I recently visited the Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs and it was delightful. They offer every kind of flavored olive oil you can think of from blueberry infused to lemon crushed flavors and all the flavored oils are ready and available for you to sample!
Owners, John and Cara Gambini
Co-owner, John Gambini, gave the 30 minute tour that day and it was quite interesting. John described the history of oil, explained the health benefits and allowed us into the facility where the oil is extracted and processed. And where are they getting all the olives, might you ask? Well, they are growing the olive trees right there at the facility, who’da thought?! I then enjoyed lunch at their bistro and enjoyed some of their wine, which they are now crafting along with their flavorful oils; geez, some people are over-achievers, but Iooove it!
Olive oil from the grocery store is much like honey for example; many other fillers are added in to make the good stuff last longer and fill more jars for the producer . . . but not at the Olive Company - they are scrupulous when it comes to making their oils and it’s 100% oil! It’s long been known that the people of the Mediterranean live longer than most and why? . . because they consume gallons of pure olive oil every year!
I ended up purchasing several bottles of oil for Christmas gifts and left with a bottle of their Extra Virgin Olive Oil which is to be un-heated so to keep it’s major health benefits so I use it straight-up on my salads or douse it over whatever I’m eating - it’s delish and it’s seriously taking the place of butter for everything.
My recipe for homemade salad dressing on the spot:
1 TBS Texas Hill Country Olive Company “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
Juice from 1 (organic) lemon
1/2 TBS white wine vinegar
Salt/Pepper
Any fresh herbs you’ve got growing (fresh thyme is delish!)
1/2 TBS fresh, raw, organic honey (I use the honey from my personal hives)
Mix and pour over your salad (make and use immediately as the antioxidants etc will decline quickly)…
The Texas Hill Country Olive Company also has all sorts of fabulous gift sets and a program you can join where you or friends/family . .or clients, - anyone! . . .will receive the gift sets consistently in the mail so they never run out. You’re really supposed to consume the oil timely because the health-inducing factors minimize over time (every time the oil is exposed to light or you open the bottle and the oil is exposed to air).
God, I love Texas! Everything really is bigger and better here. And we can grow grapes for wine and olives for olive oil and I just LOVE TEXAS!
xoxo, REALTOR R. Victoria Peterson
Article That Follows Credits of TourTexas.com
Move over, Texas Tea; there’s a new oil in town. The last few years have been a boom time for olive oil production in the Lone Star State, and one company in particular has been leading the way. Since its first planting in 2009, the Texas Hill Country Olive Company has grown to become the most awarded olive oil company in Texas. During that time, the only certified organic olive orchard in Texas has developed a signature line of extra virgin olive oils made from trees in the Lone Star State and California. There’s no better place to get acquainted with this fast-growing Texas industry than in the lovely Hill Country town of Dripping Springs.
While olive oil is sold in just about every store, Texas Hill Country Olive Company owners and 3rd- and 4th-generation Italian immigrants John and Cara Gambini invite you to let your taste buds be the judge. Inside their Tuscan-style tasting room, sample the wide variety of delicious homegrown olive oils and balsamic vinegars at the two tasting bars. Be warned: after you’ve tried their offerings made with crushed garlic, lemon, or jalapeño, you certainly won’t be happy with the stuff from the grocery store ever again.
If the tasting room only whets your appetite, head for The Bistro at the Orchard. Order from the bistro’s selection of “lite bites” like cheese, hummus, and crackers; lunch options including soups, salads, and sandwiches; refreshing drinks; and desserts. The bistro also serves locally made wines priced by tasting, glass, or flight. When (not if) you taste something you love, pick up a bottle of it in the gift shop to elevate your home-cooked meals to the next level. They even carry gourmet food items, kitchen accessories, and bath products that feature their olive oil as a key ingredient.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the company offers guided tours of its facility and orchard that gives you an up-close look at the inner workings of the business. John or Cara will regale you with the backstory of how their entire family pitched in to get this labor of love off the ground, and explain the equipment and processes that go into making their products. The 30-minute tours run four times in the afternoon of each day, and you can pre-purchase lunch as part of the tour. Private tours can also be scheduled during the week, and events such as birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, and corporate events may be booked as well.
Even if you can’t make it to Dripping Springs, you can bring the authentic olive oil to you via the company’s Best Fresh Club. You’ll receive quarterly shipments of various oils and vinegars curated just for you, or you can customize your own collections. They’ll have to tide you over until you can visit the Texas Hill Country Olive Company for yourself to see how they’re creating some of the best olive oil in the country.
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