From 1999 to mid-2008, Randall and Carolyn Abney had the amazing opportunity to rent a home on a 40-acre olive farm overlooking Florence (Italy).
The house was started in 1380 and completed in 1420. It was renovated in the late 1990s, and they were the first permanent human occupants since 1953 – the mice, ants and ghosts having been there while it was vacant.
During their tenure, Carolyn earned a Master of Wine Certificate from Slow Food University, and Randall did the same in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
After returning to the USA in 2008, Randall and Carolyn were so pleased to see familiar labels on bottles of extra virgin olive oil at the local supermarkets. According to Randall, “The first bottle we bought tasted awful. So we took it back. And the second. And the third. That’s when we began to investigate what was going on…..And we learned that the USA was not – and still is not – a member of the International Olive Oil Council.”
What Does this Mean?
Well, if an oil produced in Europe failed the EU standards to be labeled “extra virgin,” it could be – and clearly was being! – shipped to the USA and labeled Extra Virgin (EVOO) anyway. And most Americans were none the wiser.
Unfortunately, most Americans have never tasted “the real thing,” so when they do, they find the taste quite different. Worse yet, the so-called EVOOs have little or no health benefits – just 120 calories per tablespoon and 14 grams of fat.
The Abneys wanted both the taste and the health benefits, so they formed Uncommon Gourmet Associates, LLC and began importing large tins of oil from friends in Tuscany. “We love to entertain, and, as we made new friends in our new home in Georgia, they also wanted real EVOO, like they were tasting at our house.” said Carolyn.
Because of the proliferation of fruit flies in Tuscany, the Abneys decided to look for other EVOOs that had great taste, great health benefits, but not the likelihood of flying pests seen in Tuscany.
“At Vinitaly, I tasted about 100 EVOOs in blind tastings. I narrowed the field to 10 oils and asked to re-taste those. Of the 10, three were from the same producer: Agraria Riva del Garda, located on the north shore of Lake Garda, at the 46th Parallel,” said Randall.
It is not logical that superior EVOO could come from the 46th parallel because of how far north it is. However, the soft breezes coming from the south, across Lake Garda, get trapped by the leading edges of the Dolomite mountains and create a micro-climate. One that is ideal for growing olives. And where olive oil has been produced for some 2,000 years.
A friend, Francesco Leonardi, who is a 4th-generation maker of balsamic vinegar products in Modena, heard about the Abneys importing olive oil. He suggested they bring in his high-quality products as well. Uncommon Gourmet began importing from Francesco and currently offers over 80 Balsamic Vinegar-based products under the REALE label.
New Faces, Same Passion
Brian Leahy is a Senior at the University of Georgia, studying public relations and business. Growing up, Brian developed a love for cooking, spending his time in the kitchen, learning from his father and grandfather. In 2023, Brian had the opportunity to study in Singapore for a semester. During his time abroad, he traveled across Asia and Europe, soaking in different cultures and sampling as many cuisines as possible. He came away from the experience with a particular fondness for French, Italian, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine, and he continues to explore recipes featuring ingredients he fell in love with overseas. His travel, work in the restaurant business, and habitual home cooking have resulted in a passion for food that Brian plans to carry with him throughout his career and life. We are delighted to have him as a part of Uncommon Gourmet.
Randall says, “Because I love good EVOO and the great health benefits it contains, I’m known as the Oilvangelist. I hope to convert you to the love of and use of true EVOO, the truly unique olive dust – ULIDEA – and the great Balsamic products imported by Uncommon Gourmet Associates, LLC.”
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If this is your first time buying with Uncommon Gourmet, you can't go wrong with these bestselling signature products: REALE 5-year Balsamic Vinegar and ULIVA EVOO.
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