Latest Award for Greek Oil

I am delighted to congratulate The Astrikas Estate in northwestern Crete who have just won an award for their organic, stone milled and cold pressed Biolea oil. This latest quality award is from 'Gastronome' which rewards producers, processors and traders of outstanding Greek produce. If you are visiting Crete this summer the Astrikas Estate is located at Kolymbari about 30 km from Chania and they offer a warm welcome to visitors throughout the year. Concerned with the environment and sustainability the company works to promote organic cultivation in Crete.

Croatia Wins Best Non European Oil



Sandi Chiavalon by Goran Šebelić (http://www.istria-gourmet.com/)



At the recenty held 10th International Olive Oil Awards in Zurich the award for Best Non European Olive Oil went to a contender from the Istrian region of Croatia: Ex Albis produced by Sandi Chiavalon. If you are interested in visiting this region why not explore the Olive Oil Roads of Istria.  Find out more information from the Istrian Tourism Board or via the istria-gourmet website which includes this portrait of Sandi Chiavalon taken by Goran Šebelić.

Other Olive Oil routes to explore can be found on the Olive Picking website.

Australian Olives

Early indications are that this is going to be an amazing year for the Australian olive harvest, with yeilds in areas such as western Victoria, up by 50%.  This is due to the wet summer which has left trees laden with ripening olives.  Family owned Toscana will be busy gathering olives from around 28,000 trees.  Their award winning extra virgin olive oil comes from one of Australia's oldest olive groves established in 1943. If you live in Australia you can contact them for a free tasting sample!  Elsewhere you can buy the oil online.  Enjoy!

An Easter Wish

There is a lovely tradition across the Mediterranean of blessing olive branches in church on Palm Sunday, these are then taken back and placed in the home to ensure its protection throughout the year to come. 

May I wish all my website visitors a safe year and a very Happy Easter.

Peach Blossom In An Olive Tree

A peach tree seedling had clambered its way up into an old olive tree and was decorating the branches with perfect, almost artificial looking, pink flowers. I would love to see it when the fruit start to ripen.

Pruning Time

I have just returned from visiting the Le Marche and Abruzzo regions of Italy and everywhere olive trees were being pruned.  The weather was glorious and each fine day was marked with spirals of smoke reaching out across the valleys as the branches were burnt. It was really good to see the trees being so well cared for.