Welcome to the non-irrigated “Goritses” olive grove, which produces the Manaki variety and is located in the village of Sterna, Argolis, 18 kilometers northwest of Argos and at an elevation of 180 meters. The great number of wild pear trees (known as “goritses” in the local dialect) that have been in the area have given their name to it.
According to one version, the village of Sterna, the nearest villages being Lyrkeia and Malantreni, attributes its name to the cisterns (“sternes”) that were constructed by the residents for water storage purposes, as aridity was a characteristic of the area. Another version attributes the name to the Byzantine cistern that was in the center of the village. The locals mention that their village was the place where Kolokotronis used to water his horses and in antiquity the place where Hadrian’s aqueduct, which supplied Argos with water, went through.
In 1991 Thodoris’ grandfather Alexandros, along with his father, Konstantinos Salapatas, panted 156 olive trees in the area of Goritses, exploiting the fertile red soil and the slightly rocky terrain of the area.
The biodiversity of the place with its rich flora (cypresses, pine trees, wild olive trees, wild pear trees, apricot trees, wild flowers and aromatic plants such as oregano, thyme, fennel and rosemary) and fauna mainly consisting of domesticated animals (chickens, dogs, rabbits, sheep, goats, horses, etc.) might not be distinguished for originality, however, the harmonious coexistence of these common plant and animal species is evidence that nature provides its services with quality, the one we seek for our olive oil.
Given the huge role the conservation of biodiversity plays in our life and health, we adamantly refuse to be involved in its loss through the use of chemical substances and pesticides, which, unfortunately, are now inextricably linked to the agricultural production. This is the big challenge we pose to ourselves and the people that trust us.