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—CLUB EXCLUSIVE—
Fresh and buttery, and on the palate, it has a smooth and delicate creamy feel. Pour some in a small wine glass, have a swirl, and expect aromas of...
Meet the producers: Five Families from Laconia.
This extra virgin olive oil comes from the groves of five families around Laconia; The Christolakos, Kargakos, Vilias, Tsapatsaris, and Giannarakou families, who are farming regeneratively in harmony with nature.
But the best olives alone don’t get you the best oil. So much of it comes down to the milling.
For that, they collaborate with Veloudo, a food scientist, master miller, and Certified Olive Oil tester to ensure the flavour of this region is captured in every drop.
Welcome to Sparta.
Olives and oranges. This is what I was told to expect as I drove deep down into the Peloponnese peninsula from Athens.
With its rolling hills of small, patchwork-like plots and sparkling sea views—it feels like I’m back in Crete, an area we go to regularly.
But then the mountains unfold.
The Taygetus range, which is one of the oldest-named mountain regions in Europe and was written about as far back as the Odyssey, runs through this part of the peninsula and frames every shot.
Lacking in its ruins but lasting in its legacy, this part of Greece doesn’t get the tourists like you see in the islands.
However, it’s all starting to change as people uncover what those ancient Greeks knew long ago…
This place is special.
This is Sparta.
How to pair it: Seasonal recipe spotlight.
It’s a near-perfect parcel of all the nutrition you need, while also being effortlessly simple and surprisingly elegant. The most basic version is a combination of butter beans, lemon zest, a tiny bit of salt and a healthy pour of a strong EVOO. Like many simple dishes, you can make it your own. Pick your favourite seasonal greens, add a different protein, but be sure to go generous with your drizzle.
Find this recipe—and others from our inspiring producers and award-winning chefs—in Drizzle: olive oil-infused recipes from across the Mediterranean, written by Sarah, our founder, out now.
*Extra* exclusives...
Booking some upcoming travel? As a member of our Olive Oil Club, we'll give you a £20 gift card for our site when they visit one of our producers for a tasting.
From grove walks to dinners under the stars, it's a great way to dive more into the world of EVOO and support farmers doing right by people and planet.