The Art of Processing
FROM OLIVE TO OIL.
FRESHNESS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
Great extra virgin olive oil starts in the grove, but what happens after harvest matters just as much.
From the moment our olives leave the tree, we're working to protect their freshness, aroma and flavour. Every stage of the process matters — from when we harvest and how quickly the fruit reaches the mill, to the way it's crushed, extracted, tasted and stored.
At Rio Vista, we combine experience with modern extraction technology to capture the best possible expression of the fruit.
Grown here. Harvested here. Made by Rio Vista.
WHY PROCESSING MATTERS.
GREAT FRUIT DESERVES GREAT CARE.
An olive is a fresh fruit, and once it's harvested, time matters.
How the fruit is handled, how quickly it reaches the mill and how carefully the oil is extracted can all influence the freshness, aroma and flavour of the finished EVOO.
That's why, for us, processing isn't simply about extracting as much oil as possible.
It's about protecting what's already inside the olive
FROM THE GROVE TO THE BOTTLE
EVERY STEP MATTERS.
01 — HARVEST
It starts with the fruit. Great olive oil can only come from great olives. Throughout harvest, we watch the fruit closely and choose when to pick according to the variety, season and style of oil we're looking to create.
02 — MOVE QUICKLY
Freshness is a race against time. Once picked, we move quickly. Getting freshly harvested fruit to the mill as soon as possible helps preserve the aromas, flavours and character we're looking for.
03 — CLEAN & CRUSH
Where olive becomes oil. At the mill, the olives are cleaned and crushed into a paste, releasing the tiny droplets of oil held naturally within the fruit.
04 — EXTRACT
Precision meets experience. Modern mechanical extraction carefully separates the oil from the other components of the fruit. Temperature, time and the adjustments we make can all influence the finished oil.
05 — ASSESS
Our senses matter. Throughout harvest, we taste and assess the oils as they're produced — looking for freshness, fruitiness, bitterness, pepper,
06 — PROTECT
Keep the good stuff good. Fresh EVOO needs to be protected from light, heat and oxygen, so our oils are carefully stored to preserve their freshness and character until they're ready to be bottled.
I grow my own olives, can you process them for me?
Sure! Our extractor is going nearly 24/7 during the harvest, so please get in contact as soon as possible when you know your olives are ready so you can book in a time to get them processed. We are happy to help make your own amazing EVOO!