Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A couple of reasons why our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is unique is firstly the altitude at which we grow our fruit which is approx 300m above sea level on south facing slopes. Our trees have been planted in soils that contain approx 20% clay which allows the soil to hold adequate amounts of water during flowering and bud development, the most important times of the year. These soils are also deep, loamy, well-drained and olive trees flourish in these soils.

• The oil from our 2009 harvest is a blend of mission, frantoio and leccino cultivars.
• Olives are pressed at the exact stage of ripeness.
• Region: Western Cape
• Altitude: 300m
• Cultivar(s): Mission, Frontoio and Leccino
• Production method: Centrifugal extraction

Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced on Goedgedacht Farm in the Western Cape, in a relatively small-scale factory with freshly harvested healthy fruit. The Western Cape is one of the areas that present ideal conditions for olive growers.

Our olives are grown without using chemical herbicides, fungicides or pesticides and we have started the process of acquiring organic certification. One of the reasons why we believe we produce quality olive oil is because we hand pick all our olives, although the more expensive, time consuming route, the fruit and the trees are not left bruised or damaged. This also provides much needed employment for farm workers living in the Valley. Our olives are processed shortly after picking to maintain the characteristic fresh, earthy olive flavour and are cured using natural fermentation methods.

Our olive trees flower in spring, and the fruit starts to form and ripen. The olives change from green to black between the summer and the end of autumn and the beginning of winter when harvesting takes place. Our extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed at less than 30 degrees C which is best as it benefits from the full preservation of flavours, vitamins and anti-oxidants that are so vital for good health. It has a fresh aroma and is ideal for cooking, dipping, dressings and sauces. Our oil is 100% natural, free of additives or preservatives. It has slight bitterness and optimal pungency which varies slightly according to climate and season.

Our new oils which are pressed at the start of the harvest contain high quantities of unripe fruit, this naturally gives the oil a far greener,robust and more viscous appearance and are characteristically oils which are more bitter then oils pressed later in the season containing more ripe fruit and are oils which are more delicately flavoured, softer, fruitier and more gentle on the palate.