About our olive oil suppliers
Because of my personal connection with Spain and the Sierra de Segura, I want to pay close attention to everyone involved in olive oil production. 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, bringing together more than 4,500 small farming families, including my own in Spain. This collaboration arose from the need to build economies of scale, share 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 (province of Jaén), the largest protected area in Spain. This region has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is also a special protection area for birds, and is therefore 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 Señorios de Relleu
Señorios de Relleu embodies the care, experiences and origins of Eliseo Quintanilla Almagro.
Born into a farming family in the countryside around Cartagena (Murcia province), he chose a career in the pharmaceutical world to promote people's well-being with pure natural remedies from plants.
Over 15 years ago, his research into the beneficial properties of Oleuropein, found in olive leaves, began. This research brought him into a close personal relationship with the olive grove he enthusiastically inherited in his youth and 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, near the city of Alicante, near Villajoyosa.
This unique location, surrounded by mountains rising to over a thousand meters, forms a valley where olive trees thrive in optimal conditions. At an altitude of 429 meters above sea level, Relleu enjoys almost three thousand hours of sunshine a year, a moderate temperature averaging 15.8°C, and an annual rainfall of 400 mm.
The native olive trees coexist with traditional cultivation in the area, along with almond trees and vast mountain fields where Aleppo pines, carob trees, rosemary, heather, mastic trees, esparto and thyme create a beautiful landscape.
What makes Señorios de Relleu so special?
In the summer of 2023, I visited this olive grove and its olive oil press, "Masia Teuladi." Accustomed to the vast plains of Jaén, this location was small and in an unusual location. While large cooperatives are used in Andalusia for economies of scale, Señorios de Relleu is run by a single family.
Although I have been visiting the Alicante area for over 20 years, I was unaware that this location also produced wonderful olive oils.
During my visit, Hugo (the son) showed me around and explained that they have over 100 different varieties of olive trees on their estate, including some native varieties from the region. Then, under Gaby's guidance, I had the opportunity to enjoy an extensive tasting session, sampling the different olive oils using a true cata (olive oil tasting method).
Meet Cuac
At Casa Gomez, we collaborate with carefully selected producers who deliver the highest quality extra virgin olive oil. One of these exceptional producers is CUAC , a family-run olive grove in the mountainous Sierra de Cazorla region.
Mountain olive groves are more difficult to cultivate and yield less than those on large estates. Yet, the compact olives from these high-altitude groves produce an olive oil of exceptional quality, acclaimed in tastings worldwide.
CUAC’s olive trees, over 50 years old , grow in the heart of the Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas National Park in the province of Jaén – the area with the highest concentration of olive groves in the world and a reputation for top-quality olive oil.
All CUAC extra virgin olive oils are classified under the Protected Designation of Origin (DO) Sierra de Cazorla . The Picual, Picual Biological, and Royal varieties have excellent tasting notes and are highly prized 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. This family-run business from the Sierra de Cazorla region traces its roots back to a childhood filled with olive trees, sunshine, and the mountains of Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas .
The name CUAC refers to the farm where the founders grew up, situated near a lake fed by a mountain spring. Ducks lived in that lake, which inspired the name of this exceptional extra virgin olive oil.
CUAC is more than just an olive oil – it's a tribute to a centuries-old tradition and the dedication 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 its 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, exceptional taste and unique character.
Meet Arte Oleum
Arte Oleum is a young company of four generations of olive growers whose lives have been entirely devoted to the cultivation of olive trees. Their olive trees
are centuries old, and like the environment they live in, they are well cared for.
Arte Oleum's agricultural lands are located in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas Natural Park, a natural area located northeast of Jaén, Andalusia. The area was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 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 advantages 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 tending the olive groves and producing 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 its ancient origins. These two words together represent the unique quality of our product and our approach to its creation.
Arte Oleum stands for: "The art of obtaining oil"
