Our Story

After a lifetime in television journalism, the former war correspondent, David Chater and the documentary film maker Melanie Anstey have turned their hands towards a new skill: nurturing nearly 600 olive trees above Correns, the small village in Provence which was the first to declare itself organic more than two decades ago.

They have leant heavily on the local agricultural experts, learning the skills needed to produce a high quality extra virgin olive oil taken from their single estate of just over five hectares. The oil is hand-bottled by them against the idyllic backdrop of the twin mountains of the Gros and Petit Bessilon.

It’s taking time for us to get used to this rural portion of paradise! But friends who come to savour the oil and the cooking here have been delighted.

The protected forests surrounding us are full of the sound of birdsong and carpeted with wild herbs and flowers. Such a combination works a special magic, a magic we believe is working its way into our oil.