Three questions to Eric Martin, La Magnanerie
Eric Martin gave up his career in consulting in 2008 to take over the La Magnanerie estate from his soon-to-retire father. He is now the fourth generation olive oil producer in his family. Under Eric’s tenure, the domain switched its farming and production methods to be fully organic and specialized in green fruitiness extra virgin oils of the highest quality, with four main “cuvées”: Apogée, Hypnotik, Cosmos, Sauvage and Rosetta.
OG: What is your biggest challenge as a producer of organic extra virgin olive oil?
Keep the right mindset day in day out, despite climate variations and prejudice against organic farming. With organic agriculture, you need to tirelessly learn, experiment and question well-established beliefs. This requires humility, attention to nature’s complexity but also an interest in new research and practices.
OG: And your biggest satisfaction?
Being awarded the World Best Blend prize at the Flos Olei competition, which allowed us to be in the top 20, along with the producers I most admire such as Intini, Franci, Canena, Fonte di Foiano. I still cannot quite believe it!
Every day, my biggest satisfactions come from living with and for my trees, and from sharing my passion and knowledge with others.
OG: Pick three words that best describe your Cuvée Sauvage olive oil.
Tradition, for it is the longest standing blend produced by our domain.
Mediterranean, due to the balance between bitterness and pungency, and the herbaceous aromatic notes reminiscing of the plants and shrubs growing on the arid lands called “garrigues” in Southern France.
Harmony, as it is a balanced and consistent blend of 3 varieties and 2 groves with a different soil quality.
