Technically harvest isn't over. We have completed 50% of the grove, and will finish with a second pick in two weeks. The extra heavy rain won't directly affect the harvest, except....the overall percentage of oil returned will be less, as the rain will fatten up the olives, with water. So, it doesn't reduce the oil as much as increase the work ( and cost) needed to extract it. The other impact can be literal impact...heavy rain and wild winds knocks the olives off the trees.

Its always the dilemma ...for us, the later pick provides lusher, fatter oil, but it comes with an inherent risk of losing the crop due to weather. That's why we do an early pick, to make sure we get some of the crop in.

The first pick has produced good results in terms of volume and quality. And we now have new oil (Olio Nuovo) ready to ship! You can source it locally, or buy it via our online shop.

It'll be a little while before we get official objective lab test results back on the oil quality, And a few months before we get the subjective assessment of olive oil judges in the annual competitions.
But I already know it has a creamy, lush buttery feel in the mouth, and a surprisingly long-lasting fresh peppery aftertaste burn. All signs of a cracker of an oil. I think its another good result!

Bright green, spicy and fragrant, our Olio Nuovo is on the shelves at our >local provedores.

You can also try it via some of the restaurants and good food spots around the region. Billy Button and Ringer Reef winery cellar door outlets offer plates and platters with their wine. Our oil is in the mix there. And Velo Restaurant, King River Brewery, the Black Barn Farm in Stanley and the newly opening Hara House all use our oil.

Follow up: Second pick is done and dusted, oil barrels are safely stored. The second batch of oil is a fatter, lusher oil....a very good result. There was talk of a third pick, but we've decided to shut that down for this year and focus on the oil that we have. We'll be entering both picks in competitions, and I am optimistic we'll get a good result. That is, its clearly Extra Virgin of a high standard. How that plays out in judging against other products depends on the objective lab test results and the subjective assessments of the judging panels. We won't know for a few months.

Last weekend we braved the elements and put in an appearance at the Myrtleford Farmers' Market. The rain held off, and we had a pleasant morning offering samples of the new oil to the public. The next market is Saturday 22nd July. . It will be your last chance this year to try the Olio Nuovo before we start racking off the oil into the sediment-free golden olive oil. Don't miss out!