When is the olive harvest time in Tuscany?

The olive harvest in Chianti is a time of deep tradition and quiet beauty, occurring after the grape harvest, typically from late October through November.

As the autumn deepens, the silvery-green olive trees that line the Tuscan hillsides are laden with ripe fruit, ready to be picked and pressed into some of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oil.

The harvest is a manual, labor-intensive process, often carried out by families who have tended their groves for generations. Workers use small rakes or their hands to gently comb the olives from the branches, letting them fall onto large nets spread beneath the trees.

How to get great oil from the harvest?

The olives must be handled with care, as they are immediately taken to local mills for pressing, ensuring the freshest oil with the most vibrant flavor. This freshness is crucial, as olives are pressed the same day they are harvested to capture the bright, peppery notes that define Tuscan olive oil.

The landscape during olive harvest season is peaceful and serene. Unlike the lively grape harvest, the olive harvest feels slower and more meditative, reflecting the rhythm of the land as it prepares for winter. The golden autumn light filters through the branches, and the cool, crisp air is fragrant with the scent of earth and leaves.

After a day’s work, the olives are brought to the local “frantoio” (olive press), where they are transformed into the rich green-gold oil that has been a staple of Tuscan cuisine for centuries. Villages across Chianti, like Tavarnelle or Panzano, celebrate this harvest with small festivals, offering tastings of the new oil on fresh bread, drizzled over hearty soups, or paired with local cheeses.

Join the olive harvest at Clantenova

The olive harvest in Chianti represents not just the production of oil, but a continuation of ancient traditions that connect the people to their land. It is a time of gratitude, patience, and a deep appreciation for the simple, yet essential, gifts of the Tuscan soil.

For us in Clantenova it’s the time to celebrate the last days of a complete year cycle of hard working shared day after day with our guests. The time to close a long year of strong work and prepare for the next one.