Duo of 'First Day of Harvest' Extra Virgin Olive Oils

No olive oil is more spectacular than the oil made from olives juiced on the very first day of harvest for the season. Here we offer a pair of Castillo de Canena olive oils from that first harvest. Fruity arbequina oil has complex aromas and flavours of green apple, lemon peel and herbs and finishes with a gentle hint of spice, great for dipping with bread. Bold, full flavored picual is a golden green color with fragrances of artichokes, basil and rosemary and a peppery finish, perfect for dressing salads.

You've probably never tasted this kind of olive oil as it is produced in very small quantities, usually for personal use. It is very costly to produce, for if a producer waits just a few days longer until the olive is fully mature and plump he will get a much higher volume of juice from the same olive.

Knowing that the barely ripe olive yields the best of the vintage, the Vañó family of La Castilla de Canena is not willing to take that short cut for volume. They set aside a portion of the harvest, hand pick the olives as early as is possible and bottle the brilliant green juice.

The distinctive red bottles block out all light that might compromise the flavor. For the discerning food lover, this is a once a year chance to enjoy the best of the best. It is an exclusive and limited edition released by the Vañó family.

Each year’s release has been commemorated with a unique bottle label, each designed by a different established name from Spain's creative community.

Castillo De Canena olive oils are produced by the renowned Vañó family in Andalusia. For centuries, the Vañó family has produced olive oil at their 16th century castle in the foothills of the Sierra Mágina. The company takes its name from the castle itself.

Castillo de Canena carefully supervises their olive groves and hand selects olives at the peak time for producing olive oil with the perfect balance of aroma and flavor.