La Bella della Daunia

A Protected Designation of Origin covering table olives produced from the 'Bella di Cerignola' cultivar grown in a defined zone of the Tavoliere della Puglia in Puglia, Italy. The designation covers green, black, and turning-colour olives, each with specified colour, shape, weight, flesh yield, fat content, and reducing sugars requirements at the point of release for consumption.

About this designation

Registered as a PDO under file number PDO-IT-0085, 'La Bella della Daunia' covers table olives derived exclusively from the 'Bella di Cerignola' cultivar, entered under No 15 in the Italian olive cultivation register. This cultivar originated through natural genetic mutation and clonal selection from the older 'Oliva di Cerignola' variety native to the Daunia area, now known as Tavoliere di Capitanata. The defined geographical area comprises the municipalities of Cerignola, Orta Nova, S. Ferdinando di Puglia, Stornara, Stornarella, and Trinitapoli, situated in the central Tavoliere della Puglia at an average altitude of 100 m to 150 m above sea level. The maximum protected olive yield per hectare must not exceed 15 tonnes/hectare. Harvest begins from 1 October. The specification recognises three product types: green olives, black olives, and olives turning colour. All three types must weigh between 6 g and 30 g and achieve a flesh yield greater than 80 %. Green and turning-colour olives must have a fat content below 15 % and 18 % respectively; black olives must have a fat content below 18 %. All production stages must take place within the identified geographical area. Containers must carry the protected name, the designation 'Denominazione di origine protetta', and a mandatory graphic symbol depicting a female dancer holding an olive branch, with the words 'La Bella della Daunia' in upper-case serif characters surrounding the figure. The applicant body is the Consorzio di Tutela Oliva da Mensa DOP La Bella della Daunia – Varietà Bella di Cerignola.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 28, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 10 December 1999 under file number PDO-IT-0085 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013299).
• The 'Bella di Cerignola' cultivar is entered under No 15 in the Italian olive cultivation register.
• All three product types — green, black, and turning colour — must weigh between 6 g and 30 g and achieve a flesh yield greater than 80 %.
• A standard amendment approved on 14 March 2025 introduced the 'olives turning colour' type and updated administrative references to reflect the transfer of Trinitapoli and San Ferdinando di Puglia to the province of Barletta–Andria–Trani.

Tasting notes

Apulian large green table olive (Bella di Cerignola variety) from Foggia province. Bright green to amber color, very large fruit (up to 30g), firm crisp flesh, mild sweet-savory flavor, small pit with high flesh-to-pit ratio.

HoReCa use

Premium aperitivo olive served whole, stuffed with anchovy or almond; on antipasto boards; in martini-style cocktails; visual centerpiece of olive selection.

Packaging

• jar-glass-300g-brine
• jar-glass-500g-brine
• bucket-2kg-brine
• bucket-5kg-brine
• vacuum-pack-200g
• tin-200g