Fine wines and olive oils have an association that traces back thousands of years.
At Tokara, high on the Helshoogte pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the relationship between the olive grove and the vineyard has been embraced and celebrated.
Renowned for its sophisticated wine and culinary offerings, Tokara has also produced award-winning extra virgin olive oils since 2000.
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Anne-Marie Ferreira, founding member of the Olive Shed, recalls what her motivation was to plant olive trees on TOKARA at a time when the South African olive oil industry was virtually nonexistent.
"Our family is passionate about wine and food, and both elements play such a vital role in bringing family and friends together. It therefore made absolute sense for us to plant olives to produce quality extra virgin olive oil that would complement our quality wine range."
The olives are hand-harvested and then processed in a boutique pressing facility on the estate, from middle March each year till the beginning of July. Having planted predominantly Frantoio, Leccino and Mission olives on the property, Tokara was the first South African olive oil producer to bottle and market single varietal olive oils from these varietals.
"It is something you don't readily find elsewhere and it is something we pride ourselves on. It gives the consumer a wider array to choose from and to experiment with," says Tokara's Olive Oil maker Gert van Dyk.
In order to ensure the best quality oils are extracted from the olives, they are cold pressed - with temperatures kept under 30 degrees Celsius - within 24 hours of being harvested. Planted on the steepest slopes of the farm, this olive oil project began with only a 4ha olive grove in 2000. A year later, the first 500 bottles of extra virgin olive oil were bottled.
The full range of Tokara Extra Virgin Olive Oils
"Extra virgin simply means the highest quality classification that we can give an olive oil," says Gert. "And you can only make extra virgin olive oil from superior olives".
At Tokara, the approach to olive oil is also about changing perceptions of how it is consumed. "You can add it to anything and that's what we wish to convey to our consumers," says Gert. "From drizzling it over a salad, to adding it to a minestrone soup, or even incorporating it in desserts - it's such a natural, healthy and versatile ingredient."
Striving to create unique and bespoke experiences on the estate, TOKARA hosts educational olive oil tastings alongside a wine tasting offering. When the weather is good, a stroll along the olive orchard path is also a favorite with visitors. "It's something different to what other places offer and we are fortunate to be able to showcase this to our visitors," says Gert.
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Tokara Extra Virgin Olive Oils are available from Woolworths, Checkers and selected Spar and delicatessen outlets, as well as directly from the estate tasting facility.
Tokara is open 9am-5pm weekdays and 10am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For further information visit Tokara , email [email protected] or phone 021 808 5900.
IOL adapted press release