Sunday, July 13, 2014

REGAL REGALO... OLIVE OIL FIT FOR ROYALTY



REGAL REGALO...
OLIVE OIL FIT FOR ROYALTY


Y'all know how I love to go wine tasting... well recently I went olive oil tasting.  Like the fine wineries I have been to all over California, with great tasting rooms amidst the vineyards, olive oil tasting at Omaggio Farm and Regalo Estate offers the same lovely experience without the need for a designated driver.

As we drove down the driveway through an olive orchard, past the stunning estate villa to the tasting room, it brought back memories of Richard's and my trip to Italy and the Italian countryside, especially when we stepped out of the car and walked toward the beautiful sun-dappled, Tuscan-designed tasting room exterior...


We were greeted by the knowledgeable and welcoming manager, Carolina Gramm...

 
... and were first escorted into a room that houses the press and machinery used to make Regalo's pesticide-free, artisan EVOO.  





Carolina explained how the olives from more than 2,000 trees on the farm are all handpicked, how the olives are processed, and that the oil not used for their artisan EVOO, is re-purposed for other uses, such as bio fuel and soap.

soap oil
Carolina then took us into the lovely appointed tasting room...



... where we tasted five oils...

 

 ...all unique, with a clean, fresh taste.  

We started with a delicate Spanish EVOO which won best in show at the Los Angeles olive oil competition.  It certainly was delicate!

We dipped our bread into the Tuscan, Proprietary, Basil, and Chive EVOO, all delicious and filled with taste nuances.  Last, but not least, we revisited the Proprietary EVOO paired with a ten year old balsamic vinegar.  An exquisite combination of flavors.

Also for our tasting pleasure was a variety of imported Italian balsamic vinegars.


I loved the pear and cranberry vinegar so much I had to buy a bottle, but it didn't keep me from checking out all the different oils, vinegars and a selection of dishes and glassware on display. I wanted to buy everything!!




If you're in Ojai, California and want a delicious tasting experience, I hope you'll visit the Regalo tasting room.  But, even if you're on the other side of the country, you can join their member's club, Amici di Regalo, for subscription deliveries, special limited edition offerings, and news of upcoming members' events.  Just go to their website for all the info about joining or for just buying a bottle or two.

Note:  a portion of all Regalo profits are donated to poverty relief charities.  "Changing the world, one olive at a time."

REGALO
Omaggio Farm
283 Carne Road
Ojai, California 93023
805-703-4438

www.RegaloOlive.com

Because Omaggio and Regalo Estate is family owned and also a private residence, the Tasting Room is only open on:
Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sundays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a delicious adventure! I'm going my next time up there.

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