Calolea was started in 1999 with a pure dream to produce quality extra virgin olive oil in California. Michael Keller our founder had a passion for cooking and experienced amazing olive oils in Europe while working as a fashion model. Michael had never tasted such delicious and true flavors from olive oil, and couldn’t believe how it flavored the simplest of dishes from vegetables, grains, to pastas and meats. While working in the food and wine community of Sonoma, California, we met fellow new olive producers from the wine industry and the California Olive Oil Council, we took up an apprenticeship with some of them to learn the process. We literally went to neighborhood shopping centers and business’s to ask them if we could pick their olives. Our friends and family participated in our first harvest of olives and we produced around 40 gallons of superb olive oil. Michael knew this was the profession he wanted to pursue. Calolea has been producing “Award Winning” olive oils ever since and has expanded with a beautiful tasting room on 20 gorgeous acres of historical olives.