Our History

Grandma Maria with little Emilio

Grandma Maria

Our story begins with Nonna Maria’s passion for the olive trees of Cervaro and her dream of building a family farm where she could produce her beloved olive oil. It is inseparably linked to the extraordinary nature of the Cervaro region, nestled on the slopes of Monte Aquilone, where, thanks to its ideal location and the unique composition of the land, a highly prized oil has been produced for millennia, known by the ancients as “sacred” for its therapeutic and medicinal properties.

After World War II, Nonna Maria began working for local landowners. However, the great frost of ’56 forced her husband, along with many others from Cervaro, to emigrate to France. She stayed behind with their young son, continuing to work the land. Thanks to the money her husband sent home, she first started renting small plots of land and later began buying her beloved olive trees.

In the 1960s, she managed to purchase her first 3 hectares of land, fulfilling her dream of producing extra virgin olive oil.

“When I got married in 1948, I owned just one olive tree.”
— Maria Bordone

In 2003, the oil was awarded the Bronze Medal as the best light fruity oil of Lazio.

Our Monocultivar Leccino Bio received the prestigious two Red Leaves rating in the 2020 OLI D’ITALIA guide by Gambero Rosso, signifying excellence.

Emilio

In 1978, Emilio was born. After completing studies in olive growing, he decided to carry on Nonna Maria’s dream by implementing a modern agronomic management of the farm.

In 2000, he opted to create the brand “I Magnifici,” producing an extra virgin olive oil that is a blend of local varieties, including Moraiolo and Leccino.

In 2003, the oil received the Bronze Medal for the best light fruity oil of Lazio.

The need to improve and diversify the product, to enhance and protect the region’s excellence, and to introduce modern cultivation techniques gradually led us to expand our project.

In 2010, with a complete rebranding, Azienda Agricola GEMMA was born.

Production increased to three types of oils, each designed to enhance the organoleptic characteristics of the local varieties: Leccino and Moraiolo.

The farm expanded to 40 hectares.

To ensure better oil quality and out of a growing desire to protect the environment, we achieved Organic Certification in 2016.

The new products also began receiving their first recognitions.

“I was born among olive trees and inherited from my grandmother a love for the land and olive cultivation.”
— Emilio Tomassi

The Future

We face great challenges for the future:

Increasing production through the acquisition of new land.

Building an on-site oil mill.

Through studies and research, we are working on the selection and improvement of our native cultivars (Leccino and Moraiolo).

Promoting eco-sustainable projects to protect and enhance our territory, such as “Adopt an Olive Tree from Cervaro.”