A story of vision where Argentine olive oil finds its place on the global stage.

Miguel Zuccardi has been named the first South American member of Brave Millers – Frantoiani Coraggiosi, a European-based community of olive oil producers dedicated to crafting high-quality extra virgin olive oil by combining ancestral traditions with modern techniques.

Founded in Italy, Brave Millers – Frantoiani Coraggiosi brings together producers from diverse cultural backgrounds who share a common vision of olive oil. Its members are guided by a clear set of principles: producing only top-quality oils, operating their own mills, overseeing every stage of production, respecting the land, prioritizing sustainability, valuing local varieties, sharing knowledge, and making bold decisions—even when that means producing less.

Being part of this community is not an award or certification, but rather a peer recognition reserved for those who choose to work with conviction, care deeply about every detail, and prioritize quality over yield.

As the only South American producer in the group, Zuccardi’s inclusion represents a defining moment for Argentine olive oil.
The community emphasized that “Miguel believed in its potential when few others did, demonstrating that even far from the Mediterranean, world-class oils can be crafted—worthy of a place on the global stage. An oil that speaks Spanish, but thinks universally.”

They also noted that Familia Zuccardi has been a pioneer in cultivating and promoting the Arauco variety—the only native olive variety of Argentina—in which they believed from the very beginning, investing in single-varietal oils capable of expressing the true character of Argentina’s terroir.

In a community largely composed of European millers, Miguel Zuccardi’s presence represents a true milestone for Argentine olive growing. His inclusion celebrates a way of working, a long-standing consistency, and a vision that understands olive oil as an expression of place, people, and decisions.

About Familia Zuccardi – Varietal Olive Oils

Founded in 2004 in Maipú, Mendoza, Familia Zuccardi – Varietal Olive Oils was born from the vision of Miguel Zuccardi, a third-generation member of a family devoted to agriculture and winemaking in the region since 1963.

Driven by the conviction to establish a premium category of olive oil in Argentina, the project reflects the same core values that define the family’s broader philosophy: sustainability, respect for the land, and a deep commitment to local identity.

Set against the desert climate at the foothills of the Andes, with its marked thermal amplitude, the estate produces oils of remarkable intensity. The olives are sourced from estate-owned groves, organically managed, where careful timing between harvest and milling, along with low-temperature extraction, allows for the production of single-varietal oils with pronounced fruit character and high levels of polyphenols—true expressions of the region’s ecological conditions.

Today, the Familia Zuccardi portfolio includes four varietal oils: Arauco, Picual, Genovesa, and Coratina.