DOP Sierra Mágina, an Extra Virgin unrepeatable
By Juan Herrera
In the Sierra Mágina mountain range, in the south-central zone of the province of Jaén, a unique extra virgin olive oil is produced from the 61,000 hectares of olive groves protected by the Protected Denomination of Origin Sierra Mágina.
The picual variety, the majority in the area almost 100% (also admitted as secondary the Manzanillo de Jaén) provides very stable oils, which retain their smell and flavor for longer than other varieties, and is one of those with a higher Part of healthy components in polyphenols
In addition, the oils protected by the Sierra Mágina DOP must be extra virgin, very fruity, very stable and slightly bitterness and itching in the mouth, with an acidity of less than 0,5º, and green, tomato and fig tree flavors.
These characteristics have been used to the wines of the area, represented by their more than 50 brands of 29 mills and bottlers registered to the entity, numerous national and international awards in the last competitions, both in the awards of the Ministry of Agriculture, the prestigious Mario Solinas, as well as different awards and medals at the most prestigious international awards. Melgarejo, Oro de Cánava and Dominus Early Harvest, stand out for their many distinctions.
Services
The Regulatory Council of the Appellation of Origin Sierra Mágina has its own laboratory, chemical and organoleptic, for the quality indices of olive oil. In addition, through its technical team, it provides pest control services in the region of Sierra Mágina, contracting and technical management of the collective treatment of the olive fly, in addition to performing technical services integrated production in the API Of the Cooperative Bedmarense. It also carries out important training work, through workshops for schoolchildren, as well as olive oil tasting and research courses, collaborating in projects with entities such as IFAPA or Fundación Citoliva.
Where to find the oil of Sierra Mágina?
In addition to having a presence in the most important gourmet and specialized stores in the country, it is possible to find Sierra Mágina oils in all major hypermarkets as well as in national airport stores.
More oil covered
After the closing of the data for the 2016/2017 season, the production decline in the Sierra Mágina region became evident, with 31,000 tonnes of oil, almost 15% less than in the previous year. Of that amount, the juice classified as extra virgin has amounted to 11,500, sufficient to guarantee to the packers the availability of extra virgin oil sufficient to attend to their demand, and evidencing the effort for the separate collection of the olive growers, and the care in the grinding by the mills registered in the Regulatory Council.
The most important fact has been the increase in the commercialization of oil packaged with the seal of the Sierra Mágina Denomination of Origin, which in 2016 amounted to 2,550,000 liters, surpassing the historical maximum of 2 million liters
This increase, according to the Denomination of Origin, has mainly occurred “due to the increase in the direct sale of producers to final consumers, using telephone and online, in addition to the consolidation of exports and the presence of our oils In the great distribution”.
This fact is fundamental as the commercialization in packaging format with differentiated quality will allow the final consumers to appreciate the quality of the oils linked to the seal of Sierra Mágina, and the mills and olive growers can perceive a fair price for their product.
