“06880” readers know Bruce Fernie as an occasional commenter. His is often the first one on any story.
That’s not because he gets up before dawn. It’s because he and his wife, Katherine Walsh, live in Firenze, Italy.
Bruce Fernie and his daughter Avery, in Italy.
Graduates of Staples High School’s Class of 1970 remember Bruce as a classmate. (He says, though, his classes took place mostly in the Long Lots Junior High School vice principal’s office, and the Staples parking lot).
Bruce retains his ties to town. He spends summer at his family home on Martha’s Vineyard, and visits Westport when he can.
Bostonians know Bruce because of Tealuxe. He and Katherine created those Starbucks-like tea houses in 1996, then expanded to Rhode Island and New York. They sold much of the company in 2002.
Soon, Westporters — and many others — will know Bruce as an olive oil king.
Gabbiano Uno (Gabbiano1) is the Fernies’ “personal adventure.”
It began in 2017, when the couple bought a new home to renovate in Chianti, about 20 kilometers south of Florence.
The property included an orchard of 400 mature — but poorly maintained — olive trees.
Surrounding them are thousands of trees and vines owned by the Antinori vineyards.
Bruce and Katherine did not know that the small valley has an interesting micro-climate, and is well known for producing some of Tuscany’s best Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
They decided to resurrect the orchard, and try to produce the best EVOO they could.
Bruce Fernie’s Chianti property.
Bruce and Katherine spent the first year having the trees pruned properly. They used only organic fertilizer, and hired local crews to mow, maintain and harvest the fruit.
Their first harvest was in 2018. They won a silver award at the NYIOOC — the “largest and most prestigious olive oil quality contest” in the world.
Gabbiano Uno’s 2023 harvest was “a guessing game,” Bruce says. The crop endured hail, drought and extreme heat.
But, he says, “G1 Raccolta 2023 is better than ever.”
To their surprise, they fared much better than many Italian producers who had no crop at all — the cause of last year’s highly publicized olive oil shortage.
Gabbiano Uno 2023-2024 “olio nuovo” is now pressed, bottled, and ready to ship.
The Fernies sell it at Morning Glory Farm on Martha’s Vineyard.
They would love a Westport retailer. A sample will be sent on demand. (Full disclosure: I’ve tried it. I’m no NYIOOC judge, but it sure tasted good to me.)
Bruce welcomes emails: bjf@gabbiano1.com. Click here for the Gabbiano Uno website. (Hat tip: Sarah Gross)
(“06880” often reports on the intriguing achievements of Staples High School graduates, of all ages. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)