Meneghetti: four single-varietal olive oils and a guided tasting near Bale

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Around 700 Leccino, Buža, Rosinjola and Bjelica trees grow at Stancija Meneghetti. The four single-varietal oils can be compared side by side in the Wine Lounge, which also welcomes visitors who are not staying at the hotel.

Four cultivars across two and a half hectares

Restoration of the neglected estate began in 2000. Today, its olive groves cover approximately two and a half hectares of red soil. Natural ground cover is maintained between the trees, while pruning and careful soil management keep yields deliberately moderate.

Leccino grows alongside three cultivars with deep roots in Istrian olive growing: Buža, Rosinjola and Bjelica. Each cultivar is bottled separately, which allows a more precise comparison than the broad labels mild and robust.

From mild Leccino to robust Bjelica

Leccino is the mildest of the four, with aromas of green apple, almond and freshly cut grass. Buža is fruitier and has balanced pungency. Rosinjola is more bitter and pungent, with notes of artichoke and tomato leaf. Bjelica is the most robust, combining herbal notes with almond and wild asparagus.

The range also includes Izbor, a blend of Buža, Leccino, Rosinjola and Bjelica. Flos Olei rates Meneghetti as a producer. Across the 2019 to 2026 editions, its scores ranged from 94 to 96 points, with 95 points in each of the two most recent editions.

Processed within six hours of harvest

Leccino and Buža are picked by hand in early October, followed by Rosinjola and Bjelica in the middle of the month. The fruit is processed within six hours of harvest in a two-phase process, without added water and at a maximum temperature of 28 °C.

The oil is filtered immediately and stored in stainless steel tanks under inert gas. This limits its exposure to oxygen between extraction and bottling.

Olive oil tasting in the Wine Lounge

During the guided tasting, Leccino, Buža, Rosinjola and Bjelica are served with small bites. Reservations are required. The tasting is open to visitors who are not staying at the hotel. The Wine Lounge is open from 1 pm to 8 pm Sunday to Thursday and from 1 pm to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday.

The address is Stancija Meneghetti 1. The most reliable route is from Bale via the E751. Navigation apps sometimes suggest an unpaved road from Barbariga, but Meneghetti advises visitors not to use it. Free parking and an electric vehicle charging point are available.

Distance from Bale: 12 minutes driving (8.6 km)

Olive oil score in the Flos Olei guide: 2020 94, 2019 96, 2022 94, 2021 94, 2023 94, 2024 94, 2025 95, 2026 95

For: families, first time visitors

Address: Stancija Meneghetti 1, 52211 Bale

What to do: information, architecture, landscape, recreation, refreshments, food and drink

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