OLIVE OIL
Woods Creek Olive Oil was born beside a country road in Umbria, Italy. Leslie was painting a wonderful valley, looking down to Spoleto, when her brush went flying over the fence into a field. After looking both ways, she climbed the fence (well - it was a favorite brush!), found it, and got stung by a Yellow Star Thistle. Since this Yellow Star Thistle is a weed we have been fighting here in Tuolumne County forever, she wondered what else they had that would grow at home - and voila - she was standing in an olive grove!!
After a lot of research, we planted the first 30 trees in 2000 - they all grew - so we planted 500 more the next year.
OUR TREES ARE FRANTOYO AND LECCHINO - TWO ITALIAN VARIETALS
AS WELL AS ARBEQUINA AND PICQUEL - TWO SPANISH TYPES
We pick in November, press it down in the Valley, and bring it back for storage for 3 months to let it settle in the bottle. On a good year, when we have a lot of oil, you may bring back your bottle back and refill it at half price! On a not-so-good year, we usually sell out, with no options to refill.
Good oil is a little bitter, has a nice bite, and is kind of peppery.
When it gets cold, it coagulates.
(You can test out your oil by putting it in the refrigerator - if it doesn't "solid up" -
it probably is not real olive oil.)
