About our olive oil suppliers
Because of my personal connection to Spain and the Sierra de Segura, I want to give a lot of attention to everyone involved in making olive oil. On this page, I would like to introduce you to our olive oil suppliers: Olivar de Segura, Cuac, Señorios de Relleu and Arte Oleum
Meet the Olivar de Segura
Olivar de Segura was founded in 1989 as a cooperative society, bringing together more than 4,500 small farming families, including my own family in Spain. This mutual cooperation arose from the need to build collective economies of scale, share resources, and improve the economic situation of the thousands of people participating in this project.
The mission of Olivar de Segura is to add value to an authentic and unique production system in the Sierra de Segura Natural Park (Jaén province), the largest protected natural area in Spain. This region has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and is also an area under special protection for birds, which is why it is now part of the Natura 2000 network.
The olive oil production of Olivar de Segura is carried out by 12 oil mills, which forms a strong economic foundation for the agricultural sector in this region. A number of values and principles ensure a fairer society and sustainability. These values are based on taking responsibility, promoting cooperation among members, and democratic organization. The principles are based on equality and solidarity.
In addition to the commercialization of the products of Olivar de Segura, a range of services necessary for the proper functioning of the oil mills and farmers is also provided: training activities, representation, technical support, quality management, as well as various services in collaboration with other organizations.
Olivar de Segura has since merged with Jaencoop; together, they account for 28% of all olive oil production in the province of Jaén.
Get to know Señorios de Relleu
Señorios de Relleu embodies the care, experiences, and origins of Eliseo Quintanilla Almagro.
Born into a farming family in the countryside of Cartagena (province of Murcia), he chose a career in the pharmaceutical world to promote human well-being through pure natural plant-based remedies.
Over 15 years ago, he began his research into the beneficial properties of Oleuropein, found in the olive leaf. This research brought him into a close personal relationship with the olive grove he inherited with enthusiasm in his youth and which he later passed on to his son Hugo (pictured here).
Discover Relleu, located ten kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea and at the foot of the Sierra de Aitana. Close to the city of Alicante, near Villajoyosa.
This unique place, surrounded by mountains over a thousand meters high, forms a valley where olive trees thrive under optimal conditions. At an altitude of 429 meters above sea level, Relleu enjoys nearly three thousand hours of sunshine per year, a moderate average temperature of 15.8 °C, and an annual rainfall of 400 mm.
The native olive trees coexist with the area's traditional cultivation, alongside almond trees and vast mountain fields where Aleppo pines, carob trees, rosemary, heather, mastic trees, esparto grass, and thyme form a beautiful landscape.
What makes Señorios de Relleu so special?
In the summer of 2023, I visited this olive grove and its olive oil mill, "Masia Teuladi". Accustomed to the vast plains of Jaén, this location was small-scale and in an unusual setting. While large cooperatives are used in Andalusia for economies of scale, Señorios de Relleu is managed by a single family.
Despite having visited the Alicante area for over 20 years, I did not know that this location also produced magnificent olive oils.
During my visit, Hugo (the son) showed me around and explained that there are over 100 different types of olive trees on their estate, including some indigenous olive tree species from the region. Afterwards, under the guidance of Gaby, I was able to participate in an extensive tasting to sample the different types of olive oil according to a genuine cata (olive oil tasting method).
Meet Cuac
At Casa Gomez, we work with carefully selected producers who supply the highest quality extra virgin olive oil. One of these exceptional producers is CUAC, a family business that grows olives in the mountainous Sierra de Cazorla region.
Mountain olive groves are more difficult to cultivate and yield lower harvests than those on large estates. Nevertheless, the compact olives from these high-altitude orchards produce olive oil of exceptional quality, which is celebrated worldwide in tastings.
The olive trees of CUAC, over 50 years old, grow in the heart of the Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas National Park in the province of Jaén – the region with the highest concentration of olive groves in the world and a reputation for top-quality olive oil.
All extra virgin olive oils from CUAC fall under the Protected Designation of Origin (D.O.) Sierra de Cazorla. The Picual, Organic Picual, and Royal varieties have excellent tasting notes and are highly regarded for their aroma, color, and flavor.
CUAC: Extra virgin olive oil with a story
At Casa Gomez, we choose olive oil producers with a story and a deep-rooted passion for their product. CUAC is a wonderful example of this. This family business from the Sierra de Cazorla has its origins in a childhood filled with olive trees, sunshine, and the mountains of Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas.
The name CUAC refers to the farm where the founders grew up, located by a lake fed by a mountain spring. Ducks lived in that lake, serving as the inspiration for the name of this exceptional extra virgin olive oil.
CUAC is more than an olive oil – it is a tribute to an ancient tradition and the commitment to producing the purest and healthiest olive oil. It represents childhood memories, perseverance, and the dream of creating a unique extra virgin olive oil.
Why a rubber duck as a symbol?
CUAC uses a rubber duck as a recognizable icon. This playful symbol evokes childhood memories for many and represents the joy and passion with which this olive oil is made.
At Casa Gomez, we are proud to offer CUAC – a premium extra virgin olive oil with a special story, an exceptional taste, and a unique character.
Meet Arte Oleum
Arte Oleum is a young company of four generations of olive growers whose lives have been entirely dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees. Their olive trees
are centuries old, and like the environment in which they live, they are well cared for.
The agricultural lands of Arte Oleum are located in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, a natural space located in the northeast of Jaén (Andalusia). The area was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1983 and became a natural park in 1986. In 1987, it was also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.
The agricultural lands of Arte Oleum consist of olive trees of the Picual variety. Many of these trees are cultivated in the traditional way, and a small number are grown organically. From this small organic crop, Arte Oleum produces a limited quantity of organic extra virgin olive oil, packaged in exclusive 500ml bottles.
The heritage olive trees are centuries old. Throughout the generations, their ancestors have passed down the cultural, culinary, and nutritional values they represent from generation to generation.
Having inherited this multidisciplinary training in the cultivation of the trees and the production of the highest quality extra virgin olive oil, they decided to produce under their own brand. In this way, the continuity of the culture can be strengthened and they continue to improve the quality of Spanish olive oil with a specific and exceptional product: ARTE OLEUM Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Arte Oleum integrates the traditional values we have inherited with the benefits of a modern, high-quality product.
Arte: It means "technical" and is derived from Latin and Greek. It refers to the specialized manual processes used in the care of the olive groves and in the production of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). They are proud of these traditional, artisanal techniques, and are confident that they produce a superior product.
Oleum: a word of Latin origin meaning oil. It emphasizes the ancient origins. Together, these two words represent the unique quality of our product and our approach to creating it.
Arte Oleum therefore stands for: "The art of obtaining oil"
