Historical Fun Facts

Olive Oil

In biblical times Priest used olive oil to treat leprosy
Greek Athletes used olive oil to cleanse their bodies
Olives are a member of the fruit family
Olives are thought to have been first cultivated 5000 years ago in Syria and Crete
California olives began in the late 1800s
Today 100,000+ tons of olives are produced in California alone each year
70 to 80 percent of ripe olives are grown in California 
Source: California Olive Industry report

Tree to bottle to you when production is complete!

Balsamic Vinegar

All balsamic vinegar is derived from a thousand year old process developed around the area of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. But what is balsamic vinegar, really? How is it made? What’s the difference between white balsamic and regular balsamic? What makes some balsamic vinegars so expensive?

 Grape must is the only ingredient in traditional balsamic vinegar. 

Traditional balsamic vinegar — Small batch, highly crafted balsamic vinegar

White Balsamic — Similar to regular balsamic vinegar but with a light golden color

Balsamic Glaze — Syrupy version of regular balsamic vinegar that has added sweeteners and/or thickeners

Traditional balsamic vinegar is aged for a minimum of 12 years in a series of successively smaller wooden barrels, each made from a different type of wood — oak, juniper, mulberry, ash, cherry, and chestnut. As the vinegar ages in the barrels, it acquires flavors from the wood, and its acidity mellows. Because the wood is porous the vinegar loses moisture over time, and becomes more concentrated, eventually reaching a syrupy consistency. Yum!

 While the tradition of making balsamic vinegar comes from Modena, you can find quality balsamic vinegars for everyday use that aren't from Modena and aren't Italian. (Think California Napa region!)