W H E R E T O G E T IT October/November 2016 93 Napa might be known as a cabernet powerhouse but olives also thrive there. In the heart of the valley is Round Pond, an acclaimed wine producer with a beautiful facility geared toward visitors. Various tours and tastings are available, ranging from short to leisurely. This operation is so focused on quality that it constructed its own unique olive mill, which crushes olives immediately after picking. Long Meadow Ranch is located in a gorgeous location in Napa’s Mayacamas Mountains, growing a variety of crops in addition to olives— with the groves here being the oldest in the county. Abandoned for years, the trees were ultimately restored and make a lovely blended EVOO. Reservations can be made for a two-hour tour and tasting of wines and oils. McEvoy Ranch near Petaluma sets the gold standard for olive oil making while also being breathtakingly beautiful, with wooded hills, spreading oaks, ponds and orderly rows of grapevines and olive trees. They produce just one rich, grassy, vibrant blend, which can be tasted by appointment during tours of the facility that also include wine tasting and samples of locally made cheeses. Nearby Sonoma County is home to a burgeoning number of wine-and-olive ranches, many of which welcome visitors. Not to be missed is DaVero, owned by a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who is also a passionate farmer, producing outstanding EVOOs as well as fine Italian-varietal wines. While the olive groves are a few miles from the tasting room, this lovely facility is definitely worth a visit. Walk-in or private tastings are available. One of Sonoma County’s first olive oils came from B.R. Cohn, legendary rock group manager, whose picturesque property also produces wine. Even though this operation was sold recently to a wine conglomerate, tasting visits still please the crowds and should be scheduled in advance. The estate EVOO is made from French picholine olives and is fresh, subtle and with a hint of citrus. Located in a bucolic wine area of rolling hills, Dry Creek Olive Oil Company produces absolutely delicious EVOOs, particularly some of the best citrus-infused oils around. The oil operation is part of Trattore Farms, a winery of some distinction. Visitors are invited to sample wines and EVOOs or make reservations for a walking tour of the vineyards and orchards. Another option is by-appointment olive mill tours followed by wine, EVOO and food pairings. With such a wealth of divine, locally produced EVOOs available for sampling and buying, it should only be a matter of time until those of us in the South Bay start consuming this delicious, healthful product at European levels. COURTESY OF TRUE OLIVE CONNECTION True Olive Connection AT THE TAPROOM Olive Crush 653 Laurel St., San Carlos; 300 Main St., Half Moon Bay; 650/533- 1189. theolivecrush.com The Olive Bar 232 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell; 408/370- 1901. theolivebar.com We Olive & Wine Bar 112 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos; 408/354-7474. weolive.com/ los-gatos True Olive Connection 106 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz; 831/458-6457; 7960 Soquel Drive, Suite C, Aptos; 831/612- 6932. trueoliveconnection. com Quail and Olive 3 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley; 831/659-4288. quailandolive. com AT THE FARMERS MARKET Big Paw 1275 Santa Ana Valley Road, Hollister; 408/464- 9048. bigpawsales.com Grumpy Goats Farm 23946 State Highway 16, Capay; 530/796-0000. grumpygoat farm.com Valencia Creek Farms 1535 Valencia Road, Aptos; 831/662-2345. valenciacreekfarms. com AT THE SOURCE Frantoio Grove 10756 Green Valley Drive, Gilroy; 408/391- 0013. frantoiogrove.com Pietra Santa 10034 Cienega Road, Hollister; 831/636-1991. pietrasantawinery.com Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company 2625 Mankas Corner Road, Fairfield; 707/864-1529. ilfiorello.com Séka Hills 19326 County Road 78, Brooks; 530/796- 2810. sekahills.com The Olivina 4555 Arroyo Road, Livermore; 925/455- 8710. theolivina.com Round Pond 875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford; 707/302- 2575. roundpond.com Long Meadow Ranch 738 Main St., St. Helena; 707/963- 4555. longmeadowranch.com McEvoy Ranch 5935 Red Hill Road, Petaluma; 707/778- 2307. mcevoyranch.com DaVero 766 Westside Road, Healdsburg; 707/ 431-8000. davero.com B.R. Cohn 15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen; 707/938- 4064. brcohn.com Dry Creek Olive Oil Company 7878 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville; 707/431-7200. trattorefarms.com n
South Bay Accent - Oct/Nov 2016
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