The family-run Lazio producer earned its fifth overall NYIOOC distinction for an organic Itrana monovarietal from the ‘Village of Eternity.’
Olive Oil Times |
Campodimele, Italy — Azienda Agricola Carroccia Campodimele has been awarded a Silver at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Carroccia Campodimele Itrana brand.
Carroccia Campodimele Itrana is an extra virgin olive oil of medium intensity, produced exclusively from Itrana olives. Marked by a clear peppery sensation, the monovarietal also carries a ripe-apple character that rounds out the profile. An early October manual harvest of organic fruit is followed by cold pressing, with both the production process and the packaging carried out without plastic.
Azienda Agricola Carroccia Campodimele is a family-run business with a 10-hectare estate on the hills near Campodimele, about 130 kilometers south of Rome, on the edge of the Aurunci Mountains Natural Park. The farm’s groves are planted with approximately 3,700 Itrana trees on terraces bordered by dry stone walls, an agricultural feature that also plays a role in soil stability and water retention on the steep terrain.
Campodimele is often referred to as the “Village of Eternity,” a nickname tied to its reputation as one of Italy’s longest-lived communities. Studies have examined the unusually high number of centenarians among its small population, linking longevity to a combination of genetics, rural physical activity, low stress and a traditional Mediterranean diet in which olive oil features prominently. For the Carroccia family, that connection between place and daily life is closely bound up with the identity of the farm and its Itrana monovarietal.
Over the last two decades, co-owner and manager Paolo De Filippis and a cousin expanded the family’s olive-growing area from three to ten hectares, keeping the focus on Itrana, a cultivar valued locally for both oil and table olive production. In the same region, Gaeta olives are produced from Itrana trees under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), while Itrana oils are associated with the Colline Pontine PDO.
Quality-focused practices extend into harvest and milling decisions. De Filippis has emphasized early-season harvesting and the use of electric tools in the field, reflecting an effort to reduce the risk of contamination associated with petrol engines. Carroccia Campodimele does not operate its own mill, instead relying on a local facility dedicated to a small group of organic producers to ensure traceability and avoid mixing fruit of uncertain origin.
In the groves, the farm has long worked under organic practices and has also been transitioning toward biodynamic farming. Soil health is supported through composting manure with olive pruning remains, left to mature for a year before being applied beneath the canopy. At the same time, changing weather patterns in Lazio have added pressure to long-established routines. De Filippis has pointed to shorter winters, episodes of sudden heat and hailstorms as factors that can influence flowering and fruit development, and the farm has been considering irrigation while monitoring trees closely and collaborating with a local agronomist to support climate resilience.
The 2026 Silver Award adds to a consistent NYIOOC record for the Campodimele producer. Across its participation, Azienda Agricola Carroccia Campodimele has earned five awards in total: two Golds and three Silvers, including a Gold in 2025 and previous Silver Awards in 2024 and 2023, as well as a Gold in 2022.
The NYIOOC result also strengthens the producer’s standing in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where Azienda Agricola Carroccia Campodimele holds the #34 position in Italy, #75 in the Northern Hemisphere and #79 Worldwide.
The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, widely regarded as the world’s leading olive oil quality contest, is a trusted reference for consumers and industry professionals.