An Olive Grove in Provence
When I was in Provence this past July, I had the pleasure of visiting Moulin Castelas, an olive grove nestled along the southern slopes of the Alpilles. You may wonder why I’m telling you about it now. Well, it’s because the fall season is actually the best time to visit!
“When you are born in Provence, you cannot live without the scents of the garrigue, the breath of the Mistral, the caress of the Sun and the magic of the olive tree, this ancient tree, with its undulating grace, which shapes the landscape.”
Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues, olive growers in Baux de Provence
Artisan Craftsmanship
From mid-October to late November, the olives are harvested and turned into oil. It’s the best time to visit because you can watch the entire process unfold. There’s a fascinating, almost hypnotic rhythm—from the moment the olives are picked, cleaned, and crushed, to the pièce de resistance, when the golden oil flows into the stainless steel tanks.
A Bit of History
The story of Castelas began in 1997, when the owners Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues fell in love with a grove of old olive trees. Today, Domaine Castelas spans over 110 hectares and produces oils under the prestigious AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence.
AOP stands for Appellation d’Origine Protégée, a French certification that guarantees the product is locally grown and crafted according to traditional methods. In other words, you're tasting the real deal: olive oil that’s deeply rooted in the land where it originated.
The Tasting
After viewing the process of making the oil, the visit would not be complete without an olive oil tasting, and trust me, it’s worth lingering for the experience. I was amazed at how different each of the oils tasted. There are bold, tapenade-like blends and light, fruity ones which could be drizzled over ice cream!
Beyond the tasting room is their boutique, where they offer much more than a vast variety of olive oils. They also sell several lines of bath & body products made with their Provence olive oil, and kitchen items made from olive wood, both of which we carry on our website!
If you're looking for an authentic, sensory-rich experience in Provence this fall, put Moulin Castelas on your list. It’s a beautiful place to witness craftsmanship in action and taste the fruit of it too. To learn more about it, and even get some olive oil recipes, see their website, or follow them on Facebook.
À bientôt,
Sandra
