ULTRA PREMIUM EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Ideal for both culinary use and health-conscious consumers, De Rustica’s EVOOs consistently uphold the standards of ultra-premium olive oil craftsmanship.

For us freshness & temperature control are key. We press our olives immediately after harvest, using advanced technology to ensure maximum flavour.

The oil is extracted primarily through a process that involves crushing olives to create a paste, which is then pressed or centrifuged to separate the oil from the water and solids. After extraction, the remaining byproducts, such as the solid pulp known as pomace, is repurposed as fertiliser on our pastures, minimising waste and supporting sustainable practices. Nothing goes to waste. The oil is piped directly into stainless steel tanks where it is stored and topped with nitrogen to prevent oxidation.

All of our oils are single origin, made from olives that are grown, handpicked and cold extracted on the Estate. We produce two ranges of oils:

Estate Collection: SINGLE CULTIVAR oils
Estate Range: BLENDED CULTIVAR oils

Our single cultivars that have received multiple awards over the past 10 years, both locally and internationally:

CORATINA
Renowned for its robust and intense flavour, characterised notes of green almond, artichoke & peppery spice. It contains high levels of polyphenols and exceptional antioxidant properties. Origin: Italy

FRAONTOIO
Known for its well-balanced flavour featuring fresh grassy notes, hints of herbs and a smooth peppery aftertaste. Origin: Italy

FAVALOSA
Prized for its fruity and herbaceous profile with a slight bitterness and peppery finish. Origin: Italy

ARBEQUINA
Celebrated for its mild buttery taste with delicate notes of ripe fruit, almonds and a hint of honey. Origin: Catalonia

Our most recognised cultivar blend is our Estate Range Medium which is a blend of Frantoio, Favolosa and Coratina. This versatile and palatable oil makes its flavours known without overpowering. It is available in bottles and is in all our BIBS.

Other cultivars with specific adaptabilities, that we have chosen to test on the farm include:

• Nocellara: Versatile for both oil and table olives.
• Barnea: Widely grown in the Southern Hemisphere and Israel.
• Koroneiki: Greece’s ancient varietal.
• Chemleli Sfax: A Tunisian cultivar resilient to warmer conditions.
• Kalamata: Large, meaty olives suitable for table consumption.

Olive oil has a shelf life of 18-24 months. It is essential to keep the oil well sealed, in a dark container, and at a constant temperature to secure its freshness and prevent oxidisation. Oxidisation causes the oil to lose flavour and nutritional properties, and in the worst case causes rancidity rendering the oil worthless.

We preserve the freshness of our oils by bottling them in dark glass bottles with airtight lids, to limit exposure to light and air and prevent oxidisation. Larger quantities of oil are stored in our 1 or 2 litre ‘bag in the box’ that seals the oil in an airtight foil bag which is protected by a light proof box.

Since 2014, the exceptional quality of our oils has been consistently recognised and awarded both locally and internationally: a track record that proudly earns us the title of ‘Most awarded EVOO ESTATE in South Africa’. We showcase these accolades only as a reflection of our commitment to excellence, producing pure ultra-premium Extra Virgin Olive oil and the hard work captured in every bottle.

recognised as the Southern Hemisphere’s top olive oil producer in 2018, our Estate Collection Coratina won global acclaim at the EVOOEUM competition in Spain in 2023. Perhaps the pinnacle of its achievements when it garnered an impressive 97-point rating crowning it best in the world that year.

At the annual SA Olive competition De Rustica once again received a full house of five gold awards from 5 entries, thereby extending our leading tradition of excellence for over a decade. View more information on our products here.

In a world where producers are blending small percentages of olive oil with seed oils and labelling their product ‘olive oil’, endorsement has become as important as being awarded for excellence. We continue to enter competitions on an annual basis in order to benchmark our oils with the best in the world and to maintain our reputation as a leading producer of the finest quality Extra Virgin Olive oils.

Over the past 10 years we have won: 

International Competitions

18 Gold (including Best in the World in 2023)
2 Silver

South African Competitions

28 SA Olive Gold
4 Aurora Double Gold
4 Absa top 5
7 Absa Top 10

We are gathering increasing numbers of awards each year and received a total of 12 in 2024 alone. These awards continue to fuel our enthusiasm, and keep us striving for excellence in everything that we do.