Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Australia

Where the oil comes from

Olive trees are not native to Australia. The oil here comes from Mediterranean varieties planted through the south, from Western Australia across South Australia and Victoria to Tasmania and New South Wales.

Frantoio is the cultivar you will find most often, with Picual, Leccino, Coratina and Koroneiki close behind. Groves tend to sit in cooler coastal and inland pockets rather than the tropical north.

Picking follows the southern autumn. Most fruit comes off between March and June, and May is often the busiest month.

There are currently 286 extra virgin olive oils from 129 producers across 57 regions in Australia. 207 are marked available.

Among the harvest dates on these listings, most fall in May (55 of 77). In the southern hemisphere, picking usually comes in autumn and winter. Individual groves can run earlier or later.

Varieties that appear most often: Frantoio (77), Leccino (33), Coratina (29), Koroneiki (29), Picual (25).