Olive Oil in Spain

Approximately 300 million olive trees grow in Andalucía, Spain's most southerly region, with 80% of them rooted in Jaén and Cordoba. From breakfast to dinner or from cosmetic products to seeds used for heating, there's no escaping the fruit's impact, though, sadly, ethanol is edging out the olive trees in the region as more farmers plant corn to reap the high prices for that commodity.

Finding out About Olive Oil in Spain

Some factories welcome group and individual visits for a first-hand education about the tree-to-harvest-to-bottle production. Made for Spain arranges tours or you can stop into local tourist offices for guidance.

The Nuñez de Prado mill in Baena bottles award-winning extra-virgin olive oil produced on the estate using organic farming methods. Olive oil is sold in the factory store for approximately five to ten euros. An antique press dating back to 1795 is on the estate that has been in the family for centuries.

Alternatively, visit Matias Vela, an Olive Oil Master (a title which is comparable to a wine sommelier). The title is difficult to achieve at the Instituto de la Grasa where he studied, and it required him to make his own olive oil. Matias can be found at Seville's Taberna del Albardero.

Resources about Olive Oil in Spain

• Olive Oil from Spain Recipes and news about olive oil.
• Spain's Black Gold The importance of olive oil in Spain.