We are thrilled that Kenton Park Estate now has it's own Olive Oil produced for us in Puglia, Italy from these wonderful Giant Olive Trees...
We have a great passion for Olive Trees and have many here on the Estate. You can enjoy sitting on our Decked Terrace outside The Winery surround by our Giant Olive Trees sampling this incredible Olive Oil with some delicious artisan Bread.
Having discovered our Italian Olive Farm in Puglia, where the most delicious natural Olive Oil is made, we wanted to share it with everyone. We call it our "LIQUID GOLD" because of the huge health benefits (see more detail below).
Our Olive Oil is extra virgin Olive Oil which means that is has not undergone any treatment other than washing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration.
Harvesting of the Olives takes place only once a year (not every year as the Harvest is very dependant on the weather). The long journey starts in May when flowers begin to blossom on the tree. This will be a clear indication of what the next harvest will be like. The most critical period is from August to September. Heavy rains can bring about pest attacks which can compromise the harvest.
October is the magical month when the first Olives are detached from the Trees to produce the very first harvest of the year - also know as "Novello" (New Oil). The race begins. It all happens in a matter of weeks. There is no time to rest, as once the Olives are ready, they need to be picked from the branches and pressed locally within a few hours. This is why this product is so special.
Our very first harvest of "Liquid Gold" .....
Family Feast at the end of the Harvest
Everyone in the family gets involved: from the oldest and most experienced member of the family to the youngest and the novice. All contribute in some manner in producing the new Oil, and after a day of hard work they all get together for a celebration meal in the evening, served with of course, the fresh Olive Oil.
Why the Pheasant character on our Labels?
When we moved to Kenton Park Estate early in January of 2017, we were rudely awakened early every morning by the gang of male Pheasants that strut around the grounds rounding up not only the female Pheasants but also the Partridges. The sound they make is incredibly distinctive and totally unique. It's a sound that is the very essence of life here on the Estate. They can be hilarious to watch during the day as they chase each other and they all have their own individual names and characteristics.
Our imagination was encouraged to run wild and each Pheasant was captured in spirit as their individual characature & story was developed by the fabulous illustrator Bryn Parry (OBE) who we commissioned to create them incorporating his wicked sense of humour. (Bryn established the Charity "Help for Heroes" and has raised an incredible amount of money over the past decade or more).
"Roger" is the Pheasant character who heads up our "Liquid Gold" Olive Oil Brand - the perfect Pheasant Gent who loves his Olives served with a splash of Martini whilst reclining under the twisted old boughs of the Olive Trees here on the Estate which stand in Giant old Oak Barrels outside The Winery Building. He's the largest of all of our Pheasants and has an air of smoothness & sophistication about him. "Roger" and "Liquid Gold" is one of our favourite illustrations so far in the collection as Bryn has truly captured the viscosity and luminescence (the emission of light by a substance that has not been heated) of our beautiful Olive Oil. You can Buy our Oil on-line here (£14.95 500 ml).
Why we want to have our own Olive Oil brand ....
Olive Oil & Cancer
A number of research studies have documented that Olive Oil reduces the risk of breast cancer. Eating a healthy diet with Olive Oil as the main source of fat can considerably lower cancer incidence. The reason is that the cell mutations caused by cancer are partly due to toxins which, when consumed through the diet, attack DNA. On passing through the liver, these toxins produce free radicals that then attack DNA. To combat such free radicals, the body needs vitamins and antioxidants like those contained in Olive Oil.
Olive Oil & Blood Pressure
Certain foods can raise blood pressure and have an effect on body weight. Along with high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking, obesity and diabetes, it is one of the main health problems of the developed world.
One in every four adults is hypertensive. This increases the risk of early death because of the damage to the body's arteries, especially the arteries that supply blood to the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes. Addition of Olive Oil to a diet has a clear lowering effect on blood pressure. Regular consumption of Olive Oil decreases both systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimum) blood pressure.
Olive Oil & Obesity
Obesity is a major health issue in the West because people eat large amounts and get little physical exercise. Obesity is when energy reserves, primarily in the form of fat, are excessive. It has been demonstrated that an olive-oil-rich diet leads to greater and longer-lasting weight loss than a low-fat diet. It tastes good and is a stimulus to eat vegetables.
Olive Oil & Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are the top cause of death in the industrialised world. A host of studies have documented that arteriosclerosis is closely linked to eating habits, lifestyle and some aspects of economic development. The progression of arteriosclerosis depends on many factors: the most important ones are high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and cigarette smoking. "The lowest rates of death from coronary heart disease are currently recorded in the countries where olive oil is virtually the only fat consumed." – Professor Francisco Grande Covian
Olive Oil & Arteriosclerosis
It has been demonstrated that Olive Oil is effective in preventing the formation of blood clots and platelet aggregation. Diets rich in Olive Oil can attenuate the effect of fatty foods in encouraging blood clot formation, thus contributing to the low incidence of heart failure in countries where Olive Oil is the principal fat consumed.
Olive Oil & Cholesterol
Olive Oil lowers cholesterol levels in your blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance contained in foods of animal origin. Diets containing a large amount of animal fat raises blood cholesterol levels, which is one of the chief risk factors of cardiovascular disease.
Olive Oil & Diabetes
An Olive Oil rich diet is not only a good alternative in the treatment of diabetes, it may also help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. How it does so is by preventing insulin resistance lowering triglycerides and ensuring better blood sugar level control and lower blood pressure.
Olive Oil & the Stomach
It reduces the risk of the flow or reflux of food and gastric juice up from the stomach to the oesophagus, the gastric content of the stomach is released more slowly and gradually into the duodenum, giving a greater sensation of "fullness".
Olive Oil & the Pancreas
It produces a small amount of secretion by the pancreas, making this organ "work" little, but efficiently and enough to carry out all its digestive functions.
Olive Oil & the Intestine
It stimulates the absorption of various nutrients (Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, etc.). Olive Oil therefore, is a fat that is digested and absorbed really well.
Olive Oil & the Skin
Skin tissue goes through a number of changes. External factors, such as the sun's rays, speed up ageing by generating free radicals. Olive Oil has a large proportion of vitamins A, D and K, as well as vitamin E, the main source of protection against the free radicals that produce cell oxidation. This makes it a good aid In specific therapies to treat skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and seborrheic eczemas.
Olive Oil & Ageing
Osteoporosis is a reduction in bone tissue mass that increases the risk of fractures. There are two types. Type I occurs in middle-aged, post-menopausal women and Type II in the elderly. Olive Oil appears to have a favourable effect on bone calcification and bone mineralisation Is better the more Olive Oil is consumed. It helps Calcium absorption, thereby playing an important part during the period of growth and in the prevention of osteoporosis. Olive oil rich diets may also prevent memory loss in healthy elderly people.
Olive Oil during Pregnancy
Post-natal development of babies of mothers who consumed Olive Oil when pregnant is better in terms of height, weight, behaviour and psychomotor reflexes. The foetus needs vitamin E to grow. The newborn baby also needs a store of vitamin E to fight against the oxidative stress caused on entering an oxygen atmosphere. Although not very abundant in Olive Oil, it is present in sufficient quantity thanks to the resistance of Olive Oil to oxidation. So, both the amount and the type of food consumed in the diet during pregnancy play a key part In the metabolic adaptations that occur in the mother and in her functional relationship with the foetus.
Olive Oil & Breast Feeding
It is essential to maintain the levels of vitamins during breast feeding. Vitamin E is also recommended for premature and new-born infants with kidney or pancreas failure because of the favourable effect it has on the hepato-biliary system. Its ratio of linoleic acid to linolenic acid (essential fatty acids) is similar to that of breast milk. The beneficial effect of oleic acid lasts beyond pregnancy. Oleic acid also appears to exert a positive influence on growth and bone mineralisation and development during infancy.
