La Basentana

The company La Basentana manages a family-run farm called Antico Frantoio il Chiastrone. It is the family of Roberto Passerini, an agronomist and agricultural entrepreneur with a long and rich experience rooted in a passion for extra virgin olive oil.
 

La Basentana: specialists in extra virgin olive oil for over 150 years

It all began in 1870 with a notarial deed that sanctioned the properties of the Santoro family from Tricarico, Roberto's great-grandmother.
The company then passed into the hands of grandfather Pasquale, and from 1966 it has been run by Giuseppe's father, Gustavo.
Thus, after 4 generations, in 2000, it is Giuseppe who takes the reins of the company.

But what ties together the generations of a family for such a long time to continue the activity of the mill? A passion for a land, Lucania, rich in history, traditions, and a millennia-old culture for the olive and its excellent products.

The purpose of La Basentana is to tell the story of Lucania through their products, via the aromas and flavors of oil.
Every year, the tradition repeats itself: the processing of olives, the harvest, and the tasting of the first oil are just a few of them.
And it is precisely in this generous land that the family produces and directly transforms only superior quality and organic extra virgin oils.

Today, La Basentana cultivates about 7000 olive trees over 24 hectares of land. The olive groves extend along the Valle del Basento and are located in a hilly area under organic farming practices.
The climate is very favorable, and no particular pest control interventions are required.
Only certified organic fertilizers are used for organic olive growing.
 

La Basentana: between centuries-old olive trees and product quality, passion is at the core

All the olives that are part of the family-run farm's cultivation share a single ancestor: Il Chiastrone, a millennium-old olive tree. The Chiastrone is the emblem of the company and represents its historical memory.

The tree has produced up to 900 kg of olives on its own, and in the past, 9 men and 11 women harvested its fruits.
Every year, today, from its olives, only a few exquisite bottles are produced, giving life to olio EVO il Chiastrone.

The obtaining of the final product that is sold to the consumer is the last link in a long chain of meticulous operations, which are constantly accompanied by passion and attention to detail.
The olives are harvested, for example, at the right ripeness level, and the best ones are selected. They are then defoliated and wash carefully, not to mention they must be processed within 6 hours of picking.
Furthermore, the oils are filtered using strictly natural methods. These are just some of the meticulous processes conducted to ensure a perfect supply chain!

However, tradition is not the only fundamental key for La Basentana: innovation is another cornerstone, as modern technologies allow for the advancement of tradition itself while keeping pace with the times.
Many new processes guarantee increasing quality and yield. This allows the final consumer to enjoy an extra virgin olive oil more unique than rare, imbued with the passion that has always characterized the company.