The history of Sicily is inextricably linked to the famous House of Grimaldi. Since the 14th Century, when the family first settled on the island, the Grimaldis have owned vast estates of land and olive groves.
The di Nixima Olive Groves
The history of Nixima Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva traces its roots deep into the Middle Ages. Attracted by Sicily’s strategic location along the trade routes of the Mediterranean, the Genovese Grimaldi di Nixima family relocated in the 14th century to Catania, then one of the most important economic, cultural and political centres of Italy.
Over time, the Princes Grimaldi di Nixima acquired vast land estates on the fertile slopes of Mount Etna, including olive groves.
The quality standards the Grimaldi di Nixima family places on its olive oil have traditionally been very strict. Due to the stringent production requirements, the annual olive oil output is limited. For centuries, the use of Nixima olive oil was an exclusive privilege of the Grimaldi family, carefully preserved.
Only recently was Nixima Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva made available to connoisseurs, albeit in modest quantities.
Elvira Grimaldi di Nixima
In 2012, Princess Elvira Grimaldi di Nixima took over the production of Nixima Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva. Her wish is to produce an olive oil that honours her birth-land and pays homage to the rich traditions with which she grew up:.
Thanks to Elvira Grimaldi’s ambition and the dedication of her team, di Nixima has become an exclusive olive oil with a nuanced flavour. The olives are hand-picked relatively early in the season. As a result, the yield from the harvest is limited; the quality of the oil, however, is ideal. The olives are cold pressed within 24 hours of being harvested, and bottled and stored under tightly controlled conditions.
The Princess is inspired by her eccentric grandfather, Enrico Grimaldi di Nixima, a wilful man who, among other things, embarked on a desert journey to Syria and brought Arabian horses back to Italy by boat. It was Enrico who taught Elvira that pushing the limits and turning one’s dreams into reality are really worth the effort.
While Nixima Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva is regularly awarded prestigious prizes, Elvira Grimaldi remains modest about her success:
