800 Trees is a small olive grove planted around 20 years ago that produces delicately fragrant olive oil with a distinctive ‘cloudy’ appearance. It is rainwater-fed and guarded (and fertilised) by their resident alpacas. Their main olive varieties for producing olive oil are frantoio, corregiola and manzanilla, with giant kalamatas sold fresh for making table olives. The olives are cold pressed and filtered only once.
Hildebrand Grove is a local, family-run olive grove in picturesque Cottles Bridge which has been quietly producing award-winning olive oil for ten years. Ann and David Strutt are in there at every stage of the process: tending the olive trees, harvesting and pressing the olives. The oil is produced from a blend of Corregiola and Frantoio olives and the end result – a flavoursome and award-winning extra virgin olive oil – has become a beloved staple in many local households. In addition to selling the plain extra virgin olive oil, Hildebrand Grove also produces a great range of infused oils. With a variety of tasty flavours, these are a sophisticated addition to any pantry and can be used in cooked dishes or to dress salads.
Panton Hill Estate Olives produces extra virgin olive oils, processed primarily as single variety oils, as well as selling table olives. It also makes a handmade range of cosmetic products, all made solely with their extra virgin olive oil, including soap, lip balm, hand scrub and calendula healing balm.
The olive varieties include Frantoio, Correggiola and Koroneiki for oil production, and Kalamata and California Queen varieties for table olives. Quality is always the primary driver at each phase of the production process and the table olives are processed on site, using the traditional salt and water brine method of curing. This takes up to six months of careful attention to ensure the resulting table olives are firm and have the distinctive taste and qualities of their varieties. Part of the secret of the flavours are the shale soils found in Nillumbik, in which olive trees thrive.
HOME
LINKS &
NEWS
EVENT
CALENDAR
LOCAL FOOD
DIRECTORY
FOOD
JUSTICE
FOOD
SWAPS
COMMUNITY
GARDENING
HOME GROWER
GARDEN VISITS
GROWING
GUIDES
RECIPES &
EATING
ELTHAM
FARMERS’ MARKET
JUST
FOR FUN
CONTACT
& ABOUT