Making World Class Olive Oil Sustainably |
Stella Cadente Olive Oil was founded by the husband & wife team of Sue Ellery and Tom Hunter in 1999. Their olives are grown without pesticides or herbicides & hand-picked at the couple's Shooting Star Ranch in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County, California.
In each of the last 6 years the couple's olive oils have won some of the world's most prestigious awards, including two "Best of Show" awards in international competition and numerous Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals. In 2006 they were honored with a "Best of Show" award in an international competition for the packaging and design for the entire line of oils.
Stella Cadente olive oils are great because they use the best fruit and they know how to transform them into fantastic oils. Tom & Sue are some of the only people in California crazy enough to hand-pick, but they feel it's necessary to produce the highest quality oil. Hand-picking eliminates bruising the delicate olives so the fruit will not degrade and ferment prior to pressing. They rush the olives directly to the press to make sure the fruit is in the best possible condition.
The couple got off to a rocky start in 1995 when wild pigs broke down the fencing & dug up 3 acres of newly planted olive trees. Not to be outdone, the deer followed the pigs and feasted on the leaves. You've got to love how Tom & Sue have persevered in their pursuit of perfection! They're now playing a vital role in sustaining the Anderson Valley community where they live surrounded by redwoods, douglas firs and rolling hillsides. Many people compare Anderson Valley to Tuscany. Its sparse population leaves the balance of nature relatively undisturbed.
Anderson Valley is also famous for its incredible California Pinot Noirs and world class hand-crafted beer. If you're in the area pay a visit to the Stella Cadente Olive Oil Bar at Brutocao Cellars in Hopland.
If you'd like to try the world class olive oils from Stella Cadente just click on the items below:
L'Autunno Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
If you'd like to try a recipe calling for Stella Cadente's L'Autunno Extra Virgin Olive Oil go to: Filet of Sole in Wine Sauce
