Monte Rosso Oil
Monte Rosso Estate in Crveni Vrh, northwestern Istria, Croatia, started in 2006 when two friends cleared overgrown land to create a 65-hectare farm with 14,000 olive trees. The unique microclimate near the sea, with constant winds, ample sunlight, and soils of limestone, white, and mainly red types, supports healthy olives through expert care and irrigation. They produce five extra virgin olive oils, such as the premium Grand Selection range. Their philosophy emphasises patience, daring to be different, and producing high-quality, healthy products while connecting nature, people, and three nations.
The estate is led by Davor Duboković, co-owner and manager, whose family story stretches back over a century to the island of Hvar. His grandfather Petar migrated to Slovenia after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, eventually trading the family's property on Hvar for a modest life in Ljubljana, where he sold wine and olive oil and opened a tavern called Gostilna Dalmacija. Davor runs the estate with partner Uroš Gorjanc, who also operates Olma, a successful Ljubljana-based company.
Monte Rosso spans 62 hectares in total, with 40 hectares planted with olive trees—making it one of the ten largest and most productive groves in Croatia. The estate also cultivates 50,000 vines, 2,000 cherry trees, 600 almond trees, and 600 fig trees. The harvest season begins in May with cherries, continues through summer with figs, almonds in August, grapes in September, and finally olives from late September to mid-November. The estate produces approximately 33,000 litres of extra virgin olive oil annually.
Their flagship oil, Grand Selection, is produced from early-harvest Leccino and Istarska Bjelica olives. The oil is recognised for its grassy aroma and exceptionally high polyphenol content—over 250 mg per litre, meeting the EU standard for health claims. Grand Selection has been awarded at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition in New York.
The estate employs sustainable pest management using pheromone traps and confusion methods rather than standard yellow panels, effectively controlling olive fruit fly without chemical interventions. Harvesting is semi-mechanised with a Baggy shaker that collects 8–10 tonnes of fruit per day, with olives processed immediately at mills in both Croatian and Slovenian Istria to ensure optimum freshness.
Monte Rosso welcomes visitors to its tasting square for guided tastings and pairing experiences. The estate's proximity to the Kempinski and Petram Resort hotels brings a steady stream of international guests. Sales are directed through specialty shops, wine bars, and the estate's own store—never supermarkets—with clients spanning from Japan to Dubai.
