one olive variety only, so the flavour is pure and distinct rather than averaged out across a blend
- Dark glass bottle — protects the oil from light, which degrades quality over time
- A peppery finish — that slight catch at the back of the throat is a sign of healthy polyphenols, not a flaw
Zuccardi's varietal oils tick every one of these. They're also cold-extracted, single-origin, and used in some of Hong Kong's finest kitchens, including Michelin-starred Andō.
Four monovarietal EVOOs: How to choose one
How to choose between the four varietals? If you're buying one: Picual is the most versatile everyday oil. Genovesa is the best for raw and delicate dishes. Coratina is for bold cooking and anyone who likes an oil with real character. Arauco is for meat lovers and anyone who wants something distinctly Argentine.
In terms of mildness: Genovesa and Picual are on the milder end, Coratina is bolder, and Arauco is the most robust.
Here's what you need to know about each.
Genovesa — Delicate & complex The Zuccardi Genovesa has soft green aromas, a gentle bitterness, and a smooth, balanced finish. It's the most versatile of the four — light on the palate and elegant. Use it where you want the olive oil to enhance rather than dominate: fresh salads, raw fish, vegetables, seafood, or simply poured over good bread.
Coratina — Bold & herbaceous Originally from Puglia in southern Italy, this is one of the most intense of the range. On the nose: green stems, olive leaves, coffee, almonds, and green banana peel. On the palate: potent, complex, with a pronounced and persistent spice. It's the one for big flavours — drizzle it over grilled beef, pair it with mature cheese, truffled pasta, bitter chocolate, or any dish that can hold its own against a bold oil.
Picual — Aromatic & fresh Originally from Andalusia in Spain, Picual is the most aromatic of the range — very fresh, with medium-intensity fruitiness reminiscent of tomato plants, green apples, citrus, and aromatic herbs. The taste is harmonious and balanced, with medium bitterness and spice. It's the everyday oil — equally happy poured over warm bread, drizzled over grilled fish, tossed through pasta, or used as the base of a simple salad dressing.
Arauco — Intensely fruity Argentina's oldest olive variety, and the one most at home in Mendoza. Arauco has a fresh, green profile with complex and intense fruitiness — notes of tomato leaves, arugula, artichokes, herbs, and freshly cut grass. On the palate it's notably fresh, with green grass, tomato, and artichoke, and a medium-high bitterness and spice. High in antioxidants, it produces fresh, balanced, and complex oils. Best with red meat, spiced dishes, tomato sauces, and hard or spicy cheeses.
If you're buying as a gift: any of the four makes a beautiful bottle — the Zuccardi label is elegant and the 500ml format is generous.
This month, add a bottle to any online order for HK$200 (regular price HK$298).
We also carry Olibaeza extra virgin olive oils from Spain — another producer we import directly and believe in. More on those soon.