Just as wine enthusiasts savor the nuanced flavors of different varietals, olive oil connoisseurs appreciate the distinctive profiles of different olive cultivars. At our Bay Area shop, we proudly feature Northern California's exceptional extra virgin olive oils, each with its own personality and culinary purpose. Here's your guide to understanding and appreciating the unique characteristics of our local offerings.
Understanding Olive Oil Tasting
Before diving into specific varietals, it helps to understand how to taste olive oil properly. Unlike wine, olive oil is best evaluated neat—without bread or other foods initially. Professional tasters use small blue glasses to mask the oil's color (preventing visual bias), but any small cup will do.
To properly taste:
- Warm the oil by cupping the container in your hands for a minute
- Smell deeply to detect aromatic notes
- Sip a small amount, letting it spread throughout your mouth
- Draw air through the oil to release more volatile compounds
- Note the sensations - bitterness, pungency, and fruitiness
The three positive attributes to look for are:
- Fruitiness: Reminiscent of fresh or ripe olives
- Bitterness: A pleasant bitter taste detected on the tongue
- Pungency: That peppery sensation that can make you cough
Now, let's explore our Northern California varieties:
Arbequina
Origin: Spanish variety that thrives in Northern California's climate
Tasting Notes: Delicately fruity with green apple and almond notes. Mild-to-medium intensity with subtle bitterness and a gentle peppery finish.
Aroma: Fresh-cut grass, green herbs, sometimes banana or tropical fruit hints
Culinary Uses: Perfect for everyday cooking; shines in delicate fish dishes, light salads, and baking. Its buttery quality makes it excellent for drizzling over soups or vegetables where you don't want the oil to overwhelm other flavors.
Frantoio
Origin: Tuscan variety that produces exceptional oils in California soil
Tasting Notes: Medium-robust intensity with pronounced green herbaceous notes. Balanced bitterness with an artichoke-like quality and medium pungency.
Aroma: Fresh herbs, green tomato leaf, and sometimes hints of pine
Culinary Uses: Versatile all-purpose oil; excellent for bruschetta, bean dishes, roasted vegetables, and hearty soups. Stands up beautifully to garlic and herbs in marinades.
Picual
Origin: Spanish variety known for stability and antioxidant content
Tasting Notes: Robust and assertive with pronounced bitterness. Green fruit flavors with notes of green tomato and fresh-cut grass. Finishes with a strong peppery kick.
Aroma: Green banana, tomato leaf, and fresh almond
Culinary Uses: Ideal for hearty dishes like grilled meats, stews, and bold vegetable preparations. Its high stability makes it excellent for cooking, while its robust character makes it perfect for finishing strong-flavored dishes.
Coratina
Origin: Italian variety that produces exceptionally bold oils in California
Tasting Notes: Intensely robust with pronounced bitterness and significant pungency that creates a back-of-throat "catch." Green fruit dominates with secondary notes of artichoke and green almond.
Aroma: Green herbs, artichoke, and sometimes hints of green apple
Culinary Uses: Best used in small amounts for finishing hearty dishes or in robust preparations like bruschetta with garlic. Pairs beautifully with grilled red meats and winter vegetables. Contains exceptionally high polyphenol levels, making it a health enthusiast's favorite.
Koroneiki
Origin: Greek variety that adapts beautifully to California growing conditions
Tasting Notes: Medium-robust intensity with complex green fruit flavors. Grassy notes complemented by hints of green herbs and artichoke. Well-balanced bitterness with a clean, peppery finish.
Aroma: Fresh-cut grass, green apple, and sometimes hints of tropical fruit
Culinary Uses: Excellent all-purpose oil; perfect for Mediterranean dishes, salads, and vegetable preparations. Its complexity makes it particularly suitable for dipping and finishing dishes where the oil's nuanced flavor can be appreciated.
Creating Your Tasting Experience
When hosting friends or preparing a special meal, consider creating an olive oil tasting flight with small amounts of different varieties. Observe how the oils change with different accompaniments:
- Drizzle over plain bread to appreciate how each variety transforms a simple base
- Try with a slice of tart apple to see how the oils interact with fruit acidity
- Pair with different salts to bring out unique flavor notes
- Finish with a taste of dark chocolate for an unexpected complementary experience
Remember that olive oil is best enjoyed fresh—unlike wine, it doesn't improve with age. Our Northern California oils are current harvest, ensuring you experience these exceptional varieties at their peak. Each bottle captures not just the essence of the olive variety, but the unique terroir of our local landscape and the passionate craftsmanship of our regional producers.
Whether you're a culinary professional or a home cook looking to elevate everyday meals, exploring these distinctive olive oils opens a world of flavor possibilities. We invite you to discover your favorite and expand your culinary horizons one drizzle at a time.