11 Best Olive Oil Tastings in Napa Valley
If you love visiting Napa but are not into wine tasting, olive oil tasting is a great alternative. The mediterranean climate of Napa and Sonoma is not only perfect for viticulture but also olive cultivation. Wine and olive oil go hand in hand and several wineries and specialty stores offer olive oil tastings in Napa Valley. California’s wine country has some of the best olive oil producers that make small lots using artisan methods of olive oil production. Napa Valley is undoubtedly one of the best places to taste and buy olive oils and vinegars including balsamic vinegar!
Extra virgin olive oil milled using artisanal methods and in small lots is one of the best tasting experiences in the culinary world. Once you taste the peppery, grassy notes of authentic high quality extra virgin olive oil, you will never go back to the store bought ones.
If you are in the wine country, make sure you check out our list of best olive oil tastings in Napa Valley and try the different traditional and infused olive oils and vinegars.
Note: While we try our best to provide tasting room hours, price per person, these are subject to business owner’s discretion and are subject to change anytime. Please refer to the business website and check the hours of operation, price and reservations before visiting.
11 Best Olive Oil Tastings in Napa Valley
Round Pond Estate
Located in Rutherford, Round Pond Estate is not only one of the best wineries in Napa but also one of the best olive oil producers. The olive orchards span across 12 acres with over 2200 olive tress containing Italian and Spanish olive varieties. You can learn about the different extraction processes and the distinct flavors that emerge from different olive varieties. Each olive oil is crafted from a meticulous selection of hand-harvested olives and boasts of great purity and and flavor.
If you’d like to experience one of the best olive oil tastings in Napa , reserve the olive oil tasting at Round Pond Estate. As part of their tasting, you will get to learn about their artisan methods of olive oil production at the olive mill followed by a guided tasting of their fresh olive oils and red wine vinegar blends. Along with the traditional EVOO, their herb infused olive oils, blood orange and Meyer lemon olive oils are a must try.
Olive oil tasting experience at Round Pond Estate
By appointment Wednesday through Sunday | 45-60 minutes | $60 per guest
The Olive Press
Located in the Oxbow Market in Downtown Napa (but based in Sonoma), The Olive Press is known for its wide range of organic extra virgin olive oils. It is a family-owned business and pride themselves on their artisan methods of olive oil production. The Olive Press was the first olive mill in Sonoma and one of the finest olive oil producers in the wine country.
If you get a chance, do visit their Sonoma Valley tasting room as well.
Intro to the world of extra virgin olive oil at The Olive Press at Oxbow Public Market
Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-6pm | 40minutes | $20 per person + tax
Grove45
This female owned family business is earning awards and rave reviews for their exquiste extra virgin olive oils. If you would like to learn more about olive oil making, take the olive oil and balsamic tasting experience. In this tasting, you’ll learn about the process of producing olive oil and all the intricate details involved.
Tasting Options
Grove 45 Olive Oil and Balsamic Tasting | $40 per person
Grove 45 Olive Oil, Balsamic & Museion Rosé Tasting | $50 per person
Tasting Room Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10 AM – 5 PM, Friday – Saturday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Company
Situated in St. Helena, Napa Valley Olive Oil Company offers a variety of locally made olive oils. The infused oils and balsamic vinegars are some of the best in Napa. This place has been making olive oil since 1931 and is one of the best places to buy olive oil in Napa. Napa Valley Olive Oil Mfg is an Italian grocery store and also carries Italian delicacies like prosciutto, salami, sausages, wine, and pastas imported from Italy.
Hours of Operation: 10AM – 5PM
Darioush Winery
If you really want a grand tasting experience of olive oil, you have to take the 90 minute tasting experience at Darioush winery. Along with great olive oils, you will also enjoy a tasting of several single-vineyard wines and small bites. Darioush works with olive orchards from around California to produce fresh, expressive and aromatic olive oils.
Olive Oil Experience at Darioush Winery
Daily, between 10:30 and 3:30 | 90 minutes | $140
Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company
Il Fiorello is in Fairfield but well worth the short detour from Napa for their highest quality olive oils. They offer a comparative tasting of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Il Fiorello grows 13 varieties of Mediterranean olives in their olive orchards and have the coveted Extra Virgin Certification. They are pioneers in olive oil making and have one of the best tasting olive oils in the area.
Olive oil tasting experience
Offered daily at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm | Reservation required | $25 per person
Long Meadow Ranch
A multifaceted farmstead in St. Helena, Long Meadow Ranch doesn’t just stop at olive oil. However, their organic olive oils are a must-try. Long Meadow Ranch takes the distinction of planting one of the first olive trees in the Napa Valley. Their Prato Lungo (Italian for Long Meadow) olive groves are the oldest olive orchards in Napa Valley.
Hours of Operation: 7 AM – 8:30 PM
Other Olive Oil Producers In Napa Valley
B.R. Cohn Winery
While renown for its music festival and wines, B.R. Cohn in Glen Ellen (Sonoma Valley) also produces olive oil from Picholine olive trees, some over 140 years old.
Hours of Operation: 10 AM – 5 PM
Olivier Napa Valley
Situated in downtown Napa, Olivier is a gourmet store that offers a vast selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Their staff is knowledgeable and guide visitors through their various offerings.
Hours of Operation: 10AM – 6PM
Lucero Olive Oil
While not a tasting room and not located in Napa (Corning), Lucero is a notable mention for anyone serious about olive oil. They have an expansive range of olive oils that are of highest quality. We always buy their new harvest Olio Novello (new oil) olive oil and it is one of the best olive oils out there! They even sell olive trees and ship them nationwide.
Castello di Amarosa
While the famous winery does not offer olive oil tasting, Castlello di Amarosa does produce Olio Nuovo (new oil) every year after the harvest and is one of the best olive oils produced in Napa Valley. If you visit the winery, be sure to grab a bottle of their Olio Nuovo.
Final Thoughts
While best known for its amazing wines and wineries, Napa Valley is also home to several olive groves and produces some of the best extra virgin olive oils in the country. I highly recommend olive oil tasting while in Napa Valley to explore the world of olive oil, learn about different varieties of olives and olive oil production methods.
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I am Aswani Kurra. I am an engineer, dreamer and part-time wanderlust, writer and wine lover. I always had an urge to write, create and travel. So I created this space to satisfy my creative itch and combine all my skills to help you plan your Charming Escape.
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