AZIENDA AGRICOLA BELOLLARI E FIGLI

Ertan Belollari shares his passion for everything related to olive farming and its products, from extra virgin olive oil to brined olives and more. The business stands in Pontedassio, the main centre of the middle Impero Valley, surrounded by olive trees, all set on mostly steep terraces. The azienda is located in an old oil mill. The Belollari family has installed a modern two-stage continuous cycle oil mill and all the modern equipment needed for state-of-the-art, quality production. Ertan is committed to his work and plans for the future: impact on the community (including an educational area for schools and groups of visitors) and valorisation of the spaces of the ancient oil mill, one of which is the monumental water-powered wheel.

The azienda grows 6,000 olive trees, most of them rescued from abandonment, with consequent landscaping work, which includes dry-stone walls. A recent history: the Belollari family, of Albanian origin, has been farming olives for just over 20 years. Ertan has listened to the elders’ advice, and (since 2015) has been working on the farm with the support of his family, firstly his wife Alba, who graduated in oil tasting.

It was no coincidence that these young farmers represented Liguria at Expo 2015 in Milan: the beginnings of high-frequency promotion in a crescendo of activities.

Almost all the olive-growing areas stand in Carpanei, Rovolla, Viexi, Rovea, Runchi, Ornelli, Vacché, Zerbà sottana. Toponymy reveals the history of the places and wooded areas that were later cultivated, first with cereals and finally with olives.

The Belollari family is the committed, hard-working heir to a centuries-old tradition. A story of passion, skills, and the production of PDO Riviera Ligure extra virgin olive oil.