What is Olio Nuovo and why is it special?

Rancho Azul y Oro, 2015-16 Olive Harvest, San Miguel, CA
Rancho Azul y Oro's 2015-16 Olive Harvest
As we near our 2016 olive harvest, we are often asked, what is olio nuovo and why is there the rush to get that oil?

 Olio nuovo, simply put, means new oil.  It is literally the oil which was just an olive a week or two before, pressed and bottled.  It is nearly a neon green/gold color and it will be much more grassy, zesty, pungent, and spicy.

 Customarily, the olives are picked, milled, and returned to the grower in large stainless steel tanks called fustis.  The olive oil will then rest for approximately a month (as will the grower and bottler), and then, the sediment, is filtered out, leaving a brilliantly clear, beautifully finished oil.  

 The olio nuovo should be enjoyed more quickly than the finished olive oils because it is unfiltered.  The up side of the unfiltered oil is that it is the most fresh and pungent, the down side is that the sediment that is still in the olio nuovo can reduce its shelf life, unlike the more polished, final version of the oil

 It is one of the very special moments of harvest, when the oil is returned from the mill, we slice baguette, and dip it into the oil -- and we all choke -- but it's good choking because it means it is packed with antioxidants and polyphenols, 

 We know that when the olives leave our ranch and the oil returns, our harvest year is complete.  Olio nuovo is fleeting and special.  It is why it is coveted the world over.  It is THE most perfect gift for a hostess at Thanksgiving or for holiday gifts.  Anyone can give wine as a gift, not everyone has access to olio nuovo.  We offer our olio nuovo in two sizes, 4 oz. and 8 oz.  It will be ready just in time for Thanksgiving.  

 Why not try some olio nuovo this year and dip into our liquid gold?

 Happy holidays!  

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