Margie and Ross Legh established The Olive Place in 2002, when they purchased a block of ‘retired’ farmland. Passionate about all things olives, the couple began planting olive trees, testing different cultivars to find which would produce the best quality and flavour of extra virgin olive oil. The Virtuo product was launched in July 2014, made from 100% New Zealand grown fruit, Virtuo oils are processed and bottled onsite at The Olive Place. The fruit is processed within hours of being harvested, the mechanical cold press process simply squeezes the juice from this fruit and there are no chemicals used. Once it is pressed, it is bottled using dark glass and stored in cool conditions away from the light. The processing line that is used only processes olives, there is no other food processed in that environment. Using world class best practice technologies and nurturing the entire process of harvesting and processing, the outcome is a range of unfiltered, unadulterated oils that have nothing added to them. . With no previous food manufacturing experience, Margie and Ross now have three unique blends of olive oil; mild, medium and robust. The blends are a mix of Sicilian, Greek, 
Tuscan and Tunisian as well as New Zealand varietals. Verified by Olives New Zealand, the NZ certification guarantees that the oils are of extra virgin status and of high nutritional value.
Virtuo extra virgin olive oil is available in 250ml and 500ml variants.
For more information please visit: www.theoliveplace.co.nz
