Gambero Rosso and the Consorzio Olio di Puglia IGP brought the best of Apulia’s terroir to Il Vicolo restaurant, with tastings, stories, and perfect pairings.
Aromatic, bold, and unmistakable: the Coratina olive oil took centre stage in Paris during a special evening organised by Gambero Rosso in collaboration with the Consorzio Olio di Puglia IGP. The event, held on February 11 at Il Vicolo, a family-run restaurant awarded in the Top Italian Restaurants guide since 2020, was a celebration of one of Apulia’s most distinctive olive cultivars.
The evening was structured around a guided tasting led by Lorenzo Ruggeri, journalist and food & wine expert, who took the public on a sensory journey through tasting techniques, the unique terroir of Puglia, and refined food pairings. Alongside him was Sebastiano Spagnoletti Zeuli, representative of the Consorzio and producer himself, who helped narrate the story of this precious ingredient.
Coratina is the most widespread cultivar in central Apulia, covering over 60,000 hectares. Known for its bitter, spicy and persistent profile, it’s appreciated for both its flavour and its high polyphenol content, making it an antioxidant powerhouse. Unlike other varieties, Coratina is self-compatible and boasts a strong personality, often standing out in blends, or shining even brighter as a monocultivar.
During the event, four Apulian oil mills were highlighted, each showcasing a different interpretation of Coratina while maintaining its bold identity. The oil was then paired with a bespoke menu crafted by chef Maurizio Carlucci, who brings tradition and creativity together in his cuisine. Among the memorable dishes: cuttlefish noodles in almond broth with fermented Jerusalem artichokes and lemon, a refined take on orecchiette with rapini, and a surprising dessert—smoked cardamom panna cotta with blood orange and caramelised hazelnuts—proving that Coratina can even be paired successfully with sweets.
The celebration continued the next day at Wine Paris, where the Consorzio Olio di Puglia IGP had its own space during the Tre Bicchieri event. Here too, Coratina remained the star, with a wide range of tastings drawing professionals and enthusiasts alike.
With its robust identity and ties to the land, Coratina proves to be more than an ingredient—it’s a symbol of Puglia’s excellence and gastronomic culture, capable of elevating the international perception of Italian extra virgin olive oil.
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