One of the questions I get most often is: Where can I buy good Italian extra virgin olive oil? I get this question from people visiting Italy as well as from readers and friends back in the States.
If you’ve read even minimally about olive oil over the past few years then you know that this can be a loaded topic. Poor harvests combined with olive oil fraud has made this question more difficult than ever. In Umbria, where we have our home, complete with about 120 olive trees, this is the fourth year running that we have had next to no olives to press. One year it was a plague of flies, another drought, and this year a late frost nipped most of the buds off the trees. So I too am thinking not only about where to buy my yearly supply of olive oil, but also where I can grab a bottle of new, freshly pressed oil.
The question is even more difficult this year, at least in my area of Umbria. So bad was the harvest that many of the mills I usually turn to for local oil are only running half time. While this is problematic for me, I know that in this land where almost everyone and their aunt grows olives, I will eventually find the 60 odd liters that will see us through the year.
But what about back in the States? How can you make sure that the olive oil you buy is worth the high cost you pay? And it will be high. If you find a bottle of olive oil that seems reasonable, then, well…..I can’t assure what you think you are buying (extra virgin Italian olive oil) is really that.
What I can do is give you a handful of resources that I know and trust 100%. For the most part I’ve spent time with these importers, here on the ground in Italy, sourcing not only olive oil, but also many other Italian products. The first thing you’ll notice is the cost. This oil is probably going to be much more expensive than what you are used to paying in your local supermarket (even if your local supermarket starts with ‘whole’ and ends with ‘food’). Sorry to break it to you, but true olive oil is expensive, even in Italy. That’s just a fact.
While I am sure there are other sources in the States, here are the ones that I know personally and trust. (Do let me know if I’ve left any out in the comments below) (PS This is not a paid post. I just love all the oils that these people import)
Manicaretti (Wholesale)
Rogers Collection (Wholesale)
Curious Appetite Gourmet Club (this new food club started by my friend Coral includes olive oil)
And in case you’re looking for a few recipes to go with that oil:
If you are in Rome, and would like to join us for an olive oil workshop, just send me an email.
And you’ll find many of my tips for shopping for olive oil and other food in Rome on my app, Eat Italy.
I will be up in Umbria all next week, with a Week in Umbria food tour. We will definitely be visiting a few olive mills, so make sure you are following along on my Instagram account, where I’ll be filming away on my Instastories.
UPDATE: I just want to thank everyone for leaving great comments below, which include even more resources in the USA. Make sure you read through them for more information
Dear Elizabeth, I am writing from Tuscany where I have a country home with about 300 olive trees.
We are not producer, we produce biological oil for our family and friends and this year we are going to a have a wonderful harvest.
I’ll be happy if you come and taste it ! claudiag
I”m so happy to hear you have a great harvest this year!!
Hi Elizabeth. I live in Canada. Specifically the west coast. Do younhave any recommendations? Thanks so much
Sorry to say that in Canada, specifically, I don’t. But the online resources I cite here also deliver to Canada if that helps?
Dear Elizabeth, Please also let your customers know about Olio2go.com. We carry a selection of the products from Manicaretti and Rodgers, as well as our direct imports, from producers such as Frantoio Franci, Fattoria Ramerino, Fonte di Foiano, Dievole, Olio Quattrociocchi, Tenute Librandi, Frantoi Cutrera, and Villa Zottopera.
My daughter and I took Sophie’s tour last year! It was a lovely evening.
I’ll add it to the list!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Did you forget Eataly? They are expanding across the US…now in NYC, Chicago, LA.
I thought about including Eataly, but since I’m not familiar with all of their oils, I hesitated. I know that they now carry a lot of industrially produced items I wouldn’t necessarily endorse, so I’m not so sure of giving them a blanket endorsement for olive oil. But you are correct, they do carry some very good ones! It’s just the low end oils I’m not so sure about.
We have had great oil for several years from Frances and Ed Mayes in Cortona. They do have oil this year and are taken no orders now. Customer service/shipping is very good. http://WWW.bramasole olive oil.com
Good addition!! I left out individual producers like them, but glad you added them here
Elizabeth, there are no bargains to be had in buying authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil. People should just accept that. For years I have had my extra virgin olive oil sent to me from San Lorenzo di Imperia in Liguria. The last group of six one-liter bottles cost euro 93, euro 15,50 a bottle, including shipping, and I live in Italy. However, the cost is definitely worth it!
Tante belle cose, Anne
That’s actually not a bad price for good olive oil!
I have been buying my olive oil grown by Italians in California with a great reputation and the olive oils is very, very good. I have gotten my local natural foods store to stock it.
This is a family owned and operated olive oil company in California.
https://www.barianioliveoil.com/
Also a reliable source where you can order good olive oil online in the US:
Jovial Foods:
https://jovialfoods.com/product-category/from-our-farm/olive-oil/
both places very high quality olive oil, with no issues getting something less then the best.
Thanks for the additions. I’ve never tried either of these, so can’t comment but thank you for your input which is extremely helpful.
60 liters of oil per year! Wow. I didn’t realize how much Italians really used.
Well….I do cook a lot! And we entertain all summer long and go through quite a lot then
Oliviers and Company (O & Co), based out of France, also carries fantastic oils and their products are available in Europe and the US. They have award winning olive oils and all of them can be traced from harvesting to bottling. http://www.oliviersandco.com/
Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for the post. Any recommended distributors in the UK?
I am sadly not so up to date on distributors in the UK, sorry.
What a beautiful, clean olive mill! The oil looks spectacular.
Thanks for the video experience.
Ciao Elizabeth… I buy from my friends who live here in San Clemente but go home to Caltabellota in Sicilia every year to harvest their olives with their family. It’s delicious and only a 10 minute drive away. For other, they are on the web and folks can order direct. http://fratelli-colletti.com
Thanks!
great info – thanks!
After reading Patty Unterman’s shout out for Trader Joes California Olive Ranch Olive Oil I started buying it. My Italian husband likes it and the price is right. It is our everyday go for from cooking to salads. Great way to go if you are stateside. I particularly like the California Estate Olive Oil
In CA, we are so fortunate to have Olive Oil & Beyond, owned and operated by Matthew Pour for a very long time. Mr Pour travels to Italy annually and has been involved with the assn devoted to the problems of oo adulteration. He personally sources his shop with the highest quality oils from many areas around the world and knows his growers. We have been traveling to his litttle shop on Balboa Island (part of Newport Beach) about four times a year just to source oils (and balsamics) for at least a decade. He bottles everything himself and his knowledge and passion is incomparable. I know he ships, too. Oliveoilandbeyond.com.
Thanks for sharing!!
love your blog today; and I, too, always want the olive oil direct from Italy. In the US there has been speculation
of olive oils mixed with other oils………………….. and I was buying Galantino from my cousin who was importing as a small vendor in calif. This business is not able to survive because of the import fees etc and of course Calif has a growing olive oil business as well.
I have purchased olives and olive oil from Galantino – liguria which was not only very very expensive but arrived in pieces in addition to extra fees by fedex. The Galantino people were very gracious but purchasing directly from italy is not easy. so keep us informed if and when exporting from italy becomes easier.
I know a lot of places that will sell directly. It will never be cheap, but it sounds like the people who shipped your oil didn’t know how to pack it or ship it without extra fees? Most ship in metal containers.
Hi Elizabeth, I just returned from two weeks in Tuscany, a week at La Foce. A lot of people we spoke with said the olive harvests have been low, so I imagine prices will continue to stay high. I’m coming back next September, 2018, and bringing some of my readers with me. When I have a definite date, perhaps we can coordinate a visit/tour of some kind with you. Ciao, Brenda Coffee
Sounds like a plan!
Hi Elizabeth, Great post on Olive oil. Have you heard of Cobram Extra Virgin Olive from Australia? They export to the US.
No, I don’t know anything about Australian olive oil! Do tell.
Hi Elizabeth,
I buy premium EVO from
groveandvine.com a company born out of a collaboration of two gentlemen working at NY’s Eataly. One guy heads the olive oil section, the other runs the wine shop. Their idea was to source the freshest EVO by offering oils from the most current harvest of oil producing countries in the north and Southern Hemispheres. The Mediterranean being the northern hemisphere and Chile, a large olive oil and wine producing country, in the Southern Hemisphere. So rather than waiting a year for the newest harvest, you get 2 harvests a year. Fall harvest in the northern hemisphere is around September and fall harvest in the Southern Hemisphere is may. This ensures the freshest EVO. They offer 2 formats, a 375ml and a 1500ml. There are 4 different oils a year from the most recent harvests.
Having a serious interest in Olive Oil, i’ve come to realize that freshness is paramount. You wouldn’t buy a container of milk w/o a date on it, the same should be true for Olive Oil.
I can honestly say I’ve never tasted better olive oil than this.
Yes, always look at the date!! That is something I take for granted but am glad you brought up here. Also, thank you for sharing this resource!
Ciao Elizabeth- thank you for including my food club as one of your suggested resources! And thank you for your honesty about quality costs! I wish we all considered the hidden costs in “discount” and prices which seem too good to be be true. There is a great producer in Trevi I recently visited and their oil divine- Guadenzi. Have you been?
Yes, I have tried Guadenzi’s oil (at Taste maybe?) but have never been there. The oil from Trevi is excellent! We are going to Trevi on Tuesday, but to hunt truffles!!
We supply only new season extra virgin olive oil from what we consider to be the top six frantoi in six regions of Italy – it’s a way to taste different cultivars and enjoy the freshest possible oil when it is so good for you. We deliver globally by courier in time for Christmas (prices on our site are for EU delivery but we can do elsewhere if contacted by email). Our sale has just opened this week for the 2017 harvest. We are absolutely delighted with the quality this year – the volume is down, but the polyphenols are high and the aromas are amazing! To find out more visit http://www.frantoi.org
What a great resource! So happy to hear about this!
Thanks Elizabeth!
I highly reccommend this “club”. Not just from Italy, but oil from Greece, Spain, France, Australia. 3 bottles arrive 4 times a year. I think it’s only available in the U.S.
https://www.freshpressedoliveoil.com
Oh, I forgot to add we get Chilean olive oil, which is fantastic.
I always love reading your blog, Elizabeth, and learn so much!
Your photos are gorgeous & make it seem as if we are really there with you – thank you for taking us with you! Like so many others, I have a serious addiction to the beautiful ceramics! At the beginning of this blog about olive oils there is a gorgeous olio “decanter” in a mostly blue coloring. Can you share information about this piece & is it available??! Thanks so much!
I’m also interested in learning more about the decanter pictured at the top of the post. It’s gorgeous!
We get our oil through the Rare Wine Co. in CA. They import the pressings of several mills in the Chianti Rufina and Chianti Classico area — and they curate what they bring in very carefully. And for the high quality it is, the prices are not crazy.
Azienda Agricola Marco Rizzo, located in one of the most beautiful places of Southern Italy, produces an award winning organic extra virgin olive oil made out of autochthonous cultivars grown and harvested in the native area of Cilento. It’s a zero defects olive oil. The farm is committed to a project accessible to all, to eating well, to preserving the freshness of the product, and to respecting the consumer and the landscape.
http://www.oliorizzo.it
Thank you!
Any particular reason why Formaggio Kitchen has been crossed off your list. It’s been my go-to for years.
The link was broken. I’ll fix it! Thanks for letting me know.
Hi Elizabeth – love your post and hope to take a tour within the next year. Please consider adding http://www.cityolive.com ( Chicago) to your list. We have carefully curated olive oils from all over the world the last 14 years. Many from women producers!
Thanks!