Mount Zero Olives

Planted in 1953, the Mount Zero Olive Grove is one of the oldest olive groves in Australia, with a total of 6000 Spanish Manzanilla and Gordal olive trees. Mount Zero Olives is a family owned business located three hours West of Melbourne, on the Northern edge of the Grampians National Park.  Their success is due to an uncompromising commitment to sustainable organic/biodynamic agriculture, quality locally grown produce and fine food, and simplicity and integrity of product. Olives Blonde Kalamata Olives are distinctly different to regular kalamata olives, and are one of the largest varieties. Due to their size they take longer to cure than most other olives and over this time they bleach from black to blonde. Kalamata Olives are medium in size and picked black. Firmer than the Manzanilla, the Greek Kalamata olives are the classic table olive variety. Manzanilla Olives make up the bulk of the olives grown at Mount Zero and therefore feature heavily in their oil production. It is an extremely fleshy olive with a relatively small pit, a great table olive, and very simple to pit for pizza, pasta & salads. Verdale Olives are the only olives from Mount Zero picked green. They have a firm flesh, and a strong apple-like, flavour. Verdale olives are a wonderful table olive, providing an excellent contrast to kalamatas and manzanillas Australian Wild Olives are a small pointed fruit, with a truly intense flavour. Some groves across Western Victoria and South Australia were originally planted with many grafted trees. Over time, some groves have allowed trees to “go wild” encouraging them to self-sow, and promoting growth of the original root stock. Lentils French Style Green Lentils. This lentil is a variety originally grown in Puy in France. It grows well in the soils of the Wimmera, and is consumed and appreciated on the best dinner tables around Australia. Renowned for their deep nutty flavour and holding their shape when cooked, these lentils are perfect for summer salads and as a bedding for meat or fish. The French Style Green Lentil is one of the smallest lentil varieties with a unique speckled green and black seed coat. A great companion to fetta, chevre, mint, tomatoes and game. Available in 500g, 2kg & 25kg bags. Persian Red Lentils. Similar to the French Style Green Lentil in its cooking properties; the Persian Red Lentil also holds its shape when cooked. Due to its Middle Eastern origins it is suited particularly to Moroccan style spiced dishes. A great companion to cumin, lamb, paprika and mint. Available in 500g, 2kg & 25kg sizes. Organic Kabuli Chick Peas. These chickpeas are relatively small and cook more quickly than others. They are perfect for salads and hummus, and work well with spiced meat dishes. Available in 500g bags. Oils Multivarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil This is Mount Zero’s flagship olive oil, derived from three varieties of fruit - Manzanilla, Verdale & Frantoia. This is a marriage of the three classic qualities of a well balanced olive oil – fruitiness (grass, nuts & apple) from the Frantoia, bitterness from the verdale, and pungency (peppery bite) from the Manzanilla. Mount Zero Multivarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil is delicious drizzled over fish or vegetables, and combines well with our Cabernet Vinegar to create your own classic vinaigrette. Available in 150ml, 750ml Bottles & 15L casks. Mount Zero Basil Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Latest to our range, and recently the most popular, the Basil infused extra virgin olive oil, transforms tomato’s, buffalo mozzarella & pasta dishes from good to brilliant. In principle this is a very simple product, derived from two ingredients; our multivarietal EVOO and organic basil. In production it is a labour of love. For this season’s basil oil, over an acre of basil was grown by a local (Natimuk) organic market gardener. This was harvested over a few weeks and constantly fed into our specially designed still. After a 2 week period of almost constant distilling – we produced a small bottle of pure basil oil. A few of drops are then added to each bottle of extra virgin olive oil. In adding only pure basil oil, the integrity of the extra virgin olive oil is not compromised, ensuring a product that will maintain it’s flavour over time.  Available in 150ml & 375ml bottles. Red Wine Vinegar This classic red wine vinegar combines perfectly with mount zero oils, to produce vinaigrettes with a deep berry-plum flavour derived from the cabernet grape.  With an acidity level of just 4%, Mount Zero Olives’ red wine vinegar adds flavour and depth to soups, stocks and risotto, and is great for lifting flavours from the bottom of the pan when deglazing.  Available in 150ml, 375ml, & 15L casks