What comes to mind when you think of Provence? This sun-drenched land, the world-famous Alpilles, its exceptional wine-growing terroirs and, above all, its vast olive groves with their incomparable flavours. The true cradle of the olive, Provence celebrates this emblematic fruit in every form: as olive oil, as an aperitif, or alongside the finest culinary creations. At Château d’Estoublon, we have been growing olive trees with passion for many generations. Today, we invite you to discover the finest olive varieties of Provence, true expressions of our terroir.
Discover the olive varieties of Provence
In Provence, the olive is an integral part of the heritage, the gastronomy, and the landscapes that shape the region’s identity. At Château d’Estoublon, we invite you to set off and discover the most emblematic and most flavourful varieties of our Provençal terroir. Let us guide you through a world where every olive reveals a personality of its own.
The Salonenque
To begin this journey into the heart of the Provençal olive groves, let us discover the Salonenque. Originally from Salon-de-Provence, this variety is widely used in the region’s oils. Its slightly elongated shape, reminiscent of a small, delicately dimpled pear, makes it easy to recognise. The Salonenque reveals a particularly refined aromatic profile, marked by beautiful vegetal notes joined by hints of hazelnut, artichoke, and apple. It gives rise to a mild, limpid olive oil of great finesse, offering a wonderfully balanced tasting experience.
The Bouteillan
The Bouteillan is an emblematic variety of Provence, appreciated both as a single-variety oil and in blends. It will win you over with its delicate character and fruity expression, which evolves with its degree of ripeness. Its aromas recall apple or pear, accompanied by vegetal notes evoking freshly cut hay. A subtle, elegant olive, deeply rooted in Provençal heritage, and one you simply must discover.
The Grossane
A treasure of the Vallée des Baux-de-Provence, the Grossane is one of the hardiest varieties in the region. Resistant to cold, it offers generous flesh that lends itself as well to the table as to the making of exceptional olive oils. The Grossane reveals delicate notes of grapefruit and tomato, without any marked bitterness. Prepared with coarse salt, it develops a melting texture and a mild, almost buttery taste that make it a mainstay of Provençal gastronomy.
The Picholine
Perhaps the most famous of the Provençal olives, the Picholine is a true benchmark for lovers of table olives. Its elongated shape, slender and slightly pointed at the tip, along with its generous flesh, make it instantly recognisable. As an aperitif, it appeals through its crisp, juicy texture. Turned into olive oil, it reveals a more intense aromatic palette, where peppery notes and a pronounced vegetal character come to the fore. An emblematic variety that brings all the personality of Provence to your table.
The Béruguette
Another Provençal olive we are particularly fond of at Château d’Estoublon: the Béruguette. A variety with a unique character, originating from the heart of the Alpilles, offering a surprising contrast between the richness of its fruity and herbaceous notes and the light bitterness that lifts them.
A highly prized olive, elongated in shape with green flesh, which stands out in the finest olive oils. We offer it as a single-variety oil (La Béruguette has been awarded 10 gold medals), for a deliciously peppery oil prized by lovers of the Baux de Provence terroir.
Note that the colour of an olive does not depend on its variety, but on its degree of ripeness. Harvested early, it has a green robe, sometimes almost yellow. As it continues to ripen, it gradually takes on purple, then black tones. This evolution can also be tasted. The green olive has a firmer texture and more pronounced vegetal aromas, whereas the black olive reveals more tender flesh along with milder, slightly sweet flavours.
At Château d’Estoublon, we harvest our olives at precise stages of ripeness in order to bring out the full richness of their aromas and to offer you olive oils of remarkable quality. Find our olive oil collection as well as our table olives in the Château shop or directly on our e-shop.
From the olive groves of Provence to Estoublon olive oil
At Château d’Estoublon, every olive variety is cultivated with care in order to fully reveal its character and aromatic richness. This meticulous work allows us to create exceptional blends such as our Assemblage du Moulin oil, the fruit of our teams’ expertise and of the complementarity of the finest Provençal varieties.
Our signature oil brings together the singular expressions of the Picholine, the Salonenque, the Bouteillan, the Béruguette, and the Grossane. A much-awarded blend that offers a true sensory experience in which freshness, balance, and intensity meet with elegance.
Every bottle is an invitation to discover Provence differently, through single-variety oils or blends with unique aromatic profiles. Present on the finest tables as well as in your own kitchen, our oils convey all the richness of our terroir.
Coming straight from the Château’s olive groves, in the heart of the Alpilles, they embody the essence of our expertise and our exacting standards. Presented in elegantly designed bottles, they extend the experience right through to their case. We invite you to discover our full range of olive oils and olives on the Château d’Estoublon shop.
