01/01/2025: The new oil is available since January 1st, 2025.
Oil sales at the mill will resume from January 1st between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. However, it is preferable to call before coming.
The oil production ended on December 31st with a great season for the new mill. The quality is excellent thanks to advanced maturity and a complete absence of olive flies.
The new oil is now available in all varieties (15 this year), organized in 5 tasting boxes:
We ship via Mondial Relay (delivery to your chosen pickup point) in boxes of:
Orders can be placed by email: click here or by phone at +33 6 15 98 05 46. For shipping invoices, please provide your postal address and mobile number.
The olive oil mill "Le Verdalet" opened in July 2009.
Located on the D 255 - Brujas Road, between Bessas and Brujas, you will be able to taste the different varieties of olive oil from Bessas, or visit the facility and olive groves of the "la Fontaine du Muletier" estate.
The mill is open for olive processing from late October to mid-December (dates may vary depending on the season).
Before bringing your olives to the mill, it is recommended to make an appointment by phone at +33 6 15 98 05 46 at least 48 hours in advance, or when you start picking your olives.
From 100 kilos of olives, you can obtain your own olive oil. Below this amount, your olives will be integrated into a small batch from which you will receive oil proportional to your contribution. Quantities below 10 kg should be avoided.
Don't forget to bring your own containers (clean), preferably stainless steel or food-grade plastic.
Olives are received every day between 17:00 and 19:00.
The mill reserves the right to refuse non-compliant batches (not de-leafed, frozen or damaged olives, etc.) or in case of mill saturation.
The "la Fontaine du Muletier" estate is located in the communes of Bessas and Vagnas (Ardèche). It includes an olive grove with over 1,000 trees spread across several plots within a 2 km radius around the "Le Verdalet" mill.
The grove is cultivated without irrigation and has been certified organic by ECOCERT since 2010. Since 2014, the mill is also ECOCERT certified and can process olives for organic producers.
The mill offers tastings of about fifteen different oils, either single-variety or blends, with intense or subtle flavors.
Oil tasting and mill tours are free and available daily outside the processing period (from late October to mid-December).
For a tour of the olive groves and olive growing advice, it's best to make an appointment at +33 6 15 98 05 46.
Olive crates waiting for processing
Olives before washing
Olives after washing
Washer, grinder and mixer
Olives going through the grinder
Mixing the olive paste
Mixer and centrifuge
Horizontal centrifuge
Oil coming out of the centrifuge
Final separator
First oil produced on October 28, 2009
The new mill in 2023:
The Mill and Bessas:
Bessas village seen from the mill:
North view from the mill:
Vineyard and olive trees:
Young olive trees planting:
Olive trees in bloom:
Old olive tree:
Old olive trees on terraces:
Table olive picking from the tree:
Harvesting with vibrating comb on young olive trees:
Ripe olives before harvesting:
Manual harvesting in good weather:
Picholine ready for processing:
Ripe Rougette:
Mill in autumn:
Olive tree at dusk:
Land in July 2006, with only foundations and steel frame:
Masonry works in July 2008:
Stone cladding completed in August 2008:
Arrival and installation of the Rapanelli mill in May 2009:
Final touches in July 2009, signage installation:
Open house for inauguration from July 26-28, 2009:
Mill in June 2010:
Mill extension in June 2011:
Extension finishing in July 2011:
For more information about olives, visit the afidol website, French olive industry organization.
Find recipe ideas for your oil and olives in two booklets published by afidol.
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