Best places to taste olive oil in San Luis Obispo county

Posted: 11:11 am, February 22, 2018 by Editor Skye Pratt

Olive oil tasting in SLO County

By Donna Polizzi of Keys to the Coast

-Looking for the best olive oil tasting in San Luis Obispo County? There are lots of great options but here are our top picks:

Olio Nuevo Ranch in Paso Robles is one of the finest tasting room and olive groves to visit, especially if you would like to learn the proper way to “taste” olive oil. Many find it interesting to know that there is a right and wrong way to do an olive oil tasting and that it can be noisy.

First, you take the small plastic cup with olive oil into the palm of your hand and cover it with your other hand. You gently swirl it to warm it up in your hands and bring out the aroma. Next, take it into your mouth, let it linger on your tongue and slurp it to the back of your mouth, to release all the flavors.

Olio Nuevo’s Estate Arbequina, which is very green, grassy and peppery, is very popular. It is best for cooking and preparing spicy foods. The 2015 Reserve Blend is much softer; a more creamy and buttery tasting olive oil. It’s a perfectly paired with Caprese Salad. The more intense olive oils pair best with robust, intense food flavors. Did you know that the more robust oils can have double the shelf life of a more, mellow olive oil?

Award winning olive oils and Balsamic Vinegars are available for purchase at Olio Nuevo

Art and Lynn Kishiyama, have turned their home and land, into a place where visitors come from around the globe to visit their 19-acre ranch, which is located just outside of Paso Robles near Creston. Thirty-seven hundred olive trees were planted on the property.

Art shared, “I have found my true passion; working in my olive orchard and producing award-winning Olive Oil, is living the dream. All my olives are all hand-picked. I am honored and humbled by the fact that we have won numerous international and domestic gold and silver medals.”

What makes Olio Nuevo even more interesting is that Art and Lynn are talented and charming hosts. Art Kishiyama grew up in San Luis Obispo, graduated from Cal Poly with his first degree in Architecture. While working with Walt Disney Imagineering, he and his team built the Disneyland in Tokyo, which opened to the public on Sept 4, 2001. Lynn is a very talented artist.

Make a reservation by emailing the Kishiyama’s at eevoo@olionuevo.com to visit Olio Nuevo, at 6055 Vista Del Paso, in Paso Robles.

We Olive is another fantastic option and has a location both in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. It’s also a great place to take home unique items for your kitchen and friends.

Whether you are looking to sample some delicious local olive oil or wanting to peruse the fun food products, We Olive is the prime spot for your next tasting adventure.

We Olive is located at 1311 Park Street in Paso Robles. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about the Paso Robles location call (805) 239-7667 or (805) 239-7961 www.weolive.com . For the San Luis Obispo store, it is located at 958 Higuera Street. Open Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the San Luis Obispo store call (805) 595-1376 www.weolive.com.

While visiting Templeton, stop by Olea Farm at 2985 Templeton Rd. They offer a great experience and a tasting room with old-world charm. The Lemon Blush is a must try. You will enjoy the hospitality and expertly blended olive oils.

Learn more about olive oil and experience old world charm at our tasting room. Plan a visit to Olea Farm where you will be educated in the nuances of the finest olive oil the Central Coast has to offer.

The Olea Farm olive oil tasting room is a quaint and cozy place to enjoy some of the best olive oil California has to offer. Open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekdays by appointment, the tasting room is just a quick drive off Highway 101 in scenic Templeton, California. All five of their main olive oils are available for free tasting year round. These include the Arbequina, Crescendo and European extra virgin oils, as well as the flavored oils Basil Blush and Lemon Blush. Depending on the time of year, limited reserves and short-run varietals may also be available for tasting. In addition to olive oils, they also carry many other fantastic local products and gourmet treats. For more information or to schedule an appointment call (805) 610-2258.

Keys 2 The Coast is a Travel Resource for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties. Donna Polizzi is a Regional Travel Expert and Founder of Keys2TheCoast.com, offering honest recommendations on the “Best Places to Wine, Dine, Explore and More!” Visit Keys2theCoast.Com or Facebook Keys2TheCoast.