Gherardo Olive Oil

A Story of Friendship, Farming, and Food

Gherardo Olive Oil is a celebration of friendship, food, farming, and culture rooted in a small hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy.

In 2024, Rafe Rivers—an American organic farmer —met Federico Valenti, an Italian chef and olive farmer. Despite the language barrier, they quickly became close friends, bonded by a shared love of honest food, hard work, and the land that produces it.

That fall, Rafe joined Federico’s family for the olive harvest. Somewhere between the rows of trees and long lunches, an idea took root: bring this oil—the real stuff—to friends, family, and customers back home.

Together, they created a co-branded olive oil that brings the best of Italy to Canewater’s community. The name, Gherardo, honors Federico’s father - a lifelong olive farmer who taught them the traditional methods of harvesting, pruning, and caring for olive trees. It’s a tribute to old farmers, new friends, and a shared love of land, food, and family.

People often ask us, “Is this oil for cooking or finishing?” The truth is, great olive oil is for everything.

You can’t change the nature of high-quality oil. You can only dilute it, usually by blending it with lesser oils to cut corners. We don’t do that. Our oils are pure, cold-extracted, and single-estate. No blending. No chemicals. Just hand-harvested olives, carefully sorted and pressed at a family-owned mill in Italy. The result is oil that’s perfect for every application—from everyday cooking to finishing dishes with care. Life is too short for cheap oil.

These distinct oils are a reflection of two regions, two cultures, and one shared passion.

We hope your family enjoys them as much as we do.

About Our Oils:

Gherardo Toscana

Harvested by hand in the Etruscan hilltop town of Cortona, Tuscany. Delicate and fruity, with notes of artichoke and almond. Perfect for pasta, pesto, soups, salads, or dipping fresh bread

Gherardo Umbria

Pressed from olives grown in the Umbrian hills over looking Lake Trasimeno. Robust and peppery, with hints of wild herbs and walnut. Ideal for bruschetta, grilled vegetables, meats, and bold pastas.