5 Best California Central Coast Olive Oil Tasting Rooms
Central Coast California photo credit Carl Newton
Cruise down the Central Coast of California, and you’ll find a wealth of blues and greens painting the land and sea on either side of you. As a Central Coaster myself, even I’m surprised by how quickly you can go from churning ocean to lush farmland by just driving a few minutes.
Throughout the Central Coast, you’ll find towns that grow artichokes, garlic, and, of course, olives, so it should come as no surprise that you can easily stumble across plenty of olive oil tasting rooms throughout the region. California produces 99% of the olive oil in the United States, and the Central Coast is where much of that production happens.
Here are some of the best places to go olive oil tasting on the Central Coast, providing a unique way to enjoy this gorgeous stretch of California.
Ojai Olive Oil Co. courtesy of Philip Asquith
If you’re looking for a taste of tranquility alongside your olive oil tasting, you can’t get much better than Ojai Olive Oil Co. Based in Ojai, this fourth-generation family farm specializes in the finest extra virgin olive oils. This award-winning farm grows all olives organically, with the main group of trees dating back over 150 years.
Their old grove consists entirely of lechin de Sevilla trees, a Spanish varietal that calls Andalucia home. A little-seen tree yields a unique type of olive oil that’s strong and peppery. However, Ojai Olive Oil has grown significantly since its inception and now also makes olive oil from a variety of olives—oils that range from grassy and peppery to buttery and fruity. Their Andalucian blend includes coratina, hojiblanca, koroneiki, arbequina and picual olives.
In addition to extra virgin olive oils, you’ll also find herb and citrus-infused blends, balsamic vinegars, and olive oil-based skincare.
1811 Ladera Rd, Ojai, 805-646-5964
Kiler Ridge courtesy of Alexandra Fletes
Founders Audrey Burnam and Gregg Bone developed Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, located in Paso Robles, after taking a bicycle-touring vacation in Tuscany. While dining in the lovely region, they found the olive oil to take on flavorful, grassy notes that they hadn’t experienced in the United States. Upon their return home, they relocated to Paso Robles from Los Angeles and planted a grove of 835 Tuscan olive trees. Their focus is on all Tuscan olive varieties including nochellara del Belice, frantoio, leccino, maurino, pendolino, coratina and taggascia.
After years of cultivation, they began selling their small-batch extra virgin olive oil, which is available in their tasting room. The founders also frequently host events that invite you to taste their oil while paired with exquisite dishes and take a tour of their peaceful, scenic grounds.
1111 Kiler Canyon Rd, Paso Robles, 805-400-1439
Located in Santa Ynez, Rancho Olivos is owned by husband and wife John Copeland and Shannon Casey, who oversee the operations on their ranch each day and who are always ready to talk olive oil when you come for a tasting. With a focus on sustainable farming, the couple creates award-winning estate extra virgin olive oils from the olives grown on their farm, and unique, flavorful blends. They offer an arbequina olive oil as well as an Italian blend that includes frantoio, leccino, grappolo and pendolino.
In addition to olive oils, Rancho Olivos also imports vinegars from Moderna, Italy.
2390 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, 805-686-9653
Olive + Lavender Farms
With a name like “Los Olivos,” which translates to “the olives,” it should come as no surprise that this little town is a haven for olive oil. Olive + Lavender Farms is one of the olive farms that’s thriving in the area. On the property, you’ll find a vintage airstream trailer, a wide-open boutique with dangling lights, and a beautiful, airy greenhouse, just adding to the photo-worthy aesthetic of this olive oil upstart.
But while the beauty of the grounds might draw you in, the olive oil is bound to make you stay for a tasting. Owned by longtime friends and olive oil lovers, the tasting room offers both estate-grown and locally sourced olive oils and balsamic vinegars. They grow arbequina olives but locally source organic koroneiki olives for oil as well.
2450 Alamo Pintado Road, Los Olivos, 805-588-5693
Los Olivos photo credit LaRae J.
With its Dutch roots, Solvang is a charming town on the Central Coast, and it is home to one of the friendliest olive oil tasting rooms, The Olive House. The Olive House sells Los Olivos handcrafted olive oils, which come in a variety of unique blends, as well as perfectly paired balsamic vinegar blends.
While you stop in for an olive oil tasting, be sure to stick around for a wine tasting, as The Olive House is also the home of Twenty Mile Wine. With a staff that’s always friendly and personable, we’re sure they can convince you to try a sip or two.
1603 Copenhagen Dr #1, Solvang, 805-686-5159