100% Arbequina Organic Biodynamic Olive Oil
Opening a bottle of biodynamic arbequina from Castillo de Canena, bringing it to your nose, and smelling. These three steps are enough to realize you are holding an extraordinary olive oil. Then the next three steps: taste, feel, and enjoy. It is exquisite.
With a limited production of 20,000 units, it is presented in a white bottle with a sandy texture, recalling the origins of agriculture. The bottle is screen-printed with the constellation of the moon and stars, representing cosmic forces and those of the earth itself.
«It is a very balanced oil, with moderately pronounced bitterness and pungency that is very pleasant.»
We would define it as very balanced, with moderately pronounced bitterness and pungency that is very enjoyable. Notes of green apples, banana peel, tomato plant, and even a citrus touch are also present. Persistent on the palate, the bitter and pungent notes are well integrated; and some astringency reminds one of artichoke, thistle, or persimmon.
Paco Vañó, Co-owner of Castillo de Canena:
Fifteen years ago, my sister Rosa and I started the “Castillo de Canena” project, building on the solid foundations left by our parents and previous generations of our family. From the beginning, we were clear that we were, above all, farmers. We were guided by a moral mandate to preserve the land, nurture it, care for it, regenerate it, and never forget that the base of our heritage was the magnificent olive groves from which we extracted extraordinary juices and top-quality EVOOs year after year, harvest after harvest. We had received a unique legacy, but it did not truly belong to us; we had to leave our children a heritage of richer, more fertile land with greater biodiversity than what had been passed down to us.
In 2010, we decisively committed to Biodynamic Agriculture. We were drawn to concepts such as harmonizing human activity with the Earth and the Universe, the influence of the moon and planets on the growth and fruiting of our trees, the effectiveness of biodynamic preparations in enriching and fertilizing our soil, and the self-sufficient “closed farm” concept, where any byproduct generated in our agricultural tasks must be reused for the benefit of the farm itself. We felt the need to recreate a true ecosystem on our farm, where economic activity coexisted harmoniously with the natural environment. By respecting the food chain and promoting the presence of native and endemic flora and fauna, we could revitalize and regenerate the land, reduce pest impact, and achieve good harvests sustainably and consistently.
We learned to mix manure with pomace, leaves, and twigs from fruit cleaning during harvest, and to use the final compost as the only fertilizer for our biodynamic olive groves. In addition to obtaining Demeter certification, Castillo de Canena certifies its Water and Carbon Footprints with DNV and received the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) issued by the Swedish organization Environtech. We have made significant investments to ensure that most of the energy we consume comes from renewable sources and transferred a significant percentage of biomass generated from pruning to clean electricity plants. We have carried out reforestations with native Iberian tree species and replanted hundreds of shrubs, bushes, and aromatic plants.
We have built artificial nests and, under agreements signed with SEO-BIRDLIFE, promoted the reintroduction of birds on our farm. We have regenerated wetlands and created “islands of life,” contributing to making the expression “Living Olive Groves” a reality. The result (one of them) is that in our increasingly biodiverse and rich fields, insect, reptile, bird, and mammal species that had disappeared for over half a century have been seen again… and our soil gains fertility and organic matter. The good news is that Castillo de Canena has new measures in the pipeline to continue advancing in the exciting path of environmental and ecosystem regeneration.
Consumers are becoming increasingly strict and demanding, and more sensitive to the Social Responsibility policies implemented by companies. It is no longer enough to produce EVOOs of exceptional organoleptic and sensory quality, packaged in beautiful bottles with great care. Our clients also value the intangible assets a company can offer, including its commitment to nature conservation and scrupulous environmental respect. Both are highly significant differentiating factors.
