Favorite Places to Wander Through Olive Orchards

 

BONDOLIO OLIVE OIL CO. | Winters | Each year in December, there's a one-day opportunity to visit this boutique olive farm and mill during their Holiday Open House. It's a chance to see an orchard where the trees grow naturally (unlike super-high-density plantings). The trees here are pruned so the olives can be harvested by hand, and you can see how each tree trunk divides into three-to-four primary branches that hold all the leaves and fruit.

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE | Jerusalem | Yes, it’s an olive orchard. Some trees are 900 years old. Learn more on this wiki.

GOLD RIDGE ORGANIC FARMS | Sebastopol | Sign up for one of the monthly orchard tours and you’ll get to walk through some of the 88 organic acres that host olives, apples, and citrus. Make sure to schedule a tasting as well.

IL FIORELLO | Fairfield | During a guided tour of the organic orchards, you’ll learn about the history of olive oil and see the different olive varieties and how the trees are cared for.

KILER RIDGE OLIVE FARM | Paso Robles | Weekly guided tours of the orchards and mill (plus tasting) by reservation.

McEVOY RANCH | Petaluma | On a visit to the ranch, you can walk through 50 acres of Tuscan olive trees nestled among natural ponds, coastal fog, and native wildlife. Your reservation includes a visit the mill and tastings of olive oils and wines.

OLIVINA | Livermore | This historic ranch is home to century-old orchards, which are located uphill from the mill. Their monthly mill tours include tasting.

PASOLIVO | Paso Robles | Spend the day touring this beautiful olive ranch and stop in the tasting room to experience the oils.

PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK | Hike around in the south end of this beautiful regional park and you are very likely to find several century-old feral olive orchards.

SÉKA HILLS | Capay Valley | Admire the beautiful orchards before you duck inside the Visitors Center, where you can take a mill tour, taste olive oils, honeys, and wines, and shop at the gift shop and deli.

TEMECULA OLIVE OIL COMPANY | San Diego area | Olive View Ranch tours through the orchards include a chance to taste olive oils and wines.

UC DAVIS OLIVE CENTER | Davis | An important resource for olive research, from growing to milling, blending, and sensory evaluation. At the campus store, you can purchase the extra virgin olive oil made from campus-grown olives. Take a walk around town and you'll find olive trees in many locations. Visit in December for the annual Olio Nuovo Festival.