Breaking news – De Rustica, on September 10th, achieved a full house of 5 gold medals at the 2024 SA Olive annual competition. This continues a proud tradition of exceptional and consistent results at that SA Olive event over more than a decade.
These accolades join the growing list of international awards received by De Rustica confirming its extra virgin olive oils as truly world class.
At De Rustica, crafting exceptional olive oil is a meticulous process that combines precision, passion, and the best nature has to offer. Here’s an inside look at the technical aspects of our award-winning olive oil production:
Cultivation and Harvesting
Our journey begins with our climate high on the slopes of the Swartberg mountains. Cold winters, pure mountain water, high daily temperature fluctuations and Cape summer sunshine, without excessive heat, make for an ideal terroir for quality olive oils. At De Rustica our trees flourish in orchards with a healthy mix of cover plants protecting and enhancing soil health and the trees are kept in optimal health and vigour. Our manual harvesting causes minimal stress to the trees and damage to the olive fruit which is also delivered to our Press at the optimal point in the ripening process – essential for producing high-quality oil. The manual harvesting process also puts critical wages back into our community.
Cold-Pressing Process
After harvesting, the olives are transported to our state-of-the-art milling facility. We cold-press the olives within hours of picking them to maintain their freshness and nutritional value. The cold-pressing process involves crushing the olives and extracting the oil without heat thus preserving the delicate flavours, aromas, and beneficial compounds. This method is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our oil and ensuring a top-quality product.
Production Techniques
We employ advanced extraction technology and rigorous quality control measures throughout the production process. Our facilities are equipped with modern machinery that ensures efficiency and precision. We carefully filter and store the oil in optimal conditions to prevent oxidation and preserve its quality. Our production team, with over 60 years of combined experience in the art and science of producing quality extra virgin oils, monitors each batch closely, adhering to strict standards to maintain consistency and excellence.
Sustainability and Quality Assurance
Sustainability is a cornerstone of our approach. We use environmentally friendly practices, including water conservation techniques and organic farming methods, to minimise our ecological footprint. Our commitment to quality is reflected in our adherence to international standards and certifications. Each bottle of our olive oil undergoes thorough testing to ensure it meets the highest quality standards.
From our lush olive orchards to the final bottle, our olive oil represents a journey of passion, precision, and perfection. Our unwavering commitment to quality ensures that every drop of our oil not only enhances culinary creations but also supports a healthy lifestyle.
