We are Steven and Chris Price. We live here at River Grove with our three children, James, Katy and Beth. We came to this magical place in 2004 – a total change of lifestyle from suburban Wellington! We have learnt a great deal in a very short time and we would now love to share with you the fantastic taste and aroma of our own extra virgin olive oil.

2010 was a difficult year in the grove. The weather was not good for olives and yields were lower than normal for many growers. Still, the harvest went ahead as usual and this year, for the first time, we were able to bring in a tractor-harvester. What a great machine! It grabs the tree trunk and shakes the olives into a tray a bit like an upside-down umbrella, all in about 30 seconds!  We harvested the leccino, frantoio and manzanilla this year but only submitted the frantoio to the judges.  After the angst of the season it was pleasing to be awarded a silver medal - that makes our frantoio a medal winner four years in a row now!  We also have our new olive room all finished so storage and bottling run smoothly in ideal conditions.

River Grove lies on the banks of the Ruamahanga River in the beautiful Wairarapa.  Situated in the area known as Landsdowne at the northern end of Masterton, the grove takes up seven hectares of our 19 hectare property – the balance being used for grazing beef.  Currently we have around 1700 trees, most of which were planted in 2000.  The majority of the trees are the Tuscan varieties (which are best suited to the Wairarapa), the wonderfully fruity Frantoio and the delicious, peppery Leccino, but we also grow the exotically named Manzanilla, Picholene, Pendolino, Chemlali, Moraiolo, Minerva, Super and Picuado.  The trees flower around November and the fruit is usually ready for harvest by June.  Family members (and unwary visitors!) are called on to help with the harvest which takes around three weeks.  Our olives are processed not far away at The Olive Press in Masterton within hours of harvest and the aromatic, luscious green/gold oil is brought home and stored in stainless steel cans ready for bottling.

 

 

138 Gordon Street, Masterton, NZ ● ph +64 6 370 3722 ● email info@rivergrove.co.nz