When we launched the Tuscan olive oil part of our business in 1995, it was unprecedented for a merchant to only offer 100% estate-grown oils they'd personally tasted in the region during the harvest. We were also alone in shipping every oil either by air or, if by sea, by temperature-controlled container.

Funny thing is that, a quarter century later, we pretty much still stand alone. And it's why we have such a loyal following, not only for the oils we ship temperature-controlled over the winter, but for the small amount of Olio Nuovo we bring in by air in December.

Our 2019 Olio Nuovo selections arrived this past week and, as usual, they are outstanding. Selected after a series of long days visiting the best estates and tasting the best oils, they were quickly pressed to capture their essence, and then they were put on a plane to California.

This Year's Selections 

From the 2019 crop, we chose three oils, which we are offering as a 3-pack at the very low price of $94.50 for three half-liter bottles. They are:

Franci Villa Magra – Vasca 11/13
Pruneti – harvested late October
Monte – Vasca 2 pressed 10/30

These oils were among the highlights of what we tasted during our Tuscan tour this year. As soon as possible after bottling, we rushed them to Florence's Peretola Airport.  Still only a few weeks old,  they are the closest thing in America to tasting great Tuscan oil right out of the press.

2019's Harvest in a Nutshell

The 2019 Tuscan olive crop was again tiny, as countless Frantoio trees—especially in the Chianti Classico zone—remained bare after 2018's devastating spring frost. Fortunately, we found some wonderful oils with a larger percentage of other varieties: Moraiolo, Leccino, Pendolino and even the rare variety, Leccio di Corno. 

That's not to say that other olive varieties escaped scot-free. Many suffered a poor fruit set—due to a cold, rainy spring—and production was further reduced when strong summer winds stripped olives from the trees. Worse still, olive flies returned to areas like Montalcino where they hadn't been seen for years. And, finally, heavy November rains brought the season to an early close. All told, production in most areas was down 25 to 50%.

But unlike other importers who place their orders by email, we knew exactly which estates to buy from, and which pressings to bottle, and we chose our oils meticulously and with total confidence.

Given the small amount of oil we have to go around, please understand if we have to limit purchases to one or two sets.

An Important Note on Shipping:

We are pleased to offer the following discounted ground shipping rates within the continental U.S.: $14.00 for one set and $21.00 for two sets shipped together to the same address.

All orders will be filled and shipped within two business days of receipt. So if you place your order by this Wednesday (12/11), chances are good that it will arrive by the week of Christmas.

However, neither UPS nor Fedex will guarantee a specific delivery date if shipped by Ground during the holidays. So, if the oil must be received by a certain date, and you wish to upgrade to expedited shipping, please inquire about 2- and 3-day shipping rates. 

2019 Olio Nuovo

Three Pack For the Holidays

Contains one 500ml bottle each of  
Franci Villa Magra,
Monte & Pruneti Olio Nuovo.  

$94.50 3-btl set