Olive Oil Tours & Tastings
Top-rated olive oil tours & tastings
Tour a working mill at harvest, learn to taste extra-virgin like a pro, and understand why a great olive oil is as complex as wine. Istria, Puglia and Tuscany are among the finest producers in the world — visit the groves and mills and taste the fresh-pressed oil.
Why an olive oil tour
Extra-virgin olive oil has grades, varietals and defects just like wine, and a guided tasting at a mill teaches you to spot the difference — the peppery kick of a fresh Tuscan oil, the fruity Istrian styles that top world rankings, the mighty output of Puglia (which makes a huge share of Italy’s oil). Best of all at harvest (autumn), when you can watch the pressing.
Where to go
Italy
Croatia
FAQ about Olive Oil Tours & Tastings
Frequently asked questions
What do you do on an olive oil tour?
Visit the groves and a working mill, learn how oil is pressed and graded, and taste several extra-virgins guided by an expert — often with bread and local food.
When is the olive harvest?
Autumn — roughly late October into December — is harvest and pressing season, the best time to see a mill in action, though tastings run year-round.
Where is the best olive oil in Europe?
Istria (Croatia) tops many world rankings, Tuscany is famed for its peppery oils, and Puglia produces a huge share of Italy's olive oil.