OLIVE OIL | THE VALLEY OF THE WOLVES
Situated in Palmela, 100 kilometres from Santarem, the 60 hectares of trees were also inherited from his great grandfather. Cork can be harvested only once every nine years, and in 2013 the thick bark will be ready for stripping. Fortunately as the price of olive oil has fallen so the price of cork has slightly improved.
At the same time Veronica is creating new markets for her oil. She is soon to launch a range of olive oil-based beauty products. Mixing only her own cold-pressed olive oil with essential oils, using ancient recipes, the range will be aimed at the natural therapy market, with products to reduce hair loss and improve skin health.
As I said goodbye to Joaquim, it seemed to me that he had maybe inherited more than the writer’ s estate – perhaps a part of his soul. I remembered something written by Herculano, that Veronica had translated for me:
” Looking at my trees gives me more pleasure than seeing the grandest buildings, museums, squares and monuments in all of Europe”
Words that could have been written by Joaquim himself.
Contacts: Quinta Vale de Lobos Azoia de Baixo 2005-097 Santarem Tel: + 351 243 429 264 www. valedelobos. com Veronica Santos Lima Email: quintavaledelobos @ gmail. com
Quinta Vale de Lobos oil is distributed in the UK by Atlantico Ltd Tel: + 44( 0) 20 8649 7444 Email: info @ atlantico. co. uk www. atlantico. co. uk
Portuguese Olive Oil Association Email: t. zacarias @ casadoazeite. pt www. casadoazeite. pt
42 | Summer 2012 | www. portugal-life. net |