Classification and class-modeling of "Riviera Ligure" extra-virgin olive oil using chemical-physical parameters.

The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Riviera Ligure" for extra-virgin olive oils from Liguria specifies three additional geographical mentions corresponding to three different geographical areas. To obtain a complete characterization of this typical Italian product, 217 samples of olive oils produced in this North Italian region during 1998/99 and 1999/2000 were analyzed. For each sample 31 variables were determined by chemical-physical analyses, and the data were subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis. For the 1998/99 crop, characterized by favorable climatic conditions, class-models of the three geographical areas were obtained with good predictive ability, also considering the influence of the month of olive harvesting. The oil samples from the 1999/2000 crop were similarly studied, but bad climatic conditions and a widespread Dacus oleae infestation leveled out the peculiar features of the oils produced in the three areas.