Moulins Castelas | Provence, France

MEET THE MAKER

For Jean-Benoît and Catherine Hugues, CastelineS began with a calling to return home. After 15 years in Arizona and successful careers in the semiconductor industry, the French-born couple moved their young family to Provence in 1998 to be closer to Catherine’s parents and reconnect with the land they both knew growing up.

They settled in Les Baux de Provence, surrounded by limestone hills, wild garrigue and centuries-old olive trees, and founded CastelaS. With farming in their family backgrounds and Jean-Benoît’s engineering expertise, they brought together two seemingly different disciplines to create a distinctive approach to olive oil: nurture the land, use technology thoughtfully and interfere as little as possible.

Today, CastelaS grows its own olives and mills them in its own state-of-the-art facility, overseeing the process from grove to bottle. Traditional Provençal cultivars are farmed organically, while carefully designed milling techniques help protect the fresh character and natural qualities of the fruit.

The result is a French olive oil that reflects both the landscape of Provence and the Hugues’ belief that great olive oil begins with respect for the land.

WHY WE LOVE IT

CastelineS is a beautiful expression of Provence: fresh, vibrant and wonderfully complex. Made from traditional Provençal olives and pressed within hours of harvest, this extra virgin olive oil captures the unmistakable character of freshly crushed fruit, with notes of green olive, artichoke and almond balanced by a lively peppery finish.

We love that CastelineS combines the soul of traditional French olive growing with the precision of modern milling. It’s the kind of oil that elevates everything it touches, from simply dressed vegetables and seafood to roasted chicken and crusty bread.

If you’re looking for the best olive oil from France, CastelineS offers a delicious taste of Provence in every pour.