Núñez de Prado Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil is recognized by connoisseurs as one of the finest Olive Oils in the world. This Olive Oil is First Cold Pressed, Unfiltered and is produced, packed and numbered at the Family Estate near Cordoba, Spain. Núñez de Prado is widely available in grocery stores throughout southern Spain but is not easily sourced in the United States.

Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil and counts Italy as one of its largest bulk oil customers.  It’s not widely known that current European Union rules allow Italy to market Italian extra virgin olive oil as “Italian” yet the minimum percentage of actual Italian oil required is minimal.  This so called “adulteration” of olive oil and olive oil regulation is a hot topic among foodies and connoisseurs in Europe and the USA.

Baena, the home of the family estate, is a picturesque town in the heart of Andalusia’s olive oil region.  The rolling hills throughout the region feature row upon row of olive trees as far as the eye can see providing a serene vista against the Andalusian blue skies.

In Spain, where others harvest by beating olives from the trees with sticks, the Núñez de Prado family insists on a more delicate technique, and doesn’t use pesticides. Each season, skilled crews from Seville arrive at the family’s four groves. Planning strategically, they select only trees with olives that have just turned from deep purple to black. The fruit is ripe and firm. Olives that have fallen from the tree are discarded. Harvesters can whack a tree clean in a few minutes; however, hand pickers take twenty minutes working at lightning speed. Their skilled fingers slide down a branch, detaching olives with a gentle milking motion. This protects the olives from bruises, which trigger acidity, and also protects the trees.

At the end of each morning and afternoon picking, the olives are trucked to the mill and pressed immediately, versus other producers where pressing may take place before fermentation begins.

Whenever returning to the USA I always bring back several bottles of this outstanding Extra Virgin Olive Oil for family and friends.