At 3,712 years old, it is part of a unique living heritage comprising some 80 millennial olive trees
The oldest dated olive tree in Portugal is 3,712 years old and is located at Herdade do Peso, a Sogrape property in Vidigueira, Alentejo. On the same plain, there is also a group of olive trees whose combined age exceeds 7,000 years. A living testament to the region’s agricultural and natural heritage, which Herdade do Peso and Sogrape proudly preserve; they have nominated the oldest olive tree for the title of European Tree of the Year for 2024.
This millennia-old treasure is an integral part of a group of about 80 olive trees that form a unique living heritage and represent a natural legacy spanning millennia. Documents dating back to 1791 attest to the existence of 57 olive trees at Herdade do Peso and to their value as a natural asset, as they were included in a deed of sale drawn up by Judge Estêvão José Palha. It is even believed that these are precisely the trees that make up the millennia-old grove.
In addition to the olive trees, Herdade do Peso is home to a variety of native species, such as purple garlic, cleonia, aroeira, yellow bellflowers, large roselha, and holm oak. This diverse ecosystem, comprising approximately 160 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, and other native species, reflects a harmony between nature and the surrounding environment.
According to Mafalda Guedes, Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Sogrape and head of the global sustainability program, Seed the Future, “It is with a great sense of responsibility and pride that we seek to preserve biodiversity and respect the places where we operate. We have always focused on conducting our business responsibly, which is why our mission is to care for this unique landscape, promoting the preservation of our natural heritage and demonstrating a lasting commitment to nature and sustainability.”
The certification of the millennial olive trees at Herdade do Peso was conducted by the Portuguese company “Oliveiras Milenares” and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), the entities that have dated the country’s oldest known olive trees to date. The research and dating method, patented by UTAD, was supported by a multidisciplinary team from Sogrape. Due to its heritage significance, the oldest millennial olive tree at Herdade do Peso is among the candidates for European Tree of the Year in the Tree of the Year 2024 competition, a competition that began in 2011, inspired by a contest in the Czech Republic for “Tree of the Year.” At this stage, it is among the 10 finalists who may represent Portugal in the European edition, and online voting runs through January 5, here.