We were lucky to catch up with Gilberto Mauriello recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi GILBERTO, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I was born and raised in Italy, in the small town of Montesarchio, right behind the Amalfi Coast. As a child, I grew up in the family owned oil mill, with the smell of the olives being crushed into liquid gold and on the Amalfi Coast, with the terrific views, colors and of course, the sea!
I came up with the idea of bringing the authentic flavors and health benefits of our fantastic product, and not only that, directly to your tables, one bottle at a time.
In fact, in addition to the “Monocultivar” oil (made from a single source), I wanted to combine one of the greatest and most important traditions of the Amalfi Coast (called in Italy simply COSTIERA, and hence the name of the brand) and that is ceramics.
Costiera olive oil is made from the treasured Peranzana olive, creating a richly flavorful yet balanced EVOO. What’s special about the Peranzana is its elegant and harmonious versatility in the kitchen, along with
its natural health benefits. Our olive oil has been recognized as one of the world’s best EVOO by the Leone d’Oro International, and our packaging was awarded best-in-class by Le Forme Dell’olio.
Working with local Italian artists to create and hand paint our ceramic bottles is something we’re immensely
proud of.
When our olive oil meets your lips, we hope it transports you to the Amalfi Coast. The place where time is preserved by picturesque villages adorned in pastel colors, quaint beaches and local artisans honoring their own family rituals on the seaside streets. The place that feels like home.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We combine a Monocultivar EVOO, made with Peranzana olives grown and harvested in our family grove, with hand made and hand-painted ceramic bottles from the Amalfi Coast (by 5th generation artists). This sets us apart from all others.
80% of extra virgin olive oil, EVOO, on American shelves is fake. These inferior oils are not only diluted with additives and fillers, but they also pose health risks.
Costiera Olive Oil is crafted exclusively from the Peranzana Olive found in the Campania Region. Highlighting an ancient technique of olive oil making in a region that has been producing olive oil since 3000 BC.
The Peranzana has high polyphenol content, very low acidity and is rich in antioxidants. The EVOO that comes with it is considered by many almost on a par with medicine, for all the properties it brings with it, such as being a great anti-inflammatory. It also carries anti-cavity properties, the presence of anticancer proteins and it can help in pathologies such as heart disease, liver disease and gastric ulcers. And it’s fantastic for the skin!
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
Yes, our special Monocultivar EVOO is produced in our own oil mill in Italy, with olives grown and harvested in our olive groves. My cousin, Pasquale, presses the olives and when the bulk Olive Oil is ready, we ship it via air freight to our warehouse in Tampa, Florida. At the same time, our artists from Vietri sul Mare (Amalfi Coast), shape and paint the beautiful ceramic bottles and ship them the same way, via air freight. We then receive everything in our Tampa facility, where we bottle it and pack it for our US customers.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I moved to Tampa and I was looking for a warehouse to lease and I met this realtor with Italian origin called Joey. He fell in love with my products and some time later he joined me to follow sales and marketing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopcostiera.com
- Instagram: shop.costiera
- Facebook: costiera
Image Credits
Melissa Santell