When the Neals planted their roots in the Napa Valley in 1960, they also planted Greek olive trees. Mark’s grandmother (Yi Yia in Greek) was from Crete. This is where the influence of Organic & Biodynamic farming began on the first property in Rutherford that Jack and Athene purchased in 1966. Olive trees love the Mediterranean climate that the north coast provides.
What most do not know is that olive trees will synchronize to produce an abundant crop every other year. “It’s like “ Never on Sunday” but olives are not one day a week, it’s the whole year” says Mark. On both our Howell Mountain and Rutherford estates, we have orchards of Italian and Spanish varieties along with our 60-year old Greek variety trees.
History
In the 6th century BC, Solon, the great Athenian legislator, drafted the first law for the protection of the olive tree excluding the uncontrolled feeling. The olive tree was a symbol in ancient Greece and the olive oil was used not only for its valuable nutritional quality but also for medical purposes.
Between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC ancient philosophers, physicians and historians undertook its botanical classifications and referred to the curative properties of olive oil. This knowledge is being “rediscovered” today as modern scientists research and find news why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy. The symbolic meaning of the olive tree as well as the exceptional value of the olive oil is visible in overall sectors of ancient Greek life.
Olive trees love the Mediterranean climate that the north coast provides. What most do not know is that olive trees will synchronize to produce an abundant crop every other year. On both our Howell Mountain and Rutherford estates, we have brand new orchards of Italian and Spanish varieties along with our 60-year old Greek variety trees. Another incredible thing about them is that they do not frost in cold weather. Jessica Neal learned in her Honors Chemistry class at Saint Helena High School that these trees are one of the most oxygen-producing trees on the planet.
2022 Neal Family Olive Oil
Since 1966, we have kept alive our Greek family tradition of producing small-batch, organic olive oil sourced from our family-farmed Napa Valley Estate orchards.
Ingredients: 100% Organic Olives Greek & Italian varietal
Certified Organic Olives by CCOF
We hand bottle our olive oil in dark 500ml glass to be protected from any UV ray damage. Keep the olive oil stored in a cool, dark area to prevent rancidness.