About our olive oil suppliers
Meet the Olivar de Segura
The Olivar de Segura was founded in 1989 as a cooperative society, bringing together more than 4,500 small farming families, including my family in Spain. This mutual cooperation arose from the need to build common economies of scale, shared resources and improve the economic situation of the thousands of people participating in this project.
Olivar de Segura's mission is to add value to an authentic and unique productive 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.
Olivar de Segura's olive oil production is carried out by 12 olive presses, providing 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 between members and a democratic organization. The principles are based on equality and solidarity.
In addition to the commercialization of Oliver de Segura products, a series of services necessary for the proper functioning of the oil mills and farmers are also provided: training activities, representation, technical support, quality management, as well as various services in collaboration with other organizations.
Olivar de Segura has now merged with Jaencoop; and together they provide 28% of all olive oil production in the province of Jaen.
Meet Arte Oleum
Arte Oleum is a young company of four generations of olive growers whose life has been entirely devoted to the cultivation of olive trees. Their olive trees
are ancient, 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 a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.
The agricultural lands of Arte Oleum consist of olive trees of the picual olive variety. Many of these trees are grown traditionally 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. Through the generations, their ancestors have passed on the cultural, culinary and nutritional values they represent from generation to generation.
After inheriting this multidisciplinary training in the cultivation of 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 : word of Latin origin meaning oil. It emphasizes the ancient origins. These two words together represent the unique quality of our product and our approach in creating it.
Arte Oleum therefore stands for: "The art of obtaining oil"
Meet 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 people's well-being with pure natural remedies from plants.
More than 15 years ago, his research into the beneficial properties of Oleuropein, present in the olive leaf, began. This research brought him into close personal relationship with the olive grove that he enthusiastically inherited 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 higher than a thousand meters, forms a valley where olive trees thrive under optimal conditions. At an altitude of 429 meters above sea level, Relleu enjoys almost three thousand hours of sunshine per year, a moderate temperature averaging 15.8 °C and an annual rainfall of 400 mm.
The native olive trees coexist with the traditional cultivation in the area, together with almond trees and extensive mountain fields where Aleppo pines, carob trees, rosemary, heather, mastic trees, esparto and thyme form a beautiful landscape.
What makes Señorios de Relleu so special?
In the summer of 2023 I visited this olive grove and their olive oil press, "Masia Teuladi". Accustomed to the vast plains of Jaen, however, this location was small-scale and in an unusual location. While large cooperatives are used in Andalusia for economies of scale, Señorios de Relleu is managed by one family.
Although I have been visiting the Alicante area for over 20 years, I did not know that this location also produced beautiful olive oils.
During my visit, Hugo (the son) showed me around and explained that there are more than 100 different types of olive trees on their estate, including some olive tree species native to the region. Then, under the guidance of Gaby, I was able to do an extensive tasting to taste the different types of olive oil according to a real cata (olive oil tasting method).