More gold for Fontclara extra virgin olive oil

Roland Zanotelli, his team, and their wonderful Fontclara extra virgin olive oils have been recognized with new awards, this time particularly moving. Specifically, while the Fontclara Argudell oil has won a Gold medal, the Arbequina oil has been awarded Bronze by a panel of independent experts from ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute for Food and Beverage Innovation, and the Sensor Technology research group. They all use scientific methods to conduct tests that demonstrate which oils can truly be described as “excellent.”

Many factors determine whether an olive oil receives such awards: the olives must be harvested at the optimal time, pressed immediately using state-of-the-art systems, and filtered and bottled in the absence of light and oxygen. Only those who work with the highest standards, passion, and precision can expect the best quality. The fact that the estate operates exclusively according to organic standards is a requirement of Roland Zanotelli, owner of the estate located in Fontclara, in the heart of the Empordà region of Catalonia. 

This award has been particularly gratifying for Rolland Zanotelli, a Swiss national from Basel. He discovered Fontclara decades ago, fell in love with the place, and decided to pursue his most cherished project there: caring for the land, cultivating olive trees sustainably and organically, and producing the best olive oil in the world. International critics have raved about his extra virgin olive oils, and year after year he reaps new awards while increasing his production. Currently, he owns more than 60 hectares of land and over 12,500 olive trees for the production and sale of high-quality olive oil. 

Roland Zanotelli, very pleased that his work is bearing fruit, declared: “As a businessman, one strives to make a profit quickly. Working with olive trees, some of which are very old, has taught me that the best results require time, heart, and soul.” By bringing his oil to the world, he not only wants to sell his product but also to showcase the best of his second home, Finca Fontclara in El Empordà.