If you follow our wine column you will already know what a D.O. is, which is an official designation of origin putting a particular product down to a specific, exclusive area.

Well, the province of Granada has Denominación de Origen Protegida for Aceite de Oliva, such as the Poniente de Granada D.O.P., created in 2003 but now the Valle de Lecrín and the Alpujarras are exploring the idea of sharing a combined D.O. for their olive-oil production.

It’s an idea led by La Flor de La Alpujarra cooperative, located in the municipality of Órgiva and representatives from the oil-production companies in the above areas met in Órgiva Town Hall with the aim of getting their own D.O.P.  (Protected Designation of Origin) Aceites Alpujarra-Valle de Lecrín.

The designation is based on the wealth of their century-old olive groves and the native, olive-tree variety, especially the Lechín variety.

The meeting was packed not only with representatives of sector producers but also bigwigs from the Agricultural Department of the Junta de Andalucia, and of course the Mayor of Órgiva, Raúl Orellana Vílchez.

There are oil mills in Nigüelas (one of the oldest amongst them), Pinos del Valle, Lanjarón, Órgiva, Almegíjar, Yátor, Juviles (the highest in Spain) Cherín, Alcolea, Canjáyar, Válor, and Laujar de Andarax, amongst others.

As mentioned before, there are ancient olive trees in La Alpujarra and the Lecrín Valley; many of which were planted by the Romans. In the Tíjola area of ​​Órgiva, one of the most colossal olive trees in La Alpujarra still exists. Very long-lived olive trees also exist in Pinos del Valle, Murchas, Dúrcal, Nigüelas, Béznar, Chite, and Melegís.

(News: Órgiva, Alpujarra/Valle de Lecrin, Granada, Andalucia – Photo: Rafael Vílchez

Keywords: Designation of Origin, Olive Oil, Mills, Centenary Trees

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