About us

We are progressive, contemporary farmers who are mindful of the responsibilities imposed by our family history.

We manage the company with care, respect and commitment, built on the legacy of the past but with the boldness of the future.

Benedetto Bella

Benedetto Bella was born in Tusa, known in ecclesiastical archives as a “landowner and notary” in Tusa.

Contrada Vallarancia

Contrada Vallarancia appears for the first time among his possessions

Don Giuseppe Bella

Don Giuseppe Bella expands the property including the Ciampoli and Bulifari districts

Vallarancia oil

For 30 years, the oil produced in Vallarancia by Maruzza Bella and Francesco Mastrandrea (local doctor) was transported by mule in special milk churns to the railway station to be sold in Palermo.

Abandonment

Rosalia Bella and Giuseppe Ragonese move to Palermo for work and the Vallarancia olive grove begins a long period of abandonment and neglect.

The fire

In the fire that devastated the entire municipal area of Vallarancia, 800 century old olive trees were burned.

Tenute Ragonese

Tenute Ragonese is Born. Lancillotto Ragonese, an advan farmer, begins to thoroughly renovate the vast property.

A new beginning

Our company now has more than 2.000 young plants of six different cultivars, all of which are native of the area. We also have 150 century old olive trees that were saved from neglect and the fire of 2012

1700

Benedetto Bella

1854

Contrada Vallarancia

1901

Don Giuseppe Bella

1930

Vallarancia oil

1960

Abandonment

2012

The fire

2016

Tenute Ragonese

TODAY

A new beginning

Tenute Ragonese

The company today

Our company currently has more than 2,000 olive trees of seven different varieties, all of which are native to the area.

We are able to manage and control our entire short production chain, from the plant to bottling and on to the end consumer.

Thus, through in-depth studies and thanks to the best technologies available in the olive oil sector, we have developed the know-how necessary to consistently obtain extra virgin olive oils of the highest quality.

Tenute Ragonese

The Cultivars

The cultivars we grow are Biancolilla, Santagatese, Verdello, Crastu, Giarraffa, Nocellara dell'Etna and Nocellara Messinese.

Combined with the exceptional microclimate of the Vallarancia district and its fertile soil, they grow vigorously, giving us oils with bouquets characterised by vegetal notes of fresh tomato, wild herbs, artichoke and almond, complemented by distinct and pleasant phenolic accents.

Tenute Ragonese

Contrada Vallarancia

Tenute Ragonese was founded in Contrada Vallarancia, a hill in the Tusano countryside overlooking the sea.

Tusa is a village in the heart of Sicily with a long tradition of olive oil production. Located at an altitude of 600 metres and 30 kilometres from Cefalù, it overlooks the Aeolian Islands, a small island within the island.

Environment and technology

Sustainability

There can be no quality without respect for the environment and biodiversity.

Weather monitoring

We use interconnected agro-meteorological control units that allow us to better manage the health protection of our crops and minimise the exploitation of our natural water source.

Clean and sustainable energy

We produce clean electricity from renewable sources and aim to completely replace all combustion-powered agricultural equipment with zero-emission electric motors

Spontaneous grassing

We practise spontaneous grassing and mulching in all our olive groves to protect the soil from erosion and provide it with natural nutrients. In addition, by doing so, we encourage the growth of various species of plants and pollinating insects.

Zero pesticides and chemical fertilizers

We have eliminated the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers thanks to environmentally friendly cultivation techniques and care that stems from respect for traditions.