Napa Valley Olive Oil Company
Made in: St. Helena
If your ideal afternoon consists of tasting top Napa Valley olive oil with a freshly baked baguette and creamy artisanal cheese, then head to Napa Valley Olive Oil Company. When crafting high-quality California olive oils, the family-owned business stays true to tradition, pressing ripe green olives. The St. Helena storefront also sells high-end balsamic vinegar, pasta, wine, cheese, bread, salami, sausage, and prosciutto (the best things to pair with olive oil).
While it's hard to go wrong here, try the basil, Tuscan herb, or black truffle olive oil. The basil-infused oil is an ideal topping for summer salads and will transport you to the shores of the Mediterranean. The Tuscan herb oil pairs particularly well with pasta and chicken, while the earthy black truffle oil is well-suited for creamy soups, risottos, and mashed potatoes.
Round Pond Estate
Made in: Rutherford
Although Napa Valley is mostly associated with fine wines and endless vineyards, there is a wide range of other activities that don’t involve drinking wine. Amongst the list is an olive oil tour of Napa Valley, and the region's Round Pond Estate puts NorCal on the map for exemplary olive oil production.
Owned by the MacDonnell family, Round Pond Estate is a 468-acre Rutherford winery and farm that has been producing oils for more than 30 years. Aside from featuring exclusive vineyards and winemaking facilities, the estate also boasts 12 acres of olive orchards and only one of two olive mills in the region.
Creating acclaimed oil from carefully grown and hand-harvested olives, Round Pond relies on its own mill to produce freshly pressed olive oils. (Thanks to the on-site facilities, olives are sent to the mill several minutes after they've been harvested.) This olive oil of Napa Valley has a smooth, buttery flavor, complete with light and fruity notes.
While Round Pond also produces flavored olive oils—including blood orange, Meyer lemon, and basil oils—the Italian varietal extra virgin olive oil is a must-try. Launched in 2019, this oil is bold and robust, serving as a wonderful accompaniment to salads and vegetables.
Must-Try Sonoma Olive Oil
Figone Olive Oil CO.
Made in: Sonoma
Although Sonoma County is world-renowned for its wine production, the fertile land is also home to award-winning olive oil producers. Figone Olive Oil Co. has established itself as one of the superb Sonoma olive oil producers. The Tuscan-inspired, family-owned business has been crafting high-quality extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars since 1989.
Head to Sonoma Plaza to visit the tasting room (open daily) and explore this authentic olive oil manufacturer. You can get acquainted with the production facility, learn more about the company's history, and see the sustainable methods used to make superb Californian olive oil. You can also tour the family estate in Sonoma, which is home to over 4,000 olive trees, and taste a variety of olive oils.
One of the longtime favorites is the Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, which is composed of seven different Italian olives, giving it its signature flavor. The olives are harvested during the earlier stages, so the taste is lighter. But thanks to its smooth finish and peppery notes, the Tuscan oil is irresistible when eaten with bread, green salads, and vegetables.