What had been a trying harvest season for the vineyards followed suit for the recent harvest of olives here in Martinborough with the growers facing similar weather challenges.
The Business Association proudly has several of the local Olive growers as members and our Chair Alllan Hogg himself has a 580 tree grove to tend when he isn’t driving the MBA bus.
But this golden drop that is gaining world class status is another reason Martinborough is a foodie destination. Look at the line up of bottles in any number of our local shops and you see shiney labels adorning the bottles in recognition of their quality. We know the benefits of olive oil in our diet, so now we have a second reason to be following the mediterranean diet here in Martinborough!
Recently you may have spotted Blue Earth get awarded a gold medal in New York for its intense blend, owners Margaret & Mike Hanson share why it’s a great location “The stony soils and gentle north facing slope make it a great place to grow olives. Even the wind helps by minimizing disease, although it does mean that the trees only grow on one side for the first seven or eight years.”
Our olive growers are passionate people,with many of them dedicating many years to this labour of love, Nalini and Coin Barch of Lot 8 this year marked their 21st harvest a couple passionate about food this August they feature in collaboration with Dry River to an already sold out event in Wellington as part of Wellington on a Plate!
Helen & John Meehan of Olivo, the oldest olive grove in Martinborough, are constantly sharing tasty ideas on their Olivo facebook page and website to get us inspired on the many uses for the oils and blends they create, as well as opening doors for visitors to add oil tasting and to their weekend meanderings around Martinborough.
It was all of this that a recent conversation with these makers inspired ideas on how we can celebrate the golden drop, and the makers who make it just another reason for the magic that is Martinborough.
You can find out more about the Blue Earth olive journey at the July Medici Lecture on Wednesday 13 July.
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