Experienced travelers know that choosing the perfect luxury hotel isn’t just about finding the best guest room in the ideal location. The food on offer is also an important criteria. In fact, for many, it’s what seals the deal. Some hotels go above and beyond to satisfy their guests’ appetite for local cuisine, going as far as cultivating their own gardens. And it’s not just about growing a couple of varieties of herb – some hotels even make their own olive oil from the fruit of their own olive trees.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Italy
Address: Isola delle Rose, Laguna di San Marco,Venice, Italy, 30133
Venice comprises no fewer than 118 islands, and one of them has an olive grove. The island of Isola delle Rose, a 20-minute boat ride from St. Mark’s Square, is the home of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa and its 100 olive trees.
Every year since 2016, local producers — and guests who want to pitch in — harvest the olives from the grove on Isola delle Rose. The 100 trees on the island produce around 26 gallons of olive oil. That’s just enough to supply the onsite restaurants and the guests’ cooking classes. Tastings are available and select guests receive small bottles as gifts. Isola delle Rose Olive Oil is available only at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa.
Verdura Resort, Sicily, Italy
Address: S.S. 115, Km 131, 92019 Sciacca AG, Italy
Verdura Resort, a property on the southern coast of Sicily, is known by golfers throughout the world for having the best course in all of Italy. But if you’re more into eating than hitting the links, there’s also plenty for you to enjoy at this resort.
Verdura Resort makes its own organic extra virgin olive oil from a blend of three Sicilian olive varieties that grow on the property. But the olive oil is only the tip of the iceberg. Verdura Resort also makes its own Arancello (orange liqueur), honey, marmalades, pestos, pâtés, and more. And the resort’s garden is a bounty of artichokes, eggplant, olives, oranges, tomatoes, almonds, peppers, and capers. To try some of these mouth-watering products, you can either book a stay or order them online by emailing shops.verdura@roccofortehotels.com.
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
Address: SP103, 53024 Castiglion del Bosco SI, Italy
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco isn’t really a hotel. It’s an 5000-acre estate that includes a medieval village, luxury villas, infinity pools, tennis courts, a private golf club, and, most importantly, agricultural land. The estate is famous for producing Brunello di Montalcino, a red DOCG Italian wine, but not only. Castiglion del Bosco produces other Sangiovese wines, as well as grappa, honey, and three types of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Guests can visit the onsite winery, take part in tours and tastings, and try the various local products in the estate’s high-end restaurants. Those who can’t make it to Tuscany can order Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco’s products online.
Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia, Italy
Address: s.n Savelletri di fasano, Contrada Coccaro, 72015 Fasano BR, Italy
Masseria Torre Maizza is the perfect combo of countryside quiet and seaside charm. The vast estate, which comprises orchards, vineyards, an olive grove, fields, and flowers, is just a quick car ride to the beach. That means that, depending on your mood, you can opt to chill among the large expanse of greenery or go for a swim in the Adriatic. The property’s many olive trees (some of which are nearly a thousand years old) produce fruit that are harvested each year to make olive oil. In fact, the spa, where you can indulge in an olive oil body ritual, is in the property’s old olive oil mill.
Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, USA
Address: 180 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, CA 94573, United States
You’d expect a luxury hotel set in the heart of the Napa Valley to concentrate its offerings on wine. But Auberge du Soleil does things a little differently. While it indeed offers its guests onsite wine tastings and visits to local wineries, its focus is not on grapes but on olives. Auberge du Soleil has 33 acres of olive trees from which it makes its own extra virgin olive. Not only that, but it puts on a big celebration for the harvest every year in November, inviting guests to partake in the picking and processing of the fruit, as well as in olive oil tastings. During that time, the restaurant offers an olive-focused tasting menu and the bar serves thematic cocktails too. Try the Olive Grove vodka martini or the pear-ginger olive oil sour to get into the harvest state of mind. You can purchase Auberge du Soleil’s olive oil online.
Masseria San Domenico, Puglia, Italy
Address: SP90, 72015 Savelletri, Fasano BR, Italy
Masseria San Domenico has a lot going for it. It’s a gorgeous property with a long history, it’s a few minutes’ walk to the beach, and it’s set on 148 acres of olive groves. The olive harvest takes place every year, between October and December. Then, the different varieties of olives are processed into five different extra virgin olive oil through heritage milling practices. The various olive oils are used in the restaurants and spas of Masseria San Domenico and its sister properties. They are also available for purchase in the Bottega Egnazia shop.
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Address: Strada Comunale Egnazia, 72015, di Savelletri BR, Italy
The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, a luxury property overlooking the Bay of Naples, is home to an immense park that spreads over five acres. And beyond being a wonderful place for guests to find both shade and tranquility, it’s also an abundant source of fruit. The fruit of the many citrus and olives trees are put to good use for the guests in the form of Arancello, breakfast marmalades, and olive oil used in the kitchens of the hotel’s restaurants. The hotel’s products are also available for purchase in the hotel’s boutique, as well as online.
Château d’Estoublon, Provence, France
Address: Route de Maussane, 13990 Fontvieille, France
Château d’Estoublon is a 17th-century castle set among no fewer than 740 acres of vineyard and olive groves. The property comprises more than 40 strains of Mediterranean olive trees that grow five different varieties of fruit. Château d’Estoublon sells its olive oil online in strikingly beautiful bottles that wouldn’t look out of place in a parfumerie. As well as natural olive oil, there are some flavored varieties on offer, including garlic, basil, truffle, lemon, and more. You can also taste and purchase olive oil on site at the estate’s boutique along with local wines and vinegars.
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FAQs
Q: How much olive oil does the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa produce?
A: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa produces around 26 gallons of olive oil per year.
Q: Does the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy makes its own olive oil?
A: The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria makes its own Arancello, marmalades, and olive oil.
Q: When is the olive harvest at Auberge du Soleil in the Napa Valley?
A: Auberge du Soleil harvests its own olives to make olive oil every year in November.
