A Standard Built Over Time

From valley floor to mountain slopes, orchards, grazing lands and natural vegetation form a connected system, shaped by well-drained soils, cooling breezes and a high day-night temperature range. Spanning 3,000 hectares across the Oudemuragie Valley, the estate stretches 12 kilometres along the Nels River, with elevations from 300 to 675 metres and 550 hectares of prepared land, including 135 hectares of olive orchards.

De Rustica is more than a farm. It’s a testament to sustainable agriculture, combining innovative practices with respect for nature to create a thriving ecosystem. Agricultural activity centres on olive cultivation and pasture-based sheep farming, supported by year-round crops and grazing. Soil health is maintained through minimal tillage, natural ground cover and organic fertilisation, while water is efficiently managed through careful irrigation and monitoring.

Approximately 2800 Dohne Merino ewes are raised on a pasture-based system, grazing lucerne and seasonal crops. Sheep are humanely-raised, pasture-fed and raised without hormones or antibiotics. 

Small batches are processed on the estate at our fully licensed abattoir, with premium lamb supplied to select outlets, while wool is sheared by staff and sold through the SA Wool auction process.

Situated in the Oudemuragie Valley of the Klein Karoo, De Rustica Olive Estate lies along the slopes of the Swartberg mountains, contiguous to the protected Cape Nature Reserve. Elevations range from 300 to 675 metres, with soils varying from shallow and sandy on higher slopes to deeper alluvial soils at the bottom of the valley. We focus on select areas that are well-drained for planting and plant cultivars that flourish in each set of circumstances.

Clear skies, altitude and desert-like conditions result in a high day-night temperature range, stimulating healthy circulation in our trees and augmenting the flavour of our olives. Although situated in the arid Klein Karoo biome, the mountain slopes enjoy a higher annual rainfall and cooling breezes that moderate summer heat, while winter cold enables natural dormancy, contributing to balance, structure and consistency in the estate’s olive oils.

De Rustica Olive Estate comprises 135 hectares of olive orchards, with over 77,000 trees planted across Groot Kruis and Oudemuragie. Cultivars are selected for their ability to adapt to local soils and climate, with a clear focus on oil production. Initial cultivars, including Frantoio (and its clone Favolosa), Coratina and Lucina are a blend from Tuscany. Since then, the farm has experimented with cultivars from Spain, Israel, Greece and Tunisia, chosen for their suitability to the estate’s terroir.

While Kalamata and Manzanilla table olives are grown, the focus remains on producing premium olive oils. Winter supports natural dormancy and bud development, followed by Spring’s blossom and fruit set. Through Summer, olives mature under moderated heat with careful irrigation.

​Harvest begins in late March and continues through to winter, depending on yield and weather conditions. Olives are hand-picked using combs to preserve fruit quality, then transported daily for immediate processing, with careful handling to maintain temperature and prevent sun exposure.

Our team works on the health and sustainability of natural cycles. Ground cover, pruning material, olive pomace and sheep manure are returned to the soil to build organic matter, reduce water evaporation, and stimulate a healthy microbiology in the soil. Pests are monitored and treated only where needed, while irrigation and pruning are carefully managed, with soil moisture monitored to optimise water use and support long-term yield.