McEvoy Ranch Releases Olio Nuovo – First Olive Oil of the 2005 Harvest
New Oil Provides the Most Intense Aroma and Flavor of the Harvest Season
Leading U.S. Producer of Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Offers Olio Nuovo for a Limited Time at Ferry Building Location
PETALUMA, Calif. (December, 2005) - Nan Tucker McEvoy, proprietor of McEvoy Ranch, has announced that the 2005 harvest is officially under way and that the estate’s celebrated olio nuovo - the first olive oil of the harvest - is now available,
although only for a limited time. The aroma and flavor of McEvoy Ranch’s certified organic, extra virgin olive oil are expressed most intensely in the early, unfiltered oil
that comes to market directly from the mill. The distinct characteristics of olio nuovo are highly regarded in major olive oil producing countries of the world, where olive
cultivators traditionally celebrate the new oil with family and friends at the olive mill.
McEvoy Ranch produces its olio nuovo from the estate’s early-harvest olives, including a blend of six Italian varietals. Using the same methods of production as in Italy and other traditional olive oil producing countries, McEvoy Ranch’s olio nuovo differs from the traditional blend as it is bottled immediately after pressing on the stone mill without being given the opportunity to “rest” in large, climate controlled stainless steel tanks. As the natural sediment settles to the bottom of the tanks, the oil matures into a perfectly clear, green to gold oil that serves as an exceptional complement to
any culinary creation.
McEvoy Ranch’s retail location in San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace will offer olio nuovo for a limited time, from November 16 until the beginning of February. Also
available at the Ferry Building location for the first time this year is the limited edition McEvoy Ranch Harvest gift box, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season.
Featuring two interlocking glass bottles, custom made in Spain, of both olio nuovo and traditional blend, this handsome gift set offers olive oil lovers the opportunity to sample
and compare the two olive oils’ unique flavors. Packaged in an attractive wood crate complete with McEvoy Ranch logo and postcard, the Harvest gift box retails for $25.
The distinctive properties of olio nuovo include a vibrant green color, rich consistency, striking aromatic scent, and intense, full-bodied flavor. The smooth texture allows the
olio nuovo to coat the mouth from front to back with crisp, grassy, and fruity flavors before finishing with a peppery exclamation point. To accentuate its intense flavors, favorite uses of olio nuovo include drizzling it over foods such as grilled fish or meat, gently cooked white beans or chick peas, or over raw vegetables like sliced fennel or baby artichokes, steamed asparagus, and bruschetta. Perhaps the most classic use is as the key ingredient in fettunta – a toasted or grilled slice of crusty, Tuscan-style bread flavored with olio nuovo and
served while still warm. It is also common to add a touch of salt or rub a garlic clove over the bread before drizzling the new oil. These are just a few examples of simple dishes that provide a fitting stage for olio nuovo’s powerful flavors.
To ensure absolute freshness, McEvoy Ranch 2005 olio nuovo will be available for only a limited time. McEvoy Ranch organic olio nuovo can be purchased at the McEvoy Ranch store in San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace, by direct order
from the ranch either through the Web site, www.mcevoyranch.com or by calling (707) 778-2307, and at select retail stores (list available upon request). More information about McEvoy Ranch certified organic, estate grown and produced extra virgin olive
oil and harvesting practices is also available on the McEvoy Ranch Web site.
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Press contact: Courtney Vaughn or Amie Rubenstein at Glodow Nead
Communications, (415) 394-6500.
Chef2Chef News Desk