Señoríos de Relleu Extra virgin Olive oils

Señoríos de Relleu – premium olive oil from local varieties

Relleu lies in a valley surrounded by mountains rising over 1,000 meters, in the autonomous community of Valencia. At the foot of the Sierra Aitana and just ten kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea, the olives of Señoríos de Relleu grow at an average annual temperature of 15.8°C. They benefit from natural irrigation of around 400 mm of rainfall and approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Señoríos de Relleu focuses on local olive varieties that thrive among almond trees, holm oaks, heather, and aromatic herbs.

Eliseo Quintanilla Almagro, founder of Señoríos de Relleu, discovered his passion for olives while working as a pharmacist researching the health benefits of oleuropein, a passion he later passed on to his youngest son. For this reason, the team at Señoríos de Relleu strives not only to produce outstanding olive oil, but also to convey its own story. With every drop of olive oil from Señoríos de Relleu, you are invited to feel closer to Spain, to picture its stunning landscapes, sense its culture, and hear the whisper of the Mediterranean.

The local olive varieties of Señoríos de Relleu

The extra virgin olive oils of Señoríos de Relleu owe their exceptional quality both to the experience and passion with which the olive trees are cultivated and to the use of regional varieties. These unique olive oils are always blends (coupage) of local olives, harmoniously rounded off with the mild yet aromatic Arbequina olive.

The outstanding olive oils of Señoríos de Relleu are composed of the following varieties:

• Manzanilla Villalonga: The most internationally renowned local variety, offering aromas of fragrant herbs complemented by hints of green almond and banana. Originating in southern Valencia, these productive trees are highly sensitive to frost.
• Blanqueta: A typical Valencian variety named after the pale color it takes on during ripening. Intensely fruity, with aromas of leaves, grass, almonds, artichoke, and banana. The oil is very fresh, with a characteristic bitter finish.
• Changlot Real: Although its yields are not always stable, it is widely cultivated for its high polyphenol content. Its golden oil shows balanced bitterness and pungency, with notes of green fruit, tomato plant, and green almond.
• Alfafara: A late-ripening variety mainly grown in southern Valencia. Its golden oil is highly fruity and very healthy, low in oleic acid but rich in antioxidant tocopherols, with a complex, slightly bitter profile reminiscent of green fruits.
• Genovesa: An early-ripening local variety whose large olives are suitable both for oil production and table use. Its oil is heat-resistant due to a high oleic acid content, rich in healthy polyphenols, very fruity, and characteristically bitter.
• Arbequina: Cultivated throughout Spain for its cold resistance and stable yields. Its mild, slightly sweet flavor balances stronger bitterness and pungency from other varieties. The greenish-yellow oil offers aromas of green almond, tomato plant, apple, and grass.

From harvest to bottling

Due to the often rugged terrain where the olive trees of Señoríos de Relleu grow, harvesting frequently has to be carried out without machinery. The olives are gently loosened by shaking the branches and carefully collected. The exact harvest time is determined by experts who closely monitor the growth and ripeness of the fruit. Although these local olive trees yield less fruit, the quality of the olives is exceptionally high.

As the olive mill is located directly on the estate, the harvested olives travel only a very short distance and are processed as quickly as possible. Just a few hours after harvesting, the oil is extracted by cold extraction without the use of chemical agents. The finished extra virgin olive oil is stored in large stainless-steel tanks.

Continuous monitoring and quality control ensure that flavor, aroma, and all health-promoting components are preserved. Only when an order is placed does Señoríos de Relleu bottle its premium extra virgin olive oil in aluminum bottles, which protect the oil from light exposure and oxidation.

Olive oil from Señoríos de Relleu appeals to all the senses

Señoríos de Relleu seeks to awaken the senses not only through its exceptional olive oil, but also through the unique design of its packaging, which tells a story of history, culture, and Spanish life. The Mediterranean Sea has shaped Spanish life for centuries, inspiring art, culture, and culinary traditions alike.

With its unique extra virgin olive oils, Señoríos de Relleu offers a glimpse into this world. The olive oil itself, produced using ancient Spanish craftsmanship, reflects national traditions and customs. Its flavor captures the Spanish sun and joie de vivre. The aluminum bottle, decorated with naïve-style artwork, represents the art and culture of the region, created by an artist from Alicante.

Awards for exceptional oil in unique packaging

Every year, the high-quality extra virgin olive oils of Señoríos de Relleu receive numerous national and international awards. Not only is the outstanding quality of the oil recognized, but the original and distinctive packaging is also widely acclaimed. The following list represents just a small selection of these honors:

• 08/04/2011 – Gold Medal, International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, Los Angeles
• 23/10/2012 – One of the world’s best olive oils, awarded by Der Feinschmecker, Germany
• 13/04/2013 – Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, Los Angeles
• 12/11/2014 – Best oil in the Wine & Olive Oil Guide, Valencia
• 29/05/2015 – Third place, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, Valencia
• 13/05/2016 – 94 points, among the world’s top 20 extra virgin olive oils, EVOOLEUM, Spain
• 16/02/2017 – Packaging award, Olio Officina Festival, Italy
• 10/10/2017 – Two stars, Great Taste Awards, England
• 04/05/2018 – Gold and Silver, Olive Japan
• 30/10/2018 – Included in the Guide des Gourmands 2019, France
• 22/07/2019 – Best Bottle Design and Gold Award, Terra Olivo, Israel
• 17/02/2020 – Top 10 at Biofach, Germany