Our Mill

At Round Pond we understand that freshness is fundamental to making truly superior olive oil. That is why we constructed our very own olive oil mill. The truth is, the difference between everyday olive oil and oil freshly pressed in our mill is as obvious as the difference between orange juice from a carton and the vibrant flavor of fresh oranges squeezed into a waiting glass. Brought to the Round Pond Mill only minutes after being picked from our estate orchards, our fruit offers enticing aromatics and ripe, warm Mediterranean flavors.

These olives are pressed by variety in either a stone mill or hammer mill. Utilizing two different pressing methods allows us to extract contrasting characteristics so that we are able to create singular oils with unique charm, depth and complexity. Traditional stone mill pressing provides less stress to the skins and pits, thereby exuding a smoother, less pungent oil; whereas, the hammer mill perforates the skins and pits of the olives to produce sharper, more robust flavors.

Once the olives are pressed and kneaded, the paste undergoes a separation process to eliminate any residual water so that the resulting oil is pure and concentrated. The oil is then funneled into stainless steel tanks, under nitrogen, until it can further settle.

After a patient resting period, the art of the blend begins. Trained by Italian mill masters, our skilled team meticulously tastes each oil varietal, passionately testing dozens of blending combinations to achieve a perfect master blend that embodies an ideal balance of fruit, aromatics and warmth. Because the oil is precious – with each tree producing only one gallon of olive oil – we blend in extremely small lots and bottle on demand to ensure the richest, most vibrant flavors possible.

The epicenter for our artisan approach to crafting olive oils, our mill is a favorite destination for tours, tastings, and during the excitement of Round Pond’s fresh oil days.