Risca Grande – Olival da Risca

Risca Grande is an olive estate at Monte Novo da Fonte Corcho, in Santa Iria, a few kilometres south-east of Serpa in the Beja district. Two Swiss families, Bernhard and Zehnder, have run it since the early 2000s and sell their oils under the Olival da Risca brand. The farm covers about 220 hectares, of which 170 are olive groves with more than 35,000 trees, some of them up to 800 years old, mostly Portuguese varieties such as Cobrançosa, Galega, Cordovil and Verdeal.

The estate has been organic from the start and has farmed biodynamically under Demeter rules since 2008. The grass between the rows is mown and left as mulch to protect the soil from erosion and drought, and the groves are fed with compost made on the farm from manure and olive pomace. Hedges are being planted to shelter beneficial insects. The mill stands on the estate and presses only the farm's own olives, all grown within five kilometres, within a few hours of picking.

The range goes from everyday extra virgin oils to a limited edition from the centuries-old trees and oils pressed together with lemons, mandarins, basil, garlic or herbs grown on the farm. Oils are sold at the farm gate on weekdays; the harvest runs from late October to late December. Guided visits to the mill are suspended while it is being altered, so check before travelling. The estate is reached by car from Serpa.