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Olive Oil at Lou Calen: A Sensory Journey wishing Cotignac

04/24/2025
In the heart of Provence, in the charming village of Cotignac, lies a culinary treasure that transcends time and tradition: Lou Calen’s olive oil. Nestled in enchanting landscapes where hills ripple beneath Mediterranean blue skies, this oil is much more than a simple kitchen product; it is an ode to the land, a love story between man and nature. It embodies the very essence of Provence, where each drop tells a story of passion, patience, and respect for the earth.
The olive oil at Lou Calen is the fruit of ancestral know-how thanks to a deep commitment to true quality and authenticity. It reflects a unique type of earth, bathed in Mediterrenean sunshine and tended by the mistral wind, where olive trees thrive in a unique environment. Each bottle of olive oil is an invitation to a sensory journey, a promise of intense flavours and subtle aromas that recall the Provençal landscapes.

Fruit of Three Olive Groves in Cotignac

This precious oil is the fruit of 720 olive trees spread across three olive groves, each carrying within it the secrets of time and the whispers of ancestors. These majestic trees, generously offer their fruit and its oil, perpetuating a centuries-old agricultural tradition.

Domaine Lou Calen: A Sacred Heritage

The estate extends over the ancestral lands of the White Penitents, a Catholic brotherhood that found refuge in Cotignac in the mid-17th century. The monks lived in harmony with nature, cultivating vines and olive trees. Today, 120 olive trees stand proudly on the same land, including 20 survivors of the great frost of 1956. These are silent guardians of a rich past and a living tradition.

La Galère: A Hidden Spot in the Nature

On a hillside above the great sweep of Cotignac lies “La Galère” property. Its 9 hectares are home to 250 olive trees, most of them coppiced after the devastating frost. This unique and precious land, difficult to access, is nurtured by the splash of the water springs and watched over by a modern French farmhouse. Each tree tells a story of resilience and rebirth.

Notre-Dame de Grâces: A Know-how

The Notre-Dame de Grâce olive grove is a true Garden of Eden with its 350 olive trees. Mr. Boyer, guardian of these lands, has dedicated his life to restoring this olive grove, terrace by terrace, stone by stone. Here, every detail reflects devotion, perseverance, and attachment to this place where time seems suspended between sky, earth, and silence.

A Culture in Harmony with Nature

The frost of 1956 marked a decisive turning point for the region’s olive groves. Trees planted before that date still display their usual clusters of trunks, while those that were planted afterwards, or were reborn from coppicing, form a single vigorous vine. The wood of olive trees frozen by the cold was then transformed into fuel, which unfortunately caused the disappearance of many century-old specimens. However, the tenacious passion of a few olive-growers and nature-lovers has allowed the legendary tree to regain its place, which now prioritises quality over quantity.

At Lou Calen, the olive trees grow freely, pruned sparingly to respect the natural rhythm of the tress and preserve the natural cool of the soil. Watering is carried out once a week – the bare essential – during the young shoots’ first year, allowing them to take deep root in the soil that will sustain them. This kind of respectful cultivation results in a truly authentic olive oil, bursting with flavour and scent.

The harvest, meanwhile, is a fantastic experience. From mid-December to mid-January, Lou Calen’s teams gather to handpick the ripe olives, continuing the traditions of yesteryear and celebrating with a joyful atmosphere. The olives are then pressed at the Cotignac Cooperative mill. The yield is often modest—a 200kg press yields approximately 28 litres of olive oil—but every drop produced is precious, a true concentration of expertise and shared passion.

OLIVE OIL ON SALE IN THE SHOP

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