Kevin Coles, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. production and facilities manager, samples unfiltered, freshly pressed extra-virgin olive oil.[/caption]

Surrounded by wineries, breweries and distilleries in Dripping Springs, the Gambini family operates Texas Hill Country Olive Co., from growing the olives in the orchard to bottling the product in the factory.

The Gambini family was close to joining the ranks of alcohol producers in the area in 2009, but research led to the discovery that Texas olive production was a niche waiting to be filled.

“It’s a bit more fun to be pioneers in a new industry versus jumping on the bandwagon of an industry that’s already fairly mature in Texas,” Vice President Cara Gambini said. “It was exciting, with our family heritage, being Gambinis and having roots back to Italy, and farming being our background.”

Cara’s father, John Gambini, and his brother-in-law Rick Mensik bought the 17-acre land for sale at 2530 W. Fitzhugh Road in 2009 and began planting olive trees, Cara said.

The family also considered the option of building the olive orchard on Hwy. 290, Cara said.

But the ability to plant olive trees in a low density and the lower cost of land on Fitzhugh won the family over, Cara said.

Since its inception in 2009, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. has created six premium varieties of extra-virgin olive oil, several of which have won awards from the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, Cara said. Some of the varieties include an estate, or house, blend and a lemon-infused variation.

The company recommends using extra-virgin olive oil for dipping with bread, dressing salads or drizzling on top of grilled food.

Now in its sixth year of operation, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. has become a wedding venue, a gift shop and restaurant. On Sept. 18 the company began providing tours of the orchard and the production facility two days per week.

“One of my favorite moments in this business is when people ask what I do, I tell them about the company, and they say they love our olive oils,” Cara said. “It’s awesome to think we’re here; we’re one of the pioneers of the industry [in Texas] and we stuck to our mission since day one to offer a premium product.”

What is extra-virgin olive oil?

Cara Gambini, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. vice president, examines a growing cluster of olives in the 15-acre, low-density olive orchard.[/caption]

Texas Hill Country Olive Co. farms its own olives and produces its own extra-virgin olive oil in Dripping Springs. Production and Facilities Manager Kevin Coles said extra-virgin olive oil differs from the non-extra-virgin variety in several ways.

“Extra-virgin olive oil production has specific guidelines,” Coles said.

• The olives have to be harvested and milled within three days.

• The olives have to maintained at 86 F or below.

• The oil has to come from the first pressing of the olives.

On any production day, Texas Hill Country Olive Co. transforms 3,000 pounds of olives to 30 to 40 gallons of olive oil, Coles said.

Texas Hill Country Olive Co. extra-virgin olive oils can be found at various farmers markets in Greater Austin, including the Dripping Springs Farmers Market, located at 160 E. Mercer St.

The olive oils are also sold in the gift shop at the headquarters on Fitzhugh Road and online.