OLIVE OIL in PROVENCE AOC

The AOC olive oil from Provence across southern France comes from the  Alpes de Haute Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhône, Var, Vaucluse, Gard and the Drôme.

Several kinds of table olives exist such as Aglandaou , Picholine , the Grossanne Baux -de- Provence, Tench , Caillette " olive noire of Nice " Salonenque the Bouteillan , Petit Ribier Verdale.

Some olives are used only as table olives, the flavor is often combined with other ingredients such as pepper, chilli, garlic, thyme etc ... others are dedicated to the production of virgin olive oil and others for both.

As the aromas of wines of Provence, the olive oils tastes are determined by the intensity of the fruity flavor: ripe, green or black. The connoisseurs will find flavors of tomato, apple, grapefruit, artichoke, almond, red fruit...

"At Sainte Catherine, the oil is in the fruit". This Provencal proverb reminds the olives for oil must be collected around mid -November. However, for table olives, harvesting takes place in mid-September.

Outside large groves in the Luberon, it is not uncommon for home owners, lucky enough to have their olive grove in the garden to make their own harvest with family or friends. They offer beautiful moments of intense activity and friendliness. They then go into one of the local mills, chosen according to the method of pressing to extract the oil. Depending on the time of harvest, it takes between 8 and 10 kg of olives to make one liter. What a pleasure, all year long to either serve or offer his own olive oil in an artistically personalized bottle!

While most wines improve with time, you have to be aware that olive oil should be consumed within 18 months maximum, raw or cooked but avoiding high temperatures. How to know if the temperature is suitable? The oil should not smoke ...

Often in Provence, at the time of the aperitif in the shade of the plane, you will find on a table a nice earthenware bowl filled with olive oil from a local grower. It is accompanied by pieces of fresh bread, served with one of these chilled rosé wines so popular in Provence ( to drink with moderation !). Feel free to dip your bread in the bowl of olive oil and taste the fragrant oil.
Do not forget, it comes from an olive tree, the symbol of hope, longevity and as the old people used to say: it is eternal...