Jun 24

Written by: Kristin
6/24/2009 8:15 AM

I’m back! The writing has been put on the back burner for the last few months. Things have been busy…

Food Inc. is growing, as is our portfolio of available food products! We started this venture with the idea of bringing together great food and great wine. It made sense to begin importing the foods that our wineries produce, as well as fantastic products that we just can’t make here in our Northern climate.

With these thoughts in mind, I began sourcing product from afar… Very far. B&W Wines began business in the 90’s by importing fine Australian wine at a time when Australian wine was not believed to be fine at all. How things have changed! Food Inc. has begun in much the same manner. We are working with a group of amazing producers from across Australia to bring their efforts to Canada.

A few things I have learned about Australian food producers:

•    quality of their product is exceptional
•    sustainable agriculture is the norm in Australia
•    product packaging is revolutionary
•    they are very nice people
•    they are very passionate about what they do
•    they like Canadians


Primo Estate is no exception. A well established and much lauded winery in McLaren Vale, Primo Estate is known for producing superb wines from traditional Italian varietals such as Nebbiolo, Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese. Joseph (son of Primo) and his wife Dina also produce exceptional olive oil. Yes, there is fantastic olive oil to be had from Australia!

Joe and Dina began producing olive oil in 1989, when very few in Australia had even considered the potential for olive oil production. In this, the 20th harvest and vintage of their olive oil, they have won the prestigious 2008 Vogue Australia Produce Award.

The 2008 Primo Estate ‘Joseph’ Extra Virgin Olive Oil is incredible. Blended using Frantoio (Italian cultivar), Koroneiki (Greek cultivar) and Verdale (French cultivar), this oil offers many of the flavours I associate with Australian olive oils. Green banana, green almond, fresh cut grass… The Italian heritage is evident on the finish of the ‘Joseph’, with the characteristic ‘kick’ at the back of the throat.

I pour this oil freely over grilled asparagus, warm pasta, steaming potatoes with fresh chives, salad greens and chilled gazpacho. In short, I pour this over everything.

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