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Ana Keller
 
January 21, 2025 | Vineyard Update | Ana Keller

Liquid Gold: Our Estate Olive Oil

Learning about olive oil

There's something magical about walking through our olive groves in the late afternoon. The sunlight filters through the silver leaves, and for a moment, I'm transported to the hillsides of Spain and Italy that inspired us to plant these trees on our Petaluma estate.

When people think of Keller Estate, they often think of our wines. But these Mediterranean olive trees have become an equally passionate pursuit. Like our vineyards, they've found their perfect home in our unique Petaluma Gap climate, where morning fog and afternoon sun create conditions that mirror the Mediterranean valleys.

Our approach to crafting olive oil mirrors our winemaking philosophy - attention to every detail matters. We hand-harvest each variety at its peak moment, rushing the olives to our mill within hours of picking. Then comes my favorite part: watching the fresh olive paste slowly turn in the malaxer, releasing tiny droplets of liquid gold. We carefully control the temperature, knowing that every degree can affect the delicate flavors we're working to preserve.

From these carefully tended groves, we create two distinct oils: one that captures the bold, peppery character of Spanish varieties, and another that expresses the subtle, herbal notes of Tuscan olives. Each tells the story of our estate's terroir in its own way.

It's a story that begins in the ancient olive groves of the Mediterranean but finds its unique voice here on our Petaluma hillside. One that speaks of tradition, innovation, and most importantly, a sense of place.

 

TYPICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN  OLIVE OIL

Spanish Olive Oil:

  • Nutty
  • Fruity
  • Sweeter in comparison

Tuscan Olive Oil:

  • More herbal
  • "Grassy" taste
  • Mild bitterness

 I always say that there is plenty of bland olive oil out there, so we choose to make ours flavorful, which means paying attention to picking them when half the olives are green, and half have turned brown. Green olives have more flavor but less oil and brown ones have more oil. We aim for flavor and good extra virgin olive oil perfect for salads and dishes where you want to enjoy the oil’s taste and health benefits. 

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