What Makes Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil Different?

Did you know that Spain is the largest olive oil producer in the world? So often we think of olive oil as the stuff of the Italians. For many Americans, an Italian restaurant is the place where they were first introduced to that golden green liquid, as the bottle graced most checkered tablecloths before anyone of the U.S. began adding it to their own pantries.

Now, olive oil can be found in every large and small grocery store across the country. However, much of what is available is far from the fresh, high quality oil that most of Europe enjoys. Spain produces the finest extra virgin olive oil in the world, but has had to work hard to let the world know this, and to cultivate an understanding that not all olive oil tastes the same. Extra virgin olive oil is of greater quality, and must meet certain standards to carry this label.

We import a few of these very high quality extra virgin olive oils from Spain. One of these is Castillo de Canena, an oil that continues to win awards and accolades from all over the world. Castillo de Canena is part of an organization called Grandes Pagos de Olivar, an association of small olive oil producers who have banded together to export and promote their product overseas. A recent article from Foods from Spain discusses this association, and how these small producers maintain quality from field to table.

Producing extra virgin olive oil is a difficult and expensive process, but the resulting oil is well worth the effort. Extra virgin olive oil must meet certain requirements to call itself "extra virgin". The oil must have no more than 0.8% acidity and pass flavor and quality tests. What makes Castillo de Canena and others in the Grandes Pagos de Olivar association unique is that they label the year that each oil was harvested. Labeling wine with production year is common, but Castillo de Canena is one of the few to do this with olive oil. Freshness is key, and consuming the oil within two years of harvest assures that flavor and acidity aren't lost to oxidative damage and natural oil breakdown that happens over time on the shelf.

When you buy extra virgin olive oil from Spain, you're getting some of the very best! Be sure to check out Castillo de Canena on our producer page, and look for it on your local gourmet grocer's shelves.

Castillo de Canena Named Best in International Achievement

Castillo de Canena accepts their Spanish Food Award

It seems to be a well-kept secret that the best olive oil in the world comes from Spain. However, here at Culinary Collective we have the opportunity to taste some of the best Spanish olive oil on the international market today, confirming sip after sip that no other oils can compare in their complexity. We pick producers who not only cultivate a superior product, but who also run their businesses in a way that cultivates a larger idea – that of elevating the standards within their industry. Castillo de Canena is one of those companies, and they have just been awarded the Premio Alimentos de España por la Internacionalización  (Spanish Food Award for Best in International Achievement).   

Castillo de Canena "First Day" Arbequina and Picual Olive Oils

This award is given in recognition of a company that excels in producing, supplying and promoting quality food products among consumers overseas. We have been importing Castillo de Canena for quite a few years, and have come to know the Vaño family, after whose own family castle in Canena the company was named. We have seen first-hand their commitment to growing a business with ecological and financial sustainability while producing the highest quality product. Owner Rosa Vaño confirms this triad of values when she says,

“The oil market is increasingly competitive. Nevertheless, at Castillo de Canena we work tirelessly to be one of the world’s best oils in terms of quality, innovation and respect for the environment.”

The Vaño family takes their commitments seriously. For environmental efficiency, they use solar panels, strategic planting to avoid soil erosion and recycle biomass for fuel. They also aim for dexterity within their business model by formulating well-structured export strategies with a careful selection of target countries for export.

These are the values that keep the Castillo de Canena flowing into our warehouses year after year. Their arbequina and picual varieties are finally becoming well known in the US as some of the best Spanish oils on the market today. Congratulations to Castillo de Canena and the Vaño family, we have a feeling this award won’t be the last!

Support the Farm Campaign for Olivar de la Luna

“Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” - Anna Lappe

It’s no secret that we’re interested in where our food comes from. We scout out small producers from all over Spain, visit their farms and learn their stories. We understand that food is an expression of unique people and place. We love carrying products that not only come from magical places, but taste magical too. 

Sometimes we become so touched by the story and the people behind a product that we’re moved to help when times get tough. We’ve launched a “Support the Farm” campaign to help our friends at Olivar de la Luna buy back their land, taken by the bank during the recent tough economic climate in Europe.  Our founder Betsy Power first met the family behind her beloved olive oil, Olivar de la Luna, back in 2007 and was wooed by the gutsy, independent Spanish couple bent on turning an aging family farm into a sustainable enterprise. Read the story here, Touched By The Moon. 

Olivar’s owners Jesús and Tránsito have been working on the farm for over 30 years in the Sierra de la Luna, producing rich olive oil from their rare nevadillo blanco olives. When the economic crisis hit Europe, it hit Spain especially hard and demand for their precious oil plummeted. Jesús and Tránsito continue to work the land, but the family farm now has an uncertain future.

We couldn’t imagine not stepping up to support this farm and this incredible oil. If you haven’t yet tried Olivar’s golden, full-bodied olive oil, you’re in for a treat. The olives are picked at the perfect time to capture a peppery acidity that leaves a bite in that back of your throat. Gutsy, just like the people who make it.

Beginning in 2013, we at Matiz decided to give all profits from the sale of this oil right back to Jesús and Tránsito at Olivar. The profits will help them eventually buy back their land, keeping Olivar’s future secure. Maybe someday their now teenage son will have the option of inheriting this land and continuing the family tradition.

Can you recommend a store in your area to carry Olivar de la Luna oil? Please let us know here. You can also buy online from La Tienda.