Extra Virgin Olive Oils
We offer a diverse selection of extra virgin olive oils. Our focus is Italy, but we carry a variety of oils from other countries such as Spain, the U.S., France and more.- Online ordering is available on our website www.convitocafeandmarket.com.
- We ship anywhere.
- Prices and selection may vary as our selection of olive oils is constantly changing. We consequently carry more olive oils than are listed here, even though we try to update our list as much as possible. Please inquire.
Italy
| Region | Producer | Description | Size | Price |
| Abruzzi | Colavita | Medium-bodied & robust | 1 ltr 500 ml 250 ml |
$23.99 $12.99 $6.99 |
| Apulia | Galatino | In a beautiful crock, smooth, medium bodied with hints of the sea | 500 ml | $32.99 |
| Lazio | Antica Abazzia | Buttery, nutty. Best value | 750 ml | $18.99 |
| Lazio | Colle Monacesco | Sweet with hints of green apple & nuts. Single orchard, small production | 1 ltr | $24.99 |
| Liguria | Academia Barilla D.O.P Rivere Ligure |
Delicate fruitiness with bouquet of fresh olives. Versatile, smooth | 750 ml | $31.99 |
| Liguria | Ceppo Antico | Late harvest oil. Golden with smooth, sweet flavor, hints of almond | 500 ml | $25.99 |
| Toscano | Badia a Coltibuono | Medium to fullbodied, peppery | 250 ml 500 ml 1 ltr |
$16.99 $27.99 $45.99 |
| Toscano | IGP Toscano | Spicy, slightly peppery, strong typical Tuscan flavor. | 500 ml | $31.99 |
| Toscano | Buonamici Organic | Fruity, flesh, full bodied. | 750 ml | $29.99 |
| Toscano | Avignonesi | From small production winery, peppery, deep, full flavored. | 500 ml | $37.99 |
| Toscano | LaudemioMarchesi di Frescobaldi |
Mildly intense, peppery finish | 500 ml | $40.99 |
| Toscano | Tenuta di Capezzana di Frescobaldi |
Perfect balance of fruity olive flavors, with a long finish. Peppery & full bodied | 500 ml | $41.99 |
| Toscano | Tenuto del Numero Uno |
Fruity, aromatic & subtle | 500 ml | $28.99 |
| Toscano | Frantoio di Sommaia | Vivid, sweeet, hints of fresh grass & artichokes | 250 ml 750 ml |
$16.99 $35.99 |
| Sicilia | Academia Barilla Monte Iblei |
Medium fruitiness with hints of green tomato | 750 ml | $28.99 |
| Sicilia | Olio Verde | Intense, full flavor, redolent of cut grass, green olive vivacity | 500 ml | $39.99 |
| Sicilia | Frantoia Barbera | Fullbodied, fruity, pungent. Tastes of the sea | 500 ml 1 ltr |
$19.99 $30.99 |
| Italy | 100% Italiano Academia Barilla |
Blend from different areas, delicate, fruity | 500 ml | $14.99 |
Spain
| Region | Producer | Description | Size | Price |
| L’Estornell Organic |
Medium bodied, smooth & fruity | 375 ml 750 ml |
$16.99 $29.99 |
|
| Zoe | Fruity, green, versatile | 750 ml | $12.99 |
U.S.A.
| Region | Producer | Description | Size | Price |
| CA | O Olive Oil | Blend of California and Mediterranean olives. Fresh & light | 200 ml | $11.99 |
| CA | O Lemon Oil | Organic Meyer Lemons crushed with fresh hand-harvested California Mission olives | 250 ml | $22.99 |
| CA | O Clementine | Fresh mandarin crushed with olives. Great with white balsamic | 250 ml | $22.99 |
| Napa | Perfect Pear Olive Oil | Organic olive oil with organic pears | 500 ml | $24.99 |
France
| Region | Producer | Description | Size | Price |
| A l’Olivier | In a ceramic crock, smooth, medium bodied |
500 ml | $27.99 |
Australia
| Region | Producer | Description | Size | Price |
| DanDaragan Estates | Medium balance, creamy nutty taste, moderate pungency | 500 ml | $27.99 |
Olive Oil Information
Extra Virgin is top quality oil that is obtained by cold pressing of wholesome olives which are ground within 3-4 days of picking and thus are not yet fermented. Extra virgin olive oil has an acidity rate of less than 1%. Fine extra virgin olive oil may be green or golden depending on the species of olives, the region, the soil, and the degree of ripeness of the olives at harvest.
Italy is generally considered to have the finest olive oil in the world. Though, no region in Italy is better than another. It all depends on your taste. As with wine, different estates within the same region may produce oil with different characteristics and flavors.
Following is a general guide to the 6 distinct major olive oil producing regions in Italy.
Apulia: Clear, green with yellow reflections, olivey smell, hints of dry grass & tomatoes.
Lazio: Clear, green, olivey smell, fruity with hints of cardoons, artichokes & almonds.
Liguria: Lightly foggy, golden yellow, delicate smell, sweet, slightly fruity taste.
Sicilia: Foggy, green, olivey vegetable smell, intense fruity taste of green tomatoes.
Toscano: Clear, deep green, intense smell, fruity with peppery finishes & hints of cut grass.
Umbria: Clear, deep green, olivey smell, fruity with hints of fresh greens & artichokes.
Questions and Answers/p>
According to the International Olive Oil Council the following questions are some of the most frequently asked regarding olive oil.
Q. Do all olive oils taste the same?
A. Olive oils, both pure and Extra Virgin, have a wide variety of tastes. Flavor
variations are due to differences in climate, soil and from more than 60
varieties of olives grown for olive oil production.
Q. Can you tell from the color how an olive oil is going to taste?
A. The only way to tell how an olive oil is going to taste is to taste it.
Colors range from a golden tint to a rich deep green, but there is
no rule of thumb about how each will taste. There is a common
misconception that the darker oils have a more pronounced
flavor. In fact, there is no relationship between the flavor and
the physical characteristics of the oil.
Q. What do "First Pressing" and "Cold Pressing" mean?
A. The terms are archaic, though some producers continue to use them. They
are leftover from a bygone era when farmers would first press for sale, and
then for their own table use, using heat to extract more olive oil from the
crushed olive paste. Now, all oils are from a single pressing, at room
temperature.
Q. What is "Extra Virgin" olive oil?
A. Olive oil that has not needed any purification and meets very high
standards of aroma, flavor and color. It must have less than one percent
of oleic acid.
Q. Doesn’t olive oil have more calories than other oils?
A. A tablespoon of olive oil contains 120-125 calories, the same amount
as other oils. A little bit goes a long way toward adding body
and flavor.
Q. Does olive oil contain cholesterol?
A. No it does not. Olive oil is a non-saturated fat, which reduces the
LDL in the blood. Unlike polyunsaturated fat, olive oil leaves
untouched the HDL which protects the arteries from cholesterol
build up.
Q. Does olive oil require refrigeration?
A. Emphatically, no. It will last up to two years on your shelf. Just
keep tightly capped, in a cool cupboard, away from direct light. If
it is refrigerated, the oil thickens & becomes cloudy. This does
not harm the oil, which will become clear when brought back to room
temperature.
Q. What is unfiltered oil? Is sediment at the bottom of the
bottle o.k. to consume?
A. Unfiltered oil contains small particles of olive flesh. Olive
oil aficionados claim this adds additional flavor and is safe to
consume.
Unfiltered oil should be carefully stored and used within 1
year of bottling.
Q. What is Olio Nuovo or Novello or Early Harvest Oil?
A. Green olives have slightly less oil, more bitterness and can be
higher in polyphenols. The oil tends to be more expensive because
it takes more olives to make a bottle of oil. Many people like the
peppery and bitter quality of early harvest oil.
Q. What is Late Harvest Oil ? (like Ceppo Antico)
A. Late harvest or "Winter" fruit is more ripe so like other ripe
fruit it has a light, mellow taste with little bitterness and more
floral flavors. The olives are picked later, in the winter months.
