Why you should travel for the olive oil harvest this fall

Autumn means harvest season, which usually brings to mind vineyards bustling amid crush season and apple orchards packed with families. But olives are also prime for picking, which means you can taste precious olio nuovo, the fleeting, fresh-milled extra virgin olive oil that’s only available once a year. Think of it as liquid gold.

From California and Oregon to Arizona and Texas, there are beautiful olive oil groves and producers around the country that prove you don’t have to trek to the Mediterranean to discover the magic of the olive oil harvest first-hand. Here, a few of my favorite domestic producers you can visit this fall.

Note: Olive oil is perishable—think of it like fruit juice—so unlike wine, you don’t want to age it. Instead, store your souvenir bottle in a cool place away from direct light and use it within a year of purchase for the maximum flavor.

Durant Olive Mill is Oregon’s only commercial olive mill and open to visitors year-round, but in November, it is home to the Olio Nuovo Festival. Taste new extra virgin olive oil all month long and sample dozens of different infusions, all while shopping for wreaths and crafts at the festival’s holiday marketplace. Bonus: you can indulge in Durant’s olive-oil ice cream collab with Portland’s acclaimed Salt & Straw.

Where to stay: Stoneycrest Cottage is a cozy two-bedroom cottage overlooking Durant Vineyard complete with a full kitchen and laundry facilities. You’ll wake up to a mystical fog rolling across the vines and views of Mt. Hood. Close by in McMinnville, Tributary Hotel is Oregon’s first Relais & Chateaux hotel with eight one-of-a-kind suites and the most lavish breakfast in bed included with your stay. The Boutique Retreat is an eclectic collection of themed tiny homes that’s a more affordable option for solo travelers and couples.

Located down a rugged dirt road 25 minutes from downtown Temecula, Temecula Olive Oil Company produces some of California’s finest cold-pressed olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Explore the farming operation and olive groves at the annual Harvest Festival with more than 30 chefs and dozens of live fire stations, plus local wines, craft beer, and live music. Ranch tours are available every other Saturday morning year-round. Bonus: they have tasting rooms in Old Town San Diego and Laguna Beach open daily, too, if you don’t want to make the trek.

While you’re here: Temecula is an emerging wine region, so there are dozens of wineries to visit, including Robert Renzoni Vineyards and Doffo Winery, where you can also admire their collection of vintage motorcycles. Old Town Temecula is walkable with a 19th-century western feel and you can create your own western hat at Weld and Wool before heading to a speakeasy like Apparition Room or Thompson & Twain. If you’re an early bird, sunrise hot air ballooning is popular too, and a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful valley.

Where to stay: Carter Estate Winery and Resort is a luxe vineyard retreat with suites and bungalows featuring oversized soaking tubs, electric fireplaces, and private patios. Europa Village is built like a Mediterranean town, with Spanish-inspired casitas, a hillside inn, and multiple tasting rooms and restaurants.

This 550-acre, family-owned estate is less than an hour from San Francisco and home to 50 acres of Tuscan olive orchards. Ranch tours and olive oil tastings are available daily, but each year in early November, the ranch’s president, Samantha Dorsey, hosts a luncheon with an olio nuovo–infused three-course menu, so check the calendar to grab tickets and plan your trip around this year’s date.

While you’re here: Tolay Lake Regional Park is one of Sonoma County’s largest regional parks with nearly 12 miles of hiking trails. For surprisingly delicious fusion fare, try contemporary Swedish and Middle Eastern restaurant Stockhome for shrimp skagen and Swedish meatballs paired with lamb kebab and falafel. Grab a bag of authentic Swedish candies on your way out for a midnight snack.

Where to stay: Hotel Petaluma is a historic boutique hotel located right downtown within easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. Olema House in Point Reyes is a more upscale and intimate option that’s perfect for nature lovers, closer to the coast and surrounded by national forest.

The Queen Creek Olive Mill is Arizona’s only extra virgin olive oil producer, and their 45-minute Olive Oil 101 Tour is an accessible intro (just $8 or $12 with a glass of prosecco). It’s offered year-round so guests can see the process for producing extra virgin olive oil along with learning how to properly taste and cook with it.

While you’re here: With a petting zoo, ropes course, bakery, and a you-pick organic garden, Schnepf Farms is a fun visit for the whole family. Old Ellsworth Brewing Company is a family-owned microbrewery located in the heart of Queen Creek, with a wide ranging tap list from sours to stouts.

Where to stay: Glamping in a collection of vintage Airstream trailers is the newest addition to Schnepf Farms. All decked out in fun themes and picture-worthy décor, the trailers have full hookups and overlook the farm’s meadow.

Book a guided tasting for late November or December and you’ll have a chance to taste the freshest new olive oil from the year’s harvest. Although mill tours are no longer available, you’ll watch a video about the harvesting, milling, and bottling process before sampling a number of different extra virgin olive oils, including infusions with garlic, hatch green chile, and basil. Bonus, they’re paired with balsamic vinegars, including one aged in bourbon barrels from Garrison Brothers Distillery.

While you’re here: Dreamland is a fun stop with pickleball, a pour-your-own-beer restaurant, live music, and putt putt. For a true Texas dance hall experience, get your line dancing on at Mercer Dancehall or enjoy weekend live music at Hudson’s on Mercer.

Where to stay: The Alexander at Creek Road has farmhouse cottage and treehouse suites across 40 acres of bucolic beauty. Camp David is a log cabin treat that’s great for families and larger groups, with a pool, firepit, and pickleball courts. You can even stay in cute yurts on the rolling hills at The Yurtopian.