Núñez de Prado | Baena, Andalusia, Spain

MEET THE MAKER

Núñez de Prado has been producing olive oil in the hills of Andalusia since 1795, and the family’s commitment to quality is evident the moment you open the bottle. Their oils are bright, grassy, and gently peppery, the kind of extra virgin olive oil that transforms something as simple as warm bread or roasted vegetables.

The family still uses traditional stone mills to crush the olives, a slower process that preserves the oil’s fresh, vivid character. In 1986, brothers Paco, Andrés, and Felipe Núñez de Prado made the bold decision to focus entirely on high-quality organic olive oil, long before organic production became common in Spain. Andrés, an agricultural engineer, recognized the impact pesticides were having on Spanish agriculture and helped guide the estate toward chemical-free farming by combining traditional methods with thoughtful innovation.

That dedication earned Núñez de Prado the distinction of becoming the first olive oil producer in Spain to receive organic certification in 1990. Today, the estate is internationally recognized for its purity, craftsmanship, and PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) status, while the family continues to harvest by hand and care for the groves with the same attention that has defined them for generations.

 

WHY WE LOVE THEM

What we love most about Núñez de Prado is how deeply rooted the process feels in tradition, and how clearly you can taste that care in the finished oil.

The prized Flor de Aceite, or “Flower of the Oil,” is especially remarkable. This first, delicately extracted free-run oil seeps naturally from olive paste layered between tall stacks of traditional grass mats and slowly squeezed over time before any pressing begins. Gravity does the work, slowly and patiently, resulting in an oil with extraordinary purity and character.

You notice it immediately in the flavor: smooth, gently sweet, and beautifully complex, with notes of green olive, almond, apple, and citrus followed by a soft peppery finish. The oil’s exceptionally low acidity levels, far below standard extra virgin requirements, contribute to its clean, vibrant taste and remarkable freshness.

We love serving it simply because it deserves the spotlight. Drizzled over ripe tomatoes, spooned onto burrata, poured over grilled vegetables, or served with warm bread and flaky salt, it turns even the simplest meal into something memorable.

The beautiful bottle, hand-labeled and numbered for traceability, makes it an especially thoughtful gift for cooks, hosts, and anyone who appreciates authentic ingredients and time-honored craftsmanship.