Maria: an oil that speaks of Abruzzo
The Gambero Rosso Special Award 2020 tells the story of an achievement. But above all, it tells the story of a territory, and of the time it takes to listen to it.
A great oil is not recognised only at the moment you taste it. It is recognised by what comes before: the olive trees, the seasons, harvesting at just the right moment, and the care of those who know that every detail leaves its mark on the plate.
Maria is the extra virgin olive oil from Tenuta Masciangelo that we chose for Sapori.world. It comes from Francavilla al Mare, in Abruzzo, where Ruggero Masciangelo's estate grows its own olives between the hills and the Adriatic.
A recognition born in the field
In 2020, Maria was awarded Three Leaves in Gambero Rosso's Oli d'Italia guide, along with the Special Award for Best Medium Fruity. An important recognition, certainly. But what really interests us is what that award makes visible: the quiet work that takes an oil from the olive grove to the table.
The olives belong to the estate, picked with care and pressed within a few hours. This is not a technical detail for the label: it is how a product keeps its freshness, identity and character.
What "medium fruity" means
In the language of olive oil, a medium fruity is a matter of balance. It has presence, but doesn't overwhelm; it accompanies the dish without covering it. It's the oil you naturally find yourself pouring over bruschetta, freshly cooked vegetables or a simple plate of pasta, because it adds depth without asking for all the attention.
Maria is an invitation to slow down for a moment. To recognise that even an everyday gesture — a drizzle of raw oil — can change the way an ingredient expresses itself.
Sapori.world's choice
We don't choose a product just because it has won an award. We choose it when an award confirms something you can already sense: a clear origin, a recognisable producer, and a quality that doesn't need much explaining.
Maria's black bottle holds an oil born of an Abruzzo estate and of a patient, rigorous and down-to-earth way of working. This is what we want to bring to the table: not simply an oil, but a story worth telling.
Discover Maria in the Sapori.world selection.
