california wineries producing olive oil
by Christine Najac
Olive oil is a staple in most American kitchens, due in part to education, as well as the general desire to eat better and consume quality food products. California olive-oil production has increased exponentially over the past decade. According to the California Olive Oil Council, as of January 2014, there were over 35,000 acres of olive trees planted in California for the production of extra virgin olive oil; currently, there are over 400 growers/producers of olive oil in California with over 75 olive varieties grown, which result in proprietary blends unique to California. This burgeoning market has increased overall product awarness, and has spawned, yet another subsidiary, of agro and eco tourism in the region, an interest in touring and tasting, similar to its older sibling, wine country. Wine producers are pressing their olives and crafting artisinal extra virgin olive oils, matching, and in some cases surpassing those of Europe. California olive oils are fresh, green, and herbacious, very new world, just like its wines. A handful of wineries produce and sell estate grown olive oil. The populace of olive trees vary with each vineyard, some have orchards that go on for acres and acres while others have decorative olive tree lined roads; whether the vegetation is in abundance or not, the care and quality taken to produce California vineyard olive oils is equal to that of their wines.
Jordan Vineyard and Winery has over 18 acres of Tuscan and Spanish olive tree varieties that have been planted since 1995 producing extra virgin olive oil.
B.R. Cohn has 140-year old Picholine trees outlining the Sonoma Valley estate vineyard which produce eleven different flavors of olive oil at the B.R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company
Dubost Wine in Paso Robles makes an extra virgin olive oil from Manzanillo, Mission, Tuscan and Spanish olives grown on their 320 acre property in the heart of Adelaida.
Dutch Henry For two decades Dutch Henry Winery has produced an extra virgin olive oil from the organically farmed olive orchards on their property in Calistoga, Napa Valley.
AlphaWOLF Vineyard and Olive Ranch produces extra virgin olive oil from the 300 olive trees situated on the 13 acres of their vineyard in Napa Valley.
Aleksander Wines in Paso Robles, California's Central Coast wine region produces S & G Estate Paso Robles extra virgin olive oil that is made entirely from Mission olives grown on the 600 olive trees on the property.
Kendall Jackson Estate is home to a grove of olive trees from which their namesake olive oil is made. The olive varieties are Frantonio, Leccino, Cassaliva, Maurino and Pendolio.