Recent article on Casa Bio in Irish Times

Award winning Portuguese Olive Oil now in Ireland.

With the salad season now upon us and the barbeques lighting up, what better time to take a

look at Risca Grande, a delightful new organic olive oil from Portugal.

Though not well known in this part of the world for their olive oil, Portugal has been

producing olive oil since before the arrival of the Romans almost 2,000 years ago and the

Portuguese are now the world's sixth largest olive oil producer.

The Risca Grande Organic Olive Oil Company is a family business, run by the Bernhard and

Zehnder families, located approximately 30km east of Beja in the Alentejo province of

Southern Portugal.

Although acclaimed throughout Portugal and Spain for its production of premier quality olive

oil, the Alentejo area has been kept a closely guarded secret from the rest of the world with its

remarkable landscape of rolling hills and open prairie like fields, dotted with plantations of

cork and olive trees. Temperatures regularly hit 40°C in summer, making it one of the

warmest places in Europe.

Strict organic farming principles and practices are adhered to on the Risca Grande farm,

achieving both certified Organic and Demeter standard.

Their extra virgin olive oil is becoming renowned throughout Europe, scooping prizes at the

Biofach international organic food fair (the world's premier organic food fair) and at the BIOL

fair in Italy (considered to be the world's most prestigious organic olive oil tasting

competition). Indeed Risca Grande Classic has just been awarded 'organic olive oil of the year'

by Italian olive oil guru, Marco Oreggia, in his 'Flos Olei' guide to the world's best olive oils

and he has also included it in his overall best 20 olive oils for 2011.

Risca Grande Classic Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced from olive varieties that have

been traditionally grown in Alentejo for centuries and that are unique to that area.

To quote Marco oreggia, Risca Grande “is an intense limpid golden yellow colour with light

green hues. Its aroma is ample and elegant, rich in fruity hints of medium ripe tomato, white

apple, banana and vegetal notes of country vegetables, especially lettuce and chicory. Its taste

is round and complex, with an aromatic flavour of eucalyptus, field balm and fig leaf.

Bitterness is present and pungency is limited with an almond finish”.

Along with its traditional use in salads, Risca grande is also an ideal companion for fish, lamb,

white meat, mild vegetables, pasta, bruschetta or simply for flavouring your bread.

Risca Grande Classic Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is now available in The following Stores:-


Food for Thought, Carlingford, Louth
Andrew O'Callaghan, Bettystown, Meath
J.C.'s, Swords, Dublin
Superquinn, Swords, Dublin
Superquinn, Sutton, Dublin
Country Market, Howth, Dublin
Superquinn, Finglas, Dublin
Superquinn, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Superquinn, Lucan, Dublin
Superquinn, Sundrive, Dublin
Superquinn, Walkinstown, Dublin
Avoca Handweavers, Suffolk Street, Dublin
Donnybrook Fair, Baggott Street, Dublin
Donnybrook Fair, Morehampton Road, Dublin
Mortons, Ranelagh, Dublin,
Field & Vine, Rathmines, Dublin
Avoca Handweavers, Rathcoole, Dublin
Superquinn, Knocklyon, Dublin
The Market, Stepaside, Dublin
Superquinn, Balinteer, Dublin
Superquinn, Blackrock, Dublin
Organic Supermarket, Blackrock, Dublin
Cavistons, Glasthule, Dublin
Donnybrook Fair, Greystones, Wicklow
Superquinn, Bray, Wicklow
Avoca Handweavers, Kilmacanogue, Wicklow
Swans on the Green, Naas, Kildare
Superquinn, Carlow
Superquinn, Kilkenny
Jimmy Trehy, Farmers Market, Cahir, Tipperary
Superquinn, Clonmel, Tipperary
Superquinn, Waterford
Ardkeen Quality Food Stores, Waterford
Garvey's Supervalu, Dungarvan,Waterford
Blasta Wholefoods, Dungarvan, Waterford
Farmgate, Midelton, Cork
Bramley Lodge, Cobh, Cork
Supervalu, Cobh, Cork
Supervalu, Glanmire, Cork
Natural Choice, Paul Street, Cork
On the Pigs Back, Douglas, Cork
Supervalu, Barry Down, Ballincollig, Cork
Quay Foods, Kinsale, Cork
Supervalu, Clonakilty, Cork
Fehily's, Balineen, Cork
Urru, Bandon, Cork
Spar, Drinagh Co-op, Skibbereen, Cork
Supervalu, Skibbereen, Cork
Brosnans, Schull, Cork
Organico, Bantry, Cork
Stuffed Olive, Bantry, Cork
Supervalu, Castletownbere, Cork
Loop de Loop, Castletownbere, Cork
Keatings, Cahirciveen, Kerry
Ri Nua, Dingle, Kerry
Superquinn, Limerick
Foxford Woolen Mills, Foxford, Co. Mayo
Daily Fresh, Kinlough, Leitrim