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Masía el Altet is a family-owned estate that dates back to the 18th century. The building is catalogued by the Valencian Community as "Cultural Patrimony-Building".
Contents
- The farm
- The olive grove
- Surrounding
- The Harvest
- The Extraction
- Masa el Altets range
- Awards
- website
- References
The owner of the rustic farm, The Economist and Auditor Jorge Petit, developed this business from his passion for the agriculture, the grove respects the tradition of farming from the existing centenary olive trees at the farm.
Originally, the olive oil was sold to Italy and given the exceptional quality obtained, he decided to bottle the so far acclaimed extra virgin olive oil. The acceptance was so great that Jorge Petit started to present his new product in many extra virgin olive oil competitions, becoming the most awarded EVOO in the world.
The farm
The farm is 30 km, as the crow flies, from the Mediterranean Sea. The microclimate brings cold winters and mild summers, and the extreme continental climate is tempered by the gentle weather patterns of the Mediterranean.
The olive-growing area of the rustic property Masía el Altet has approximately 70 hectares (170 acres), using drip irrigation systems. As regards to the soil management, no tillage is used in bare ground. The cultivation frame is 7×7 metres, with a total of 14,500 olive trees.
In the rustic property Masía el Altet the crop cultivation and maintenance are maximised in such a way that, through foliar analysis carried out on a regular basis, they try to achieve the optimal nutrients in the olives (both macro-and micro elements).
The olive grove
The varieties of olives are: Picual, Arbequina, Changlot Real, Genovesa, Blanqueta and Alfafarenca (the latter four varieties, native species).
Surrounding
Half of the farm belongs to this natural reserve; Parque Natural del Carrascal de la Fuente Roja it is the best example of Mediterranean forest in Spain, it is easily found; Pine, Home oak, Kermes oak, Savin, Juniper, Ash, Maple, Gall oak, among others.
The other half belongs to Parque Natural de la Sierra de Mariola in the opinion of many well-known botanists, it is the mountain ridge with the most aromatic and medicinal plants in the world. More than 1200 species of higher plants have been catalogued, including many plants endemic to East Spain and the Alicante area.
The particular personality of the Masía el Altet Extra Virgin Olive Oil is largely determined by the fact so many of these aromatic and medicinal plants grow in and around the olive groves, giving the fruit its special, unique organoleptic properties.
The Harvest
The olive is harvested when it is at the “Pre-Veraison” level of ripeness (the moment when the olive is at its best in terms of aroma and taste) using machines that shake the trunk, with the olives falling into inverted “umbrellas”.
The harvest is carried out over a short period of time to obtain a product of uniform quality. This is followed by immediate and consecutive milling, as the harvest is taken in. The harvest is monitored at all times so that the fruit is in impeccable condition.
Fundamentally, the way to obtain an oil of “Extreme Quality” is to monitor the product throughout all the stages of the process, with constant attention.
The Extraction
The extraction of the oil is carried out with high-technology machinery using a two-phase system at a very low temperature; the perfect way to obtain the best organoleptic and aromatic qualities. Short production process thanks to its extraction at a very low temperature, with considerable losses of oil in the marc. The net oil production is lower than 12%. Strict monitoring of the extraction process is maintained. The oil is stored in cellars in stainless steel tanks, in an innocuous, climate-controlled, inert space.
Masía el Altet´s range
Masía el Altet "High Quality" Coupage or blend: 60% Picual, 20% Arbequina y 20% Genovesa, Alfafarenca y Blanqueta (Last three local varieties) Masía el Altet "Premium" Coupage or blend: 30% Picual, 30% Changlot Real y 40% Genovesa, Alfafarenca y Blanqueta (Last four local varieties)
Masía el Altet "Special Selection" 100% Changlot Real. (Local variety)
Masía el Altet "High End" 100% Picual.
Awards
From its creation Masía el Altet has won more than 300 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competitions. Most important;